Which car has a rotary engine?

The best-known cars with rotary (Wankel) engines are the Mazda RX-7 and RX-8; as of 2025, the only new production car using a rotary engine is Mazda’s MX-30 e‑Skyactiv R‑EV, where the rotary serves as a compact range‑extender generator rather than driving the wheels. Beyond Mazda, a handful of historic models—such as the NSU Ro80 and Citroën GS Birotor—also used rotaries, but no other mainstream automaker currently sells a rotary-powered vehicle.

What is a rotary engine and why it’s rare today

A rotary (Wankel) engine replaces pistons with one or more triangular rotors that spin inside an oval-like housing to complete the intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust strokes. The design is smooth, compact, and high-revving, but it tends to consume more fuel and oil and can struggle to meet modern emissions and durability targets. Those trade-offs pushed most automakers away, leaving Mazda the most persistent champion of the technology.

The rotary on sale today

Today’s lone production application is the Mazda MX-30 e‑Skyactiv R‑EV, introduced in 2023 and sold in markets such as Japan and Europe. It pairs an 830 cc single-rotor gasoline engine with a plug-in hybrid system; the rotary does not drive the wheels but acts as a generator to recharge a 17.8 kWh battery that powers a 125 kW electric motor. WLTP electric-only range is up to roughly 85 km (about 53 miles). Mazda does not currently offer the rotary MX-30 in the United States.

Notable rotary-engine production cars over the years

For readers looking to identify which cars have used rotary engines historically, the following models are among the most notable across different markets and eras.

• NSU Spider (1964–1967) — The first production car with a Wankel engine; single-rotor.
• Mazda Cosmo Sport/110S (1967–1972) — Early twin-rotor sports coupé that established Mazda’s rotary credentials.
• NSU Ro80 (1967–1977) — Innovative twin-rotor executive sedan, famed for technology and design.
• Citroën M35 (1969–1971, limited test fleet) and GS Birotor (1973–1975) — French experiments with Comotor-built rotaries.
• Mazda RX-2/RX-3/RX-4 (early–mid 1970s) — Mainstream rotaries sold in various global markets.
• Mazda RX-7 (1978–2002) — Three generations (SA/FB, FC, FD), the quintessential rotary sports car.
• Mazda Eunos Cosmo (1990–1996) — Luxury coupé offering the 20B three-rotor, the only production triple-rotor car.
• Mazda RX-8 (2003–2012) — Four-door sports car with the Renesis rotary; the last rotary sports car to date.
• Mazda MX-30 e‑Skyactiv R‑EV (2023–present) — Series plug-in hybrid using a single-rotor as a range extender.

While many niche and region-specific variants existed, these models trace the main arc of rotary development from experimental novelty to sports-car icon and, today, to a compact generator in an electrified drivetrain.

Prototypes, concepts, and limited-use applications

Rotary engines also surfaced in prototypes and concept programs that helped shape the technology’s reputation—even if they never reached mass production.

• Mercedes-Benz C111 (late 1960s–early 1970s) — A striking experimental platform that tested multi-rotor engines (and later diesels).
• Mazda Iconic SP (2023 concept) — A lightweight sports-car concept envisioning a twin-rotor used as an EV generator.
• Various limited-service vehicles (e.g., certain Soviet-era Lada-based models) — Produced in very small numbers for special use.

These efforts underscore how the rotary’s compactness and smoothness continue to attract engineering interest, even if regulatory and market realities limit mass-market deployment.

Rotary engines in motorsport

Competition proved a showcase for the rotary’s high-revving character and power density.

• Mazda 787B (1991) — Four-rotor R26B-powered prototype that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the only rotary-powered overall winner.
• Mazda RX-7 (IMSA/Group C/GT racing, 1970s–1990s) — Highly successful across touring and sports-car categories worldwide.

While modern racing rules often constrain rotary entries, the 787B’s Le Mans victory remains a landmark achievement for the technology.

Why Mazda kept the faith

Mazda persisted with rotaries due to their compact size, smooth operation, and brand identity, pivoting in recent years to use the engine as a small, efficient generator rather than a primary power unit. This approach exploits the rotary’s packaging advantages while mitigating emissions and durability issues by letting it run in steadier, more controlled conditions.

Pros and cons at a glance

For context, here are the key characteristics that have shaped the rotary engine’s automotive fate.

