Who does it best?

[Turbo.Jenkens]

actually, nobody else DOES a rotary but Mazda

Mercedes and Chevrolet both played around with it, but yes Mazda is the only one to put it into production. Hence the easy win.

Excluding large trucks, industrial applications, and racecars, who makes the best diesel?

[Ferrer]

Mercedes and Chevrolet both played around with it, but yes Mazda is the only one to put it into production. Hence the easy win.

No they aren't.

Rotary engines were first pioneered by NSU in Germany whose engineer Felix Wankel designed it. In the 60's everybody was interested in this new concept, manufacturers rangine from Mercedes-Benz and General Motors but also AMC or Citroen, which actually produced some GS Birrotors before cancelling the programme.

But in the early 70's the fuel crisis hit hard and rotaries thirstiness coupled with their other problems meant the everybody abandoned them. Except Mazda that is. And the rest is history.

[Cotterik]

Subaru Flat 4 vs Ferrari V12

now thats a comparison

[VtecMini]

Subaru Flat 4 vs Ferrari V12

now thats a comparison

Subjective, old bean. Not objective.

I went for the Mazda rotary. To be fair, I think that it's the only one on the list that I've driven*, so I might be fairly biased. Definitely an experience that will leave an impression for some, though. Might have to give in and get one some time soon...

Edit: * Just remembered. Driven a few Honda I4s, too. None with vtec, mind.

[NSXType-R]

VTEC Honda for sure. First mass production engine to produce more than 100 hp/l. Doesn't get much better than that.

I'm sure I'll get flamed by some members though.

[Ingolstadt]

Honda's VTEC engine.

BMW - I6 ? Heard of Nissan's RB26 ?

[Kitdy]

VTEC Honda for sure. First mass production engine to produce more than 100 hp/l. Doesn't get much better than that.

I'm sure I'll get flamed by some members though.

Was it really? What do you mean by mass production?

In terms of pure performance, I don't think any of the other engines are up to snuff against a Ferrari V12.

I could be wrong.

[Ferrer]

Was it really? What do you mean by mass production?

In terms of pure performance, I don't think any of the other engines are up to snuff against a Ferrari V12.

I could be wrong.

I sense a uselessly long debate coming.

But you are probably wrong. Think Dauer 962.

[Lotec_Sirius]

Ferrari V12, is there any doubt

[Kitdy]

I sense a uselessly long debate coming.

But you are probably wrong. Think Dauer 962.

Turbocharging is for hacks.

EDIT: Fine - if you want to resort to the inelegance of turbocharging, then the modified Chevy V8 C5.R engine in the Ultimate Aero SSC.

I'll take a Ferrari V12.

[Ferrer]

Turbocharging is for hacks.

EDIT: Fine - if you want to resort to the inelegance of turbocharging, then the modified Chevy V8 C5.R engine in the Ultimate Aero SSC.

I'll take a Ferrari V12.

Well you said pure performance...

By the way as for the first car to crack 100bhp/l, I have found something much earlier than the Honda VTEC. It's the Daihatsu Fellow Max SS from 1970, 40bhp from 356cc.

[Kitdy]

Well you said pure performance...

By the way as for the first car to crack 100bhp/l, I have found something much earlier than the Honda VTEC. It's the Daihatsu Fellow Max SS from 1970, 40bhp from 356cc.

The S600 had 57 hp from 492 CC in 1964.

Race engines had more than 100 hp/L in the 50s.

EDIT: Hell, the first Wankel engine, the DKW 54 in 1957 was 125 cc with 29 hp and revved to 17,000, mind you, it was a prototype.


Early production Wankels also made over 100 hp/L.

If you count motorcycles, then two strokes probably made tons of hp/L in the day as well.

[ruim20]

Let's get all technicall and go for the lot, Honda made and is still makes the "champion" on the Bhp/L 120bhp/L on a road car.

I'll vote rotary, for the difference and for a bit of hope that one day some of the larger companys can pick it up and give it even more development.

[hec16]

lol I thought you where asking another question

[NSXType-R]

Was it really? What do you mean by mass production?

In terms of pure performance, I don't think any of the other engines are up to snuff against a Ferrari V12.

I could be wrong.

I meant it in that they were the first to create a 2.0 L engine, mass produced, to put out over 100 hp/L. As in they put it in Civics, Integras and such. Not sure which cars had which engines though.

I'm pretty sure that they were the first.