Review: 1991 Eunos Cosmo Type E (3-Rotor)

3 rotors, no waiting. With Nineties-style photography by The Commander

Sui generis. Latin, for “In a class of its own”. As opposed to generic, meaning “indistinguishable from others of its class”. The majority of new vehicles on the road now are, sadly, generic — and purposely so. A two-row crossover powered by a small-displacement, long-stroke turbo four. A three-row crossover with multiple screens on the dash and a two-liter turbo four. You get the idea. The automakers have adopted the Hertz philosophy to their lineups; what is a Chevrolet Equinox if it is not a “Honda CR-V… or similar”?

The Mazda Cosmo Type E, sold through the brand’s upscale Eunos channel in Japan, is similar to… nothing. Nominally, it’s a two-liter turbo, same as most of the lot-filler Bimmers, Benzes, and Audis out there. Except instead of four cylinders in a paint-shaker line you get… three rotors in a Wankel engine. This is sui generis. The Cosmo is the only three-rotor production car in human history.

After an hour behind the wheel, however, the completely unique engine is probably the last thing you’ll remember about it.