In Japan, an unusual sports car Mazda Cosmo Vision was presented. The rodster made in the neoclassical style is made on the basis of the serial MX-5 and is dedicated to the historical Mazda Cosmo, which was the first serial car in the world with a rotary piston engine (RPD).
Cosmo Vision is built in a single instance in Nihon Automobile College (Nihon Automotive Technology School or Nats). This educational institution is preparing specialists for the Japanese car industry, the MX-5 alteration project in Cosmo Vision has developed and embodied students, so they received practical skills of work in the specialty even during training, writes Drom.ru portal.
Nats wanted to remind the glorious history of the Cosmo model, which appeared in the distant 1967. She received its name in honor of the international cosmic race, which unfolded in those years. Taking into account the fact that it was the world's first serial car with a rotary engine, Mazda wanted to make a special focus on advanced technologies, therefore chose such a sign name.
The original Mazda Cosmo was equipped with a two-engine motor working volume of less than 1.0 liters. He developed 110 or 130 hp Given the mass of only 940 kilograms, the specific power was obtained very impressive (even in modern standards). A mechanical transmission was installed on the car (there were four or five speeds in it depending on the year of release) and rear-wheel drive.
Cosmo Vision is made on the basis of the MAZDA MX-5 generation ND (from the 2015th). From the source machine, the body frame, chassis and aggregates are saved. Students made a completely new design of the front and rear parts of the car - in the style of Cosmo 60s. Round block headlights are taken from Volkswagen New Beetle.
The salon was almost unchanged left from MX-5. In the movement, the machine leads the standard for MX-5 1.5-liter motor.
Also, the NATS project uses the mass of modern tuning: Blitz air filter, kuhl silencer, a pneumatic suspension with a travel lumen function, 17-inch Rays discs and much more.
Recall, Mazda stopped producing cars with rotary motors in 2012 along with the departure of the RX-8 coupe. The traditional advantages of the RPD before ordinary piston engines are considered a low level of vibration, high specific power, low weight, small dimensions, fewer parts. Disadvantages - faster wear of rubbing elements and seals, tendency to overheating, increased fuel consumption at low revs, low maintainability.
In 2022, the Japanese company is going to return to the production of RAP. It will be used in the composition of the hybrid power plant of the Mazda MX-30 sports drivers.