For years, we’ve heard rumors that Mazda was going to carry again the rotary engine and provides us a brand new sports activities automobile as a successor to the RX-7 and RX-8. And but, arguably unsurprisingly, it hasn’t occurred. Nicely, technically, Mazda did carry again the rotary engine, however it serves as a variety extender on the MX-30, which is certainly not a sports activities automobile. However perhaps, simply perhaps, that’s about to vary.

CarBuzz discovered that Mazda filed six patents with the Japanese Patent Workplace, all of that are associated to a brand new two-rotor rotary engine. In contrast to the single-rotor engine used within the MX-30, this two-rotor design seems to be designed to energy a automobile as a substitute of serving as a variety extender.

What automobile? We are able to’t say for certain, however it’s undoubtedly the RX-9 (or no matter Mazda decides to name its follow-up to the RX-8), proper? It needs to be. Why else would Mazda develop a brand new rotary engine? Simply to tease us with the potential to lastly get what we actually need, solely to by no means put it into manufacturing? Really, that may be what finally ends up taking place. We’ve been burned earlier than, and we don’t need to get our hopes up till there’s an precise automobile in entrance of us that we will drive.

If the RX-9 truly does make it to manufacturing, it’ll must be much more gasoline environment friendly than the RX-8’s 16 mpg metropolis and 22 mpg freeway score. (Technically, the automated bought barely higher gasoline mileage, however we don’t wish to acknowledge that it got here with something however a guide.) And that’s precisely what three of the patents deal with: adjustments to the rotor design that may enhance gasoline effectivity. So perhaps there actually is a few potential right here.

CarBuzz has an ideal, in-depth breakdown of every of the patents, so for those who’re considering studying extra, undoubtedly take a look at the unique article. And perhaps, simply perhaps let your self really feel the tiniest little bit of hope that we’ll get yet one more rotary-powered sports activities automobile from Mazda at the beginning goes electrical.