I just heard from someone in another forum, That his friend who works for GM in the Styling and Design area that the next Corvette will have a rotary engine in it. What is everyones views on this? Is the person just full of BS?

 

BS.

Although a sufficiently large rotary engine would have a great number of benefits.

mmmm...eight rotors...

 

I hope its bs.

 

Chevy took a hard look at a Rotary Vette back in the 70's and built a protype/show car, but I have not heard of GM doing any work on a Rotary since then.

tom...

 

largest crock of BS ive ever heard

 

The rotary's high combustion chamber surface area to volume ratio is a showstopper from both an emissions and thermal efficiency (fuel economy) standpoint. That's what caused GM to abandon rotary technology in the seventies - after Ed Cole, who was the rotary champion retired - and there have been no major breakthroughs in rotary technology since then.

I would think that if GM Powertrain was seriously looking at rotary technology, they would either have mentioned it or it would leak. They've been pretty open about what future technologies they are looking at, but nothing has ever been mentioned about rotary engines as far as I know, so I would opine that this "report" is bunk.

Duke

 

I put over 90,000 hard miles on an 85 13B with not 1 problem. I loved the little bugger and would love to see a 350+ h.p. rotary in a Vette! I would miss the V-8 sounds though.

 

Pure BS, thank god. I am a big fan of the rotary, having owned five RX-7s over the years (2 of them 3rd Gen cars), but that powerplant has limitations. The 13B-REW engine in the late RX-7 made plenty of power, but was highly stressed and was a nightmare for Mazda from an emissions standpoint - the car was pulled from the US after the 1995MY because Mazda could not make the engine meet OBDII specs.

Mazda is the only mfr. that has continued to evolve the design. By evolution, I mean materials and details versus basic architecture. The latest is the 13B "Renesis" engine that will power the RX-8. It differs from all prior rotaries by having side exhaust ports. Emissions and power are up 30% as a result, and the engine will now pass OBDII/III requirements - finally. It is a nice engine, and is the equivalent of the S2000 engine in terms of performance. But it is no LS-6.

The LS engines weigh no more than a 13B-REW twin turbo rotary engine, but they make a hell of a lot more power and torque, and are more reliable. The LS engines are truly impressive and have made me a convert. GM gave up on the rotary long ago for the reasons mentioned by SWC Duke, and has no reason to return to it, given the state of current SBC V-8 technology.

 

I would hope that GM will keep our piston engine. A rotary engine just would just not be right for the Corvette.

 

:rolleyes:

 

Actually Mazda will be coming back with a rotary in the RX8, with no problems meeting emission standards. Trust me, those Mazda boys have been improving the rotary for years while keeping it on their shores.
I wouldn't want one in a Vette though..... Could you imagine how Borla Stingers would sound behind a rotary!!! :U

 

Why take a chance on a good thing such as the LS1 or LS6. If you put a rotary in the vette then I personally think that the Corvette will have a gas guzzlers tax like the Cobra SVT

 

See my post on the Coates rotary valve engine. It's possible. :)

 

Chevy took a hard look at a Rotary Vette back in the 70's and built a protype/show car, but I have not heard of GM doing any work on a Rotary since then.

they also gave up their license from Wankle and/or Curtiss Wright. No there is no rotary engine in the Vette's future. Mazda has re-ported the block so that they have cut the emissions and are bringing it back out. The Vette uses the truck LS1 as a basis. They aren't going to do a whole new engine for a low volume vehicle. That is Porsche's game. :chevy


[Modified by Curtis A. Franz, 2:28 PM 10/31/2002]

 

I believe some people are confusing the coates design for a rotary engine.

The COATES engine has PISTONS... Just like our motors do... Just a different head with different "cams..." :)

 

Hmmm... a Wankel Vette... only if you could get an optional window banner that says ****** uh... WANKEL POWERED!

:yesnod:


[Modified by ericshaw, 4:42 PM 10/31/2002]