Mazda to switch off its rotary engine

Mazda is to stop producing vehicles with its signature rotary engines next year because of poor sales and the costs of meeting emissions standards.

The Japanese car maker said the latest edition of the RX-8, the only model in its line-up that has the rotary engine, would go on sale on 24 November, targeting sales of 1,000 vehicles, but it would end production in June.

Rotary engines have fewer moving parts and are quieter than comparable piston engines but are more expensive to manufacture and consume more fuel.