Wankel

Felix Wankel was a German engineer who designed the Wankel rotary engine, a type of internal combustion engine that uses a rotating rotor inside an epitrochoidal housing to create combustion chambers. The concept was developed in the mid-20th century, and NSU Motorenwerke built the first working prototype. Mazda licensed the design in the 1960s and would become the best-known producer of rotary-engined cars.

The Wankel engine replaces reciprocating pistons with a triangular rotor that turns within a specially shaped housing. As the rotor spins, the chambers formed between the rotor and housing expand and contract, undergoing intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust in sequence. The arrangement yields a smooth, high-revving power delivery and a simple moving-part count, contributing to a high power-to-weight ratio.

Development and production history highlighted both promise and problems. The NSU Ro 80, introduced in the 1960s, demonstrated the concept in production cars but faced reliability issues. Mazda produced a series of rotary cars, starting with the Cosmo Sport in 1967 and later the RX-7 and RX-8; these vehicles helped popularize the engine in sports cars, though emissions, efficiency, and apex-seal wear limited broader adoption. Rotary engines have also appeared in aviation and various concept vehicles, and research continues into sealing, lubrication, and emissions improvements.

In summary, the Wankel represents a distinctive and influential approach to internal combustion engines, linking Felix Wankel’s name to a design that offered notable benefits and enduring challenges.