Report: Mazda RX8 denied re-entry into Europe

[coolmazda5]

According to the crew at Auto Motor und Sport, the Mazda RX-8 won't be coming back to Europe for the 2011 model year. Why? The rev-rific rotary can't pass the Euro-5 emission standards and a replacement won't arrive until 2013.

Mazda Germany exec, Joseph Alois Schmid, told AMuS that retrofitting the current engine would be too cost prohibitive and the Wankel can't adapt quickly enough to Europe's stringent emission standards.

Although a replacement is in the works and a hydrogen version could arrive within the next few years the next rotary mill will have to be significantly reworked to adhere to the new standards. But even a revised rotary could have problems in 2014, when the new Euro 6 emission rules take effect.

[Autoblog]

 

[coolmazda5]

Boooh, what is a little bit more pollution, it is not like they are selling like Ford Fiestas over there

 

[Newf]

I doubt anyone will care, if I was in Europe, the RX-8 wouldn't even be on my long list of cars to get yet alone the short list.

 

[captain_slow]

how interesting. 'cuz i think when the fd was discontinued in the US (due to *emissions*) it was still sold in europe for a couple more years. and now it's flipped. the number of 8s sold in europe per year can probably be counted on one hand, and for someone who really wants it, it's so easy to do direct/gray market import there anyway so it doesn't really matter

 

[bazooka joe]

just read this months issue of zoom, zoom...seems like the rotary and hydrogen are like jelly and peanut butter...made for each other!

 

[altspace]

Mazda has killed off its RX-8 sports car after its innovative rotary engine fell foul of European emission regulations.

Mazda has persisted with rotary technology to power its sports cars, but the twin-rotor engine used in the RX-8 has not been improved to meet EuroV emission regulations that came into force last September. All new cars’ emissions must meet these regulations to be able to be sold in Europe.

Mazda chief wants new RX-7
Instead of developing the current engine in the RX-8 at substantial cost, the firm has decided to axe the current generation of the car altogether.

The firm still has some RX-8s in stock, but production has now ended and there will be no more available once all the already produced models are sold.

The next RX-8 is tentatively due to go on sale next year, although the firm would need to be sure the new rotary engine powering it met the stricter EuroVI emission regulations, which come into force in 2014.

Development of this new rotary engine is underway at Mazda and it was due to be launched at last year’s Tokyo motor show. However, engineers are struggling to reduce the weight of the unit in addition to improving fuel consumption, emissions and boosting mid-range torque. Mazda wants to reduce the weight of all its cars by 100kg within five years; as it stands, the next RX-8 wouldn’t meet this target.

The current RX-8’s engine consists of two triangular rotors working within a combustion chamber, each displacing 654cc. Total power out is 228bhp, while torque stands at 156lb ft. It produces 299g/km of CO2.

-autocar.co.uk

 

[Kain]

So wait, the rotary is not fuel efficient? What's next, they'll tell us it burns oil, too?

 

[MazdaMatt]

is not a problem of Co2 figures (emissions) BUT POLLUTION (CO, HC,NOX and PM) emissions.

the €5 standard have sligtly inferior figures tha €4, they not spend money to update the engine. a couple of years and we have the new rotary model.
BTW €6 figures (mandatory for 2016) are the same of €5 figures for gasoline engines.....

 

[coolmazda5]

Mazda chief wants new RX-7
Instead of developing the current engine in the RX-8 at substantial cost, the firm has decided to axe the current generation of the car altogether.

The firm still has some RX-8s in stock, but production has now ended and there will be no more available once all the already produced models are sold.

The next RX-8 is tentatively due to go on sale next year, although the firm would need to be sure the new rotary engine powering it met the stricter EuroVI emission regulations, which come into force in 2014.

So in essence the Mazda rotary engine based car production will be in limbo for some time (sad2). I hope the Mazda numbers keep on improving or their bean counters might change their mind and not bring anything at all!