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THE BREAKDOWN

• Changan is developing a new rotary engine called the R05E.
• The new engine will be used specifically for the 'low-altitude economy.'
• It makes 71 horsepower and revs to 6,500 rpm.
• Production kicks off in 2027.

The Wankel rotary engine is the stuff of legends: a compact, high-strung, ultra-smooth motor with a single triangular rotor at its heart. Mazda is a pioneer of the Wankel engine, using it in cars like the Cosmo and the RX-7.

This new rotary engine, though, isn't from Mazda. As with most technological breakthroughs as of late, this one is from China. A company called Changan has developed a new rotary engine, according to reports from CarNewsChina.

The new engine is called the R05E, and it’s the very first high-powered rotary engine developed in the region. The project was originally announced on April 9 in collaboration with mobility company AVL, but the first working prototype debuted on December 19. Production is scheduled to start sometime in 2027.

Changan plans to use this new motor in the "low-altitude economy"—things like drones, eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft), and maybe one day, flying cars, all of which operate below 1,000 meters (roughly 3,300 feet). China predicts that the low-altitude economy will be worth as much as ¥3.5 trillion ($490 billion) by 2035.

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Why It Matters: Hyundai and Toyota have proposed their own eVTOL projects, but Changan says that its new rotary powertrain is smoother, smaller, and quieter than its competitors. It also offers a better power-to-weight ratio than other gas powertrains—and even some electric setups.

The R05E engine reportedly makes 71 horsepower and can rev up to 6,500 rpm, but a more powerful version is still in the works. It uses a cast aluminum casing with a nanodiamond composite (NDC) anti-friction coating to help combat energy loss, with a single curved-edge triangular rotor.

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What’s interesting is that Changan—one of China’s "big four" automakers alongside Dongfeng, FAW, and SAIC—does have a strategic partnership with Mazda in China. But according to Changan, Mazda was not involved in the development of this particular rotary engine.

So, could this rotary potentially make it to a production car? It’s unclear. The engine’s diminutive size and output mean it could theoretically make sense as a range extender. But Changan hasn’t said whether it plans to use the engine in a production car. 

FINAL THOUGHS

This is good news for fans of the iconic rotary engine. Even though Changen doesn't plan to put it in a production car (yet), it's nice to see manufacturers investing in this beloved technology.

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