Monthly Archives July 2014

Yesterday’s news that Mazda is planning a 449hp rotary engine for the RX-9 attracts many attention.

Now let us take a look at some interesting facts about the rotary engine.

Advantages about the rotary engine

1. Because there is no crankshaft, valves, pistons etc., the rotary engine is lighter, runs with less vibration;

2. Longer strokes, less prone to knocking and less pumping loss, which is more suitable for turbocharging, direct injection and lean burning;

3. Quicker throttle response;

4. Less moving parts such as pistons, valves, so rotary engine has less probability of sudden failures when compared to other traditional internal combustion piston engines.

Below is an ...

Toyota and BMW have signed a contract recently regarding a joint operation to design and manufacture some car models.

Today the Japanese media – Nikkei, reported that as the first step, the two companies are currently working on a sports car platform. This platform will be used in the next generation of Z4 for BMW, and the revived Supra for Toyota.

This news further confirmed the previous news that Toyota is putting the FT-1 concept into production track. The next Supra will look like the FT-1 concept shown below.

Remember we reported the Mazda RX-8 successor – the RX-9, is coming three year later?

Most of the information in that article still holds, with one exception and it is a good news. Previously we said it will come with a 300hp, naturally aspirated rotary engine; but today we get an update that, Mazda is planning to use a turbocharged rotary engine, which is planned to output around 449hp (335kW).

Rotary engine is more suitable to be paired to turbocharging, reasons are:

1. Using turbocharging, the engine can use less quantity of rotor to achieve the same output;
2. Turbocharging can significantly boost low RPM torque, which is a weak point for the RX-8 previously;
2...

Our Lexus insider told us that, the 4th-generation of the RX, which is scheduled to be revealed next year as a 2016 model, will not only come with the 3rd-row seating option, but also will be equipped with the Aisin 8-speed automatic transmission, for non-hybrid models.

For the current Lexus RX models, only the RX350 FSport has the 8AT.

Please do not be confused this with the 8-speed units in the current IS350/GS350/LS460 models: that 8AT is for RWD platform, and is completely different than the Aisin 8AT units we are talking about in this article, which is for FWD transverse engine layout.

This is not a surprising news, because the redesigned 2015 Volvo XC90 will come wi...

We get the latest news for the BMW F3x models. Starting from the 2016 model year, the current N20 4-cylinder turbo engine will be replaced by the newly designed B48 engine; and the award-wining N55 turbo-6, will be upgraded to the B58 engine.

Therefore, the current N20-equipped models (328i/428i) will be renamed 330i and 430i. The N55-equipped cars (335i/435i) will be designated as 340i/440i.

This is not just a name change, according to our insider source, those two engines will be at least 10% more powerful than their predecessors. More specifically, the 330i/430i will be around 270ps; the 340i/440i will be approx. 330-340ps (depends on options chosen).

Instead of using...