- Mazda RX-2
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Mazda RX-2 Manufacturer Mazda Production 1970–1978 Class Midsize Body style 2-door coupé
4-door sedanLayout FR layout Engine 1.1L 12A
1.1L 12BWheelbase 2464 mm (97.s in) Length 4140 mm (163 in) Width 1575 mm (62.2 in) Curb weight 1050 kg (2315 lb) Related Mazda Capella/616/618 The Mazda RX-2 was a midsize car introduced in 1970 and sold through 1978. It used a rotary engine and shared a chassis with the piston-engined Mazda Capella/616/618.
The RX-2 was really an option package for the Capella, albeit one that included a powerful rotary engine. In fact, early RX-2s were simply badged "Capella" with a small "RE" or rotor shape in the grille. The RX-2 was intended as a rotary-powered family car, while the Mazda RX-3 would be the sporty coupé.
Contents
1970
The first RX-2 (known as the Series I and II) were introduced in 1970 and replaced in 1974. They shared chassis of the Mazda Capella and used a 12A Wankel engine. They were a tremendous success due to their comparatively high power and performance. In 1970, output was 130 hp (97 kW) and 115 ft·lbf (156 Nm).
1974
The 1974 RX-2 got the 12B engine, although it was not publicized in some markets.
1979
Last production year of RX-2 at the South African Mazda-factory, where it was only produced with the 12A engine.
RX-2 (USA)
The RX-2 was one of the first Mazda vehicles offered for sale in the United States, lasting from 1971 through 1974. It appeared just after the Familia-based Mazda R100, and distribution of both cars was initially limited to the West Coast.
American emissions modifications reduced the 12A engine's output to 120 hp (89 kW), slowing the car's acceleration to 60 mph (97 km/h) from 10 to 11.3 sec. Nevertheless, Road & Track magazine reviewed the car favorably, calling the engine "impressive" and "plenty torquey" and comparing it to a smooth straight-6. The car's suspension and brakes also pleased the reviewers, but they were less enthusiastic about the "notchy" 4-speed manual transmission. All in all, the contemporary reviewers considered the RX-2, priced around US$3,000, "a steal".
Early RX-2s had trouble with failure of the oil seals, causing excessive oil consumption and heavier exhaust. Another failure mode involved overheating of the O-ring side seals between sections of the side housing which introduced coolant into the combustion chamber, reducing available power and making the engine hard to start, and ultimately rendering the vehicle inoperable.[1] At first, Mazda fixed the engines under warranty, replacing the overheated seals with new ones of the same design. Later, they offered a better, redesigned set of seals but at a cost to the consumer of US$1,000 per engine.[2] This caused many Mazda RX-2 owners to abandon rather than repair their cars, accounting for the extreme rarity of these exotic, sporty sedans.
Racing success
The RX-2 was the first Wankel-powered car to be widely raced - the original Cosmo competed in just a single race. Car and Driver magazine and Racing Beat built an RX-2 race car in 1973 for the IMSA sedan series. With radically enlarged ports (they were so large that a "bridge" of steel was required to keep the corner seals in place), the RX-2 produced 198 hp (148 kW) in racing trim.
The RX-2 took the pole in its first race, at Pocono, but did not finish the race due to a broken differential. Lime Rock was its third race, and the RX-2 claimed both the pole and the win. Another win came at Road Atlanta, even with a 300 lb (136 kg) lead weight handicap. The engine modifications were outlawed for 1974, but the RX-2 kept winning. Car and Driver lost interest in the car, but others continued to race it, and other RX-2 and RX-3 racers soon appeared.
The RX-2 rotary engine (Wankel) suffered from rotor tip wear that the company was unable to correct until late 1974. RX-2s that experienced this rotor tip wear would have reduced power, thus impacting the driving experience.
References
- ^ Hege, John B. (2002). The Wankel Rotary Engine: A History pp. 123-124. McFarland & Company. ISBN 0-7864-1177-5
- ^ Notification of terms of warranty from Mazda Motor Corporation to RX-2 owners, August 1978.
- Yamaguchi, Jack K. (1985). The New Mazda RX-7 and Mazda Rotary Engine Sports Cars. St. Martin's Press, New York. ISBN 0-312-69456-3.
- Jan P. Norbye (1973). "Watch out for Mazda!". Automobile Quarterly XI.1: 50–61.
- Patrick Bedard (June 1993). "Wankel Winning, Wankel Whining". Car and Driver 38.12: 105.
Mazda Wankel rotary timeline Type 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 Compact Familia/R100 R100 Mid-size Capella/RX-2 RX-2 Luce/RX-4 R130 RX-4 Legato HB HC Full-size Roadpacer RP GT Cosmo/RX-5 L10A L10B CD HB JC Sports Savanna/RX-3/RX-7/RX-8 RX-3 SA FB FC FD SE Pickup Proceed/REPU REPU « previous — Mazda road car timeline, 1990s–present Type 1990s 2000s 2010s 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 Kei car Carol Carol Carol Carol Carol AZ-Wagon AZ-Wagon AZ-Wagon AZ-Wagon AZ-Offroad Spiano Scrum Scrum/Scrum Wagon Scrum/Scrum Wagon Subcompact Revue/121 Demio/121 Demio/Mazda2 Demio/Mazda2 Verisa Compact Familia/323/Protegé Familia/323/Protegé Familia/323/Protegé Axela/Mazda3 Axela/Mazda3 Familia Van Familia Van Familia Van Mid-size Capella/626 Capella Capella/626 Atenza/Mazda6 Atenza/Mazda6 Cronos/626/Xedos 6/Eunos 500 Eunos 800/Xedos 9/Millenia Mazda6 (N.America) Full-size Sentia/929/Efini MS-8 Sentia Sports car AZ-1 MX-3 Precidia Roadster/MX-5/Miata Roadster/MX-5/Miata Roadster/MX-5 MX-6/Mystère MX-6/Mystère/Efini MS-6 RX-7 Efini RX-7/RX-7 RX-8 Cosmo Minivan Premacy Premacy/Mazda5 Premacy/
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- Rear wheel drive vehicles
- Vehicles with Wankel engines
- Vehicles introduced in 1970
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