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Rotary engine will rent next year in Japan - range is 124 miles. (http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2007-10-02-mazda_N.htm)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/mazdax-large.jpgYuri Kageyama - AP - Oct. 02, 2007

YOKOHAMA, Japan — Mazda took the wraps off two vehicles Tuesday ahead of its debut at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month: One is a new kind of hybrid vehicle, which runs on hydrogen fuel powering an electric motor; the other is a slinky sportscar calling to mind a metal stingray.

The Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid, available for leasing in Japan next year, operates on a rotary engine, which has a reputation for being quiet because it doesn't have pistons like standard engines.

The vehicle is powered by energy produced when hydrogen combines with oxygen in the air to emit only clean water. A conventional rotary engine runs on gasoline, but the one in the new hybrid runs on hydrogen stored in a tank, although it can switch to gas when hydrogen runs out.

Like other global automakers, Mazda, an affiliate of Ford Motor (F), has been working on hydrogen vehicles as consumers grow more interested in automobiles that don't rely so heavily on fossil fuels... http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2007-10-02-mazda_N.htm

Holy cow!! Have a look at the concept vehicle at the top of the linked article!!! :eek:

Hydrogen? *yawn*

Holy cow!! Have a look at the concept vehicle at the top of the linked article!!! :eek:

http://i.usatoday.net/money/_photos/2007/10/02/472wind.jpg

*THAT* is wild. Go Mazda for hydrogen power! :) Even though admittedly it isn't the final answer. ;)

Guys, I think Mazda should sell the exterior/interior design to Honda -- who should then stuff their awesome iCDTi engine into it. :D

http://www.mazda.com/publicity/release/2007/200710/071002b.jpg
Quite cool indeed.

As cool as it looks, it's just a concept. They barely resemble the concept when it gets to final production most of the time.

Yeah, but that doesn't change the fact that I'd like to own something that looks like that!!!! :eek:

Sport model - interesting.

I suspect the curved underside creates some downforce due to an airfoil effect in reverse direction to an airplane wing.

Or at least, if it is not enough of a curve to overcome uplift from the necessary upward curve of the top surface, it would reduce to some degree the lift that results from a car's top surface being longer than a car's flat bottom surface.

All I can say is zoom-zoom, baby. Zoom-zoom.

A little more lift and it might just fly.
Jetsons here we come. :-)

--des