Hydrogen power for the Mazda RX-9

The rotary engine is world-renowned for performance. However fuel-efficiency for rotary engine is not good. Mazda wants to make Wankel's masterpiece the poster child for its hydrogen-powered endeavors, so it's considering offering a dual-fuel version of the engine in its next RX-badged offering.

Mazda's RX-8 Hydrogen RE vehicle will evolve into a new model, dubbed the RX-9, and is rumored to be motivated by a hydrogen-gasoline powertrain that will offer 20 percent better fuel economy and emissions over a traditional gasoline-powered Rotary. Styling for the car will be based on Taiki concept and there is a switch mounted on the dash to toggle between gasoline and hydrogen fuel systems. The hydrogen will be employed when city driving to reduce fuel consumption but power will drop around 20 percent. While the user will for more power they can always switch to fuel system.

Mazda's goal is to make the rotary engine's performance, fuel economy and emissions up the level of gasoline-electric hybrids, and if AE's sources are to be believed, the hydrogen-powered RX-9 should arrive in 2012.