The RX-7, the RX-8 and the 787B race car all have something in common - the rotary engine. The famous spinny ‘Dorito’ holds a special place in any petrolhead’s heart as a key part of JDM car culture.

So, why is it so popular when it’s so damn flawed? They’re terrible on fuel, even worse on oil, they can be expensive to fix AND their torque figures are pretty weak.

Let’s take a look at why rotary engines kinda suck and why they might actually be making a comeback.

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Japanese performance cars are hugely popular, with the used car market for ‘90s JDM icons absolutely booming at the moment. And that’s because, if you want a rotary - you have no choice but to go used - as no current new cars use them.

Anyway, the Supra, the Skyline, the Evo and the Impreza are just a few examples of the Rising Sun’s offering of attainable performance cars.
These were turbocharged, often motorsport-derived saloons and sports cars that offered a hell of a bang for your buck. Cars like the R34 GT-R and MK4 Supra gained a reputation for being giant killers with huge tuning potential.

However, they've all got something in common - they’ve all got old-fashioned piston engines. Want to stand out from the crowd? The RX-7 is the one for you.

Sure, it wasn’t the first rotary-powered Mazda, in fact there were a fair few before it. There was the Cosmo Sport, the RX-3, the RX500 as well as the world’s first and only rotary-engined pickup - the REPU (Rotary Engine Pick Up) among many others. The RX-7, however, was part of a golden era of Japanese performance cars that really made it desirable.

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#RotaryEngines #RX7 #Wankel