According to a report by Autocar, in order to meet future European emission standards, Mazda needs to reduce the size of the hole in the combustion chamber where the spark plug sits, and one “absolutely possible” way to pull it off would be to use lasers to ignite the fuel/air mixture. Lasers could allow for a leaner fuel-air mixture, and also allow greater control over timing; size isn’t a problem anymore, either, as new technology allows high-powered lasers to be only 0.43 inches long and 0.35 inches wide.
Granted, we could see price being an issue (we imagine tiny lasers are probably pricier than spark plugs), but it sounds totally worth the added cost if it means a) keeping the rotary engine going, and b) Mazda drivers will be able to brag about having laser-powered combustion. It’s 2011; isn’t it time we had lasers under our hoods? [via Autocar]