Re: Audi+rotary engines!

[Tom Nas <tnas@euronet.nl>]

adamnelson@juno.com wrote:

>Audi Wankel? Anyone remember NSU? Yes, that mysterious name after Audi on
>your ID tag. The Wankel killed NSU back in the 60's and Audi bought what
>was left. NSU used a rear mounted rotary engine in it's car and made the
>mistake of warrantying the engine. The cars more often than not needed a
>rebuild of the combustion chamber seal after very few miles. Covering
>this service put them out of business.
>
Yes, there used to be a joke that when two Ro80 drivers met, they'd flash
their headlights at each other- two flashes: 'I'm on my second engine',
three flashes... etc.
It's a pity Audi did not take the development of the Wankel any further
after burying the NSU name. It was a stonking engine IMO, and Mazda has
proved that a little perseverance could've ironed out the sealing problems.

The rear-mounted app was only in the small Wankel Spider BTW- most cars
with a Wankel engine were of the 'conventional' front-engined Ro80 variety.

BTW The Ro80 ranks highly in my line-up of most beautiful cars ever. A
late-'60s design, it still looks modern and aerodynamic, with superb
visibility and elegant lines.
Make mine a late ('77) model in that great-looking pale blue metallic with
the optional polished Fuchs alloys!

Tom
>
>
>On Thu, 22 Oct 1998 22:04:41 +0200 (MET DST) Tom Nas <tnas@euronet.nl>
>writes:
>>cobram@juno.com wrote:
>>
>>>On an Audi note, I can only speculate what the result of a
>>>Wankel attached to a Quattro drivetrain would have been
>>>like.  The RX2 would never get stuck in winter, even when
>>>I was running on college student semi baloney skins.  Everyone
>>>who ever borrowed the car was also amazed at how well
>>>it tracked in snow, especially uphill.   Anyone ever heard
>>>of a Wankel mated to a Quattro system?
>>
>>They came close to that. In the late '70s, Audi was experimenting with
>>the
>>pre-aero (type 41?) 100 with a rotary engine.
>>
>>Wish they'd taken it a few steps further...
>>
>>Tom
>>
>>
>>
>
>Adam Nelson '85 4000S, Blaupunkt cassette, Starbucks go cup, '69 Beetle,
>1 piece
>windows, hand held fan, '91 Vanagon, KYB Gas a Just, bug screens.
>Columbus, Ohio
>adamnelson@juno.com
>
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