The rotary engine is easily one of the most controversial powertrains in the world of cars, and it's known for the brap-brap sound. Why do they do that?

A Wankel engine is a type of rotary engine, but not all rotary engines are Wankel engines. Wrapping your mind around this idea will help you to better understand the similarities as well as the ...

For more than a decade the name Wankel has popped up whenever car enthusiasts start talking about advanced-design automotive powerplants. The theory of the Wankel engine goes back to 1954 when Dr.

When I wrote about Mazda’s attempt to create the perfect range extender, I mentioned I wanted to examine the ideas that seem to be closer to that goal. Unfortunately, the Japanese company’s attempt ...

Mazda 13B rotary engine in a white Mazda RX-7 engine bay. - TTTNIS/Wikimedia Commons When it comes to unconventional engine design, few exceed the Wankel rotary in terms of weirdness. Despite that, ...

Wankel rotary engines have always been a curious piece of engineering. These rotor-driven engines differ so greatly from traditional combustion engines that any car with one under the hood is sure to ...

Combination car nuts/Monty Python fanatics can't hear the words "Wankel rotary engine" without imagining John Cleese's pompous English accent turning it into a dirty phrase. For the power-lusting ...

When it comes to unconventional engine design, few exceed the Wankel rotary in terms of weirdness. Despite that, the same basic principles of internal combustion apply here: Fuel and air are mixed and ...