The Rotary Engine Turns 40
On May 30, 1967, Mazda launched the world’s first twin-rotor rotary-engined car, the Mazda Cosmo Sport. The company now celebrates that engine’s 40th anniversary. In these past 40 years Mazda has produced nearly 2 million vehicles powered by the rotary engine. It was not until 1970, however, that Mazda sold rotary-engine-equipped cars in the United States. That was the 1970 R100; it was followed by the RX-2, RX-3,
RX-4 and RX-5 Cosmo. Incidentally, the 1970s even saw Mazda install the rotary engine in its Rotary Pickup truck.