Patent Application Shows Mazda Still Working On the Rotary Engine

Last October, Mazda revealed the RX-Vision concept. This concept featured a brand new rotary engine called SkyActiv-R. At the time, Mazda was keeping quiet on specifics of the engine. But it showed that Mazda was working on a next-gen rotary. Now, we have some clues as to the SkyActiv-R.

autoevolution found a patent application filed by Mazda last fall and published last month by the U.S. Patent and Trademark office. The drawings in the application show the engine turned 180 degrees with the exhaust port on top and intake port on the bottom. This repositioning allows for minimal turbo lag thanks to the short distance from the exhaust port to the turbo. It also allows the engine to mounted lower in the vehicle to improve the center of gravity.

Now this is only a patent application. It doesn't mean Mazda will put this exact engine into production. But for fans of the rotary engine, it gives them some hope that the engine will soon return.

Source: autoevolution, USPTO