http://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2017/april/norton-rotron-200-bhp-race-bike/ But mere mortals won't be able to afford one
The Wankel is an interesting engine. Today's tough emission controls are against it, but just like the diesel, new processes/technology may aid it to make a comeback. They make a lot of power, but they're not an efficient engine and have appaulling fuel economy. I love them, but I don't make the rules, so it's good to see that Norton are on the front foot. If you want to see how much power a rotary can make, get down to your local drag strip when the fast fours and rotaries jamboree is in town. Low 6's at over 220mph from something no bigger than a milk crate is tops in my book. F1 should switch to rotary engines...that would bring the noise back big time!
I seem to remember reading somewhere that direct injection was a future possibility for rotaries, it was the development that was just coming a little too late to see Mazda build a successor to the RX8 - potential improvements were touted to be fuel economy and emissions Not sure what came of that...
Mazda is still filing patents as of 2016 - perhaps there's been parallel development going on at Norton to reduce emmissions, hopefully the Norton puts in a good show at the IOM TT http://www.motoring.com.au/new-mazda-rotary-patented-101926/
It isnt Norton doing the development... just an ex Norton Engineer now working somewhere else. The company now known as Norton didnt have any connection to the rotary.. What they bought was a basic design of the current Commando that was done in the USA, they turned it into a British made engine (does that mean they made it leak oil) and frame and then started developing different versions and will in August release the V4SS 1200 for sale... http://www.nortonmotorcycles.com/bikes/new-v4.html
New rotary/hybrid by French maker Furion. Reckon it'll see the light of day? https://paultan.org/2017/05/04/2017-furion-m1-rotary-engined-hybrid-motorcycle-is-this-the-future-of-motorcycling/
