Mazda RX-VISION: a new era for the Rotary Engine?

One car that was the object of huge debate at the Tokyo Motor Show was this: Mazda's RX-VISION concept, a car that demonstrates Mazda's desire to resurrect the Rotary engine, as found under the bonnet of the third-gen RX-7. However, the problems of bringing back such an unusual engine design were bountiful, with most of the problems centred on emissions and economy. 

Ever since the Volkswagon emissions scandal, legislators have been very strict on emissions, and have raised several issues, for example the amount of NOx that these engines produce. This is not so much of an issue now thanks to lower temperatures for combustion, but hydrocarbons are, as well as the low CO2 levels required for tax (Rotary engines have a large thirst for petrol). Furthermore the engines require expert maintenance, although they are generally reliable. Also the rotor-tip seals remain a problem due to their frequent wear and poor-sealing, due to high temperature differences.

Mazda have confirmed that its latest evolution Rotary engine will go by the name of Skyactiv-R, which also links to its Skyactiv Petrol and Diesel engines. By giving the Rotary engine this name it clearly wants to align it with its normal engines, and therefore address its inherent flaws. Some theories of how to improve the problems of the engine have been direct fuel injection, compression ignition (as on diesel's) and turbochargers to ensure power output is sufficient. There are also rumours of electrification, with electric power helping to eliminate the flaws.

But all of this hard work on Mazda's part should, if it succeeds, be something of a revelation in terms of responsiveness, smoothness and weight, and will resurrect one of the best engines designs ever devised. But it will take a while...

Nev 

Fiat 124 spider: a new icon or simply a rebadged MX-5?

Fiat always were good at making roadsters. The original 124 ran for 19 years, with 200,000 of them being built in that time. The only problem that these cars had is that they were always overshadowed by the Mazda MX-5, with only people brave enough buying the Fiat over the Mazda. Such was the overshadowing that it has been 10 years since fiat have offered a roadster. But now, thanks to a good business deal, the competition may be a bit more fair.

Now you may remember that way back in March I did a piece on the newest incarnation of the Mazda MX-5. It was a car that I claimed had not deviated from its roots, and was still a lightweight fun roadster. That car (as I may had said at the time) was made as a joint venture between Mazda and Fiat, meaning that the cars would be very similar. And so it is now (about a year later) that Mazda are revealing their half of the deal. What took them another year (this car won't be on sale until summer of 2016) I have no idea. The two cars will even be built on the same production line, in Hiroshima.

From the outside, with the exception of a few details, the two cars look similar. And the similarities don't end there, with the whole of the suspension system being identical in both cars. The only reason that the engines differ is due to Fiat using their own in-house one. This means that, whereas the Mazda uses a 1.5 litre four-cylinder, the Fiat uses a 1368cc turbo four-cylinder engine. This use of turbocharging on the Fiat means that it is estimated to be slightly quicker than the Mazda, with an estimated 8 seconds 0-62MPH and 130MPH top speed, compared to the Mazda's 8.3 seconds and 127MPH. However, it is estimated to be more expensive, around £22,000.

So, Fiat have re-entered the roadster market by teaming up with one of the best company's for them. But will the differences, though small, mean that the Mazda still sells more? Or wil the Fiat turn out successful? We will see when the Fiat is released in summer 2016.

Nev