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It's believed the 2010 Mazda RX-7 will inherit the RX-8's "Renesis" rotary engine, modified for more horsepower than today's 212/232. One source says engineers are working to install a turbocharger that could itself be assisted by an electric motor at low rpm. This makes sense for a type of engine that's inherently strong on high-end power but weak on low-end torque. Besides broadening the power band, the "electric turbo" promises to reduce low-rpm emissions, a traditional bugbear with the rotary.
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Mazda's Wankel-type rotary engine not only presents more emissions-cleanup challenges, it's inherently thirstier than comparably-sized piston engines. With that and the prospect of higher fuel-economy standards, some believe the 2010 Mazda RX-7 could appear with a Honda-style gas-electric hybrid system. Instead of a turbocharger, the battery-driven motor would boost engine acceleration at or near full throttle, but would not be set up to drive the vehicle by itself. Presumably, the system would also include regenerative braking to charge the batteries when coasting and decelerating, plus an engine stop/start feature to reduce idling time and thus save fuel. If the 2010 Mazda RX-7 turns out to be a hybrid, it would be the first such vehicle with a rotary powerplant.
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