GM experimented with rotary engines at one point in time. The idea was this: less moving parts, lower production costs and lower operating costs. GM even designed cars around the rotary powered design. Two experimental Corvettes were built with 2 and 4 rotor engines. Even the Chevrolet Monza, Buick Skyhawk, Oldsmobile Starfire & Pontiac Sunbird were all originally designed with the intention of being rotary powered.
But the rotary design which was believed to have been purchased from Wankel (the rotary engine designer), turned out to be a low efficient engine that delivered poor gas mileage during that time at GM (early 70s).
As a result, GM ended up being two years behind on its engine emission/fuel mileage plan exactly when the first gas crisis of the ’70s hit in 1973.
Is there still a future for the rotary engine? Who knows? Perhaps a small displacement multi-rotor engine with turbocharging assistance could be the answer to lowering costs and improving gas mileage.
Computer controlled fuel injection systems have allowed large Corvette engines to achieve way over 24 MPG on the highway and also deliver 12 second quarter mile time slips before heading home.
These same computer managed fuel injection systems might make a huge difference in the future of GM.
All it would take is a new attitude.