THE MAZDA RX-7: THE ROTARY THAT REFUSED TO DIE
1978 · Mazda · 5 min
Mazda bet everything on the Wankel rotary engine — and the RX-7 proved the gamble could succeed.
THE GAMBLE
Mazda was a small company that bet heavily on the rotary engine, licensing the Wankel design and refining it despite constant setbacks.
THE MACHINE
The RX-7, launched in 1978, made the rotary mainstream: light, balanced and powered by the spinning 12A and later 13B engines. The FD generation became a JDM legend.
Fuel efficiency and emissions challenges eventually ended the rotary's run, but its devotees remain among the most loyal in all of motoring.
Timeline
- 1967 — THE GAMBLE: First rotary Cosmo.
- 1978 — THE RX-7: First generation debuts.
- 2002 — THE FD ENDS: Last RX-7 built.
