Aston-Martins bland? What about some of the Alfa Romeos? http://www.alfaromeo.co.uk/cgi-bin/pbrand.dll/NEWALFA_UK/controller/models/models.aspx?language=1 DAS To send an e-mail directly replace "spam" with "schmetterling" ---
Of course not, its a Wankel. Efficiency isn't the objective, performance, light weight, and smoothness are. Wankels will never match piston engine efficiencies, just because of the fact that the fuel/air mix always has to sweep around the rotor chamber shedding precious heat energy to the cooling system all the way, instead of sitting in one spot and getting squeezed, burned, and expanded. Piston engines have gone back to "undersquare" designs to minimize combustion chamber surface area, the wankel effectively has a HUGE combustion chamber surface area by comparison.
No, I agree they're anything but bland. But they, like the Viper, are a very expensive niche vehicle. Pretty nice, but give me an early '60s Alfa Duetto any day.
