Within the Wankel hierarchy, a pair of rotors is considered typical, three elevates to the superior class, and four signifies utmost prestige. Therefore, the thunderous six-rotor Mazda RX-7 (FD) under construction in the heart of New Zealand may well be reserved for a deity, as mere mortals may struggle to withstand its jaw-dropping resonance.
Crafted by the skilled artisans at Pulse Performance Race Engineering in New Zealand, the colossal six-rotor Wankel powerhouse stems from the foundation of the two-rotor 13B engines typically found in Mazda’s RX-7 and RX-8 models. With triple the rotor count, the estimated displacement surges to approximately 3.9 liters. This figure falls slightly below the 4.3-liter V6 engine residing in a Chevy Astro. However, rotary engines are renowned for their power density, allowing the six-rotor variant to effortlessly produce over 820 horsepower, translating to more than 200 horsepower per liter—a domain usually ruled by esteemed turbocharged powerplants. The auditory assault generated by this engine is potent enough to rupture eardrums, as evidenced in an accompanying video.
The distinctive sound emanating from the six-rotor amalgamates aspects of three- and four-rotor engines, featuring the former’s buzz but also encompassing the distinctive howl reminiscent of the iconic Mazda 787B. Admittedly, the timbre may not be universally appealing; likened to a high-powered weed whacker running on nitromethane. Nevertheless, the impressive auditory display suggests an intention to dazzle onlookers, hinted also by the presence of an angle kit indicating a potential drift setup that could outshine even the renowned Mad Mike.
If acquiring one of these six-rotor marvels is on your automotive wishlist, prepare for a mix of favorable and unfavorable developments. On the bright side, PPRE offers them for sale on their website. However, the downside lies in the exhaustive custom machining requirements and the daunting price tag, surpassing the annual income of the majority. To be precise, these crate engines carry a price tag of approximately $68,000. Furthermore, their physical dimensions are substantial, with estimates derived from the three-rotor 20B specifications provided by Drifted, suggesting a length of around 4.5 feet—nearly a foot longer than the V12 engine found in a Jaguar XJ.
In essence, integrating this powerhouse into your vehicle demands significant sacrifices—not only in terms of engine bay modifications, but potentially also to your financial stability.
If you have any tips or queries for the author, feel free to contact them at: james@thedrive.com
