Mazda RX-7 FD Spirit R Type C 13B-REW Rotary Engine
The Spirit R Type C paired Mazda’s 13B-REW rotary engine with a four-speed automatic, rated at 188 kW (255 PS).
The automatic Spirit R engine
The 13B-REW powered the four-seat Mazda RX-7 FD Spirit R Type C, the automatic member of Japan’s final Spirit R series. Mazda specified 188 kW (255 PS) with a four-speed automatic; the manual Type A and Type B received a 206 kW (280 PS) rating. These are distinct applications of the same engine designation. Mazda’s launch specification.
Rotary architecture and turbocharging
The 13B-REW uses two rotors, each with a nominal displacement of 654 cc, giving 1,308 cc in total. Mazda’s technical comparison identifies side intake ports and peripheral exhaust ports for this engine family. Those details distinguish it from the later RX-8’s 13B-MSP RENESIS, which adopted side exhaust ports. This is family-level engineering evidence, rather than a Type C-specific specification sheet. Mazda Technical Review, Table 1.
The FD’s two turbochargers operate sequentially to support both lower-speed torque and higher-speed output. Mazda describes this arrangement in its historical account of the RX-7. That account concerns a different market example; its horsepower figure should not replace the Japanese Type C rating. Mazda USA’s RX-7 history.
Application chronology and significance
Mazda announced the Spirit R on 25 March 2002, with Japanese sales beginning on 22 April. The announcement anticipated an August 2002 end to FD production; it does not establish individual engine build dates. Its 1,500-car allocation covers the entire Spirit R series, not Type C alone. Contemporary Mazda announcement.
The Type C documents the automatic powertrain offered in the RX-7’s farewell series. The cited launch release does not identify its engine assembly plant, Type C production total, torque rating or detailed calibration changes.
Related records
See the parent Spirit R Type C for the vehicle specification and the FD generation for broader development history. Compare the separately catalogued Type A 13B-REW and Type B 13B-REW applications.