• Advantages: compact and light; smooth, high-revving power delivery; few moving parts; packaging flexibility.
• Challenges: higher fuel and oil consumption; sealing and wear issues; tougher emissions compliance; less low-end torque.

These trade-offs explain why the rotary thrived in sports cars and niche applications, yet faded from mainstream propulsion as efficiency and emissions standards tightened.

Bottom line

If you’re asking “Which car has a rotary engine?” the historic answers are Mazda’s RX-7 and RX-8, among others, while today’s only new car featuring a rotary is Mazda’s MX-30 e‑Skyactiv R‑EV—and there the rotary serves as a range extender for an electric drivetrain.

Summary

The rotary engine—compact, smooth, and soulful—found its greatest champions in Mazda’s RX-7 and RX-8, with earlier landmarks like the NSU Ro80 and Citroën GS Birotor. In 2025, the sole production car employing a rotary is Mazda’s MX-30 e‑Skyactiv R‑EV, where the engine functions as a generator in a plug-in hybrid system. While unlikely to return broadly as a primary powerplant, the rotary endures in specialized roles and as a symbol of engineering ingenuity.

Is Mazda the only rotary?

No, Mazda is not the only brand that has produced rotary engines, but it is the most successful and widely known manufacturer to have successfully mass-produced and commercialized them, solving the inherent durability issues that plagued earlier Wankel engines from NSU. Other companies, including NSU, Suzuki, Citroën, and Deere & Company, also worked with rotary engine designs, with NSU being the first to offer a Wankel-powered car for sale. 
Here’s a breakdown of the key players in rotary engine history:

• Felix Wankel: Opens in new tabThe German engineer who developed the fundamental Wankel rotary engine design in the 1950s. 
• NSU: Opens in new tabA German automaker that was the first to sell a Wankel-engined car in 1964 (the NSU Spider) and also developed the Ro 80 luxury car. However, they struggled with apex seal durability. 
• Mazda: Opens in new tabLicensed the Wankel engine in the 1960s and is credited with perfecting it by solving the apex seal issues that plagued earlier designs. This allowed Mazda to mass-produce rotary-powered cars like the Cosmo, RX-7, and RX-8, and it remains a signature part of their brand identity. 
• Other companies: Opens in new tabSuzuki produced a motorcycle with a Wankel engine, Arctic Cat used them in snowmobiles, and Deere & Company even designed a version for potential use in military vehicles. 

Why Mazda is so associated with the rotary engine:

• Commercial Success: Mazda is the only company to have successfully commercialized rotary engines on a large scale. 
• Innovation: Mazda’s engineering solved the crucial apex seal problem, which allowed for more reliable and durable rotary engines. 
• Brand Identity: The rotary engine became synonymous with Mazda’s identity, leading to iconic models like the RX-7 and the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans victory for the 787B racer. 

Do any cars have a rotary engine?

Yes, there are rotary engine cars available and in development, most notably the Mazda MX-30 e-SKYACTIV R-EV, a hybrid model that uses a rotary engine as a range extender. While a few other non-Mazda cars like the Citroën GS Birotor and Russian Lada Samara also used rotary engines, they are rare today due to historical challenges with efficiency and emissions, making Mazda the primary adopter of this unique engine technology.
 
Mazda’s Role in Rotary Engines

• Pioneering History: Mazda has been the main proponent of rotary (Wankel) engine technology, producing models such as the Cosmo Sports, RX-7, and RX-8 since the 1960s. 
• Modern Application: The rotary engine’s unique design, featuring a rotating triangular rotor instead of reciprocating pistons, offers smooth operation. 
• Range Extender Focus: Due to challenges with fuel economy and emissions in traditional direct-drive applications, Mazda is now using the rotary engine in hybrid vehicles as a compact, efficient range extender, such as in the Mazda MX-30 e-SKYACTIV R-EV. 

Other Rotary Engine Cars

• Citroën: The French automaker experimented with rotary engines in models like the Citroën GS Birotor and M35. 
• Lada: A rare version of the Russian Lada Samara was equipped with a twin-rotor Wankel engine, though it was primarily sold domestically and was not known for reliability. 
• Other Brands: Other lesser-known cars, such as the NSU Spider, Parkway Rotary 26, and AMC Pacer, have also featured rotary engines. 

Why were rotary engines banned?

The rotary has never been explicitly banned, the alignment to F1 was the only reason it wasn’t allowed, much like many of the piston engines that had been racing at the time were no longer allowed.