The day Mazda announced plans to stop production of their RX-8 sports car was a very sad day for speed fiends. Not only for the loss of an adrenaline-rush inducing vehicle, but for the potential of losing the fierce engine with which it's fitted.

The RX-8 wasn't the first to be fitted with the rotary engine either. You might also recognize it as the powerhouse responsible for Mazda's 1991 win at Le Mans...Mazda is still the only Japanese automaker to take the title to date.

Well, Superior Mazda has some news that might help make you feel at least a little bit better. The rotary engine, formerly known NSU-Wankel, is not out of the picture, yet. Rather, it's merely sitting on the back burner.

However, even before it was put there to simmer, while Mazda sorted our larger issues due to the economic downturn and then the March 11 earthquake, senior officials supported efforts to evolve the engine into something a little more fuel efficient. Kiyoshi Fujiwara, Global Product Design Chief, Mazda says, "...they told me not to let it go."¹ And, he hasn't either. In fact, if he gets his way, Mazda will bring the next-generation rotary engine into production, by 2017.

How does Mazda hope to make the Wankel rotary engine more fuel efficient? There has been some talk of using elements from their new SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY, which officially launches in the 2012 model year and is proven to deliver highly competitive fuel economy and an overall fun driving experience. But, the ultimate direction has yet to come to fruition. When it does, Superior Mazda, located at 2600 SE Moberly Lane Bentonville, AR, promises you'll be among the first to know.