Still spinning after all these years

Forty years ago, Mazda launched the Cosmo Sport with its innovative Wankel rotary engine. Not only was the Cosmo Sport the company's first production car with a rotary engine, it was the world's first dual-rotor engine.

Over time, Mazda persevered with rotary engine development as other companies tried the orbital technology and found it wanting. Mazda's determination has recently led the company down the path of hydrogen fuel internal combustion.

Seven RX-8 Mazdas running hydrogen are currently leased out to commercial operators in Japan. The rotary engine is more accommodating of the volatile, gaseous fuel. Rotary engines are simpler to modify for hydrogen fuel than piston engines and they run cleaner than engines burning petrol or Diesel fuel.

Close to two million rotary engine vehicles have been built by Mazda since 30 May 1967. In the RX-8's 'RENESIS' guise -- the rotary was awarded 'International Engine of the Year' in 2003. On the motor sport front, the engine has been successful in different classes of motor racing, including Australian touring cars, the American IMSA series and the Le Mans 24-hour race.

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