Development:
With the increasing number of sports cars entering the market in the 1990s, Ibishu decided to experiment with underdeveloped technology and founded the Ibishu Experimental Division (I.E.D.).
The RX powertrain was the first project undertaken by the motorsport-derived team.
During development, the team decided to invest its time in developing a previously unseen Wankel engine. The modularity and free-revving characteristics of this type of engine made it a perfect fit for a truly driver-focused sports car.
Development progressed smoothly, and the division regarded the RX as a true passion project, free from the limitations and restrictions imposed by Ibishu’s higher-ups. After a relatively short development period, the 1994 Ibishu 200RX Type-RX and Diana Type-RX were released to the public.
Debut:
The 200RX / Diana RX was first unveiled to the public at the 1993 Tokyo Motor Show, with the first units being delivered in the first quarter of 1994. The vehicle was exclusive to the Japanese market, positioned as a more premium-oriented alternative to the GTz Turbo. It featured the now-legendary 1,962 cc three-rotor powertrain. The rotary engine produced 50 more horsepower than the GTz Turbo while remaining naturally aspirated, with peak performance arriving at a whopping 7,700 rpm.
The RX also featured exclusive trim and wheels, along with a sportier yet premium interior. It introduced several cutting-edge driving aids, including the Speed Limit Control (S.L.C.), which emitted an audible warning when the vehicle exceeded 120 km/h, helping to encourage safer driving, ironic.
Racing Culture:
While being a relatively successful model, the RX series was only available for purchase for a single year. Combined with its hefty price tag, this quickly made the 200RX and Diana Type-RX rare and highly sought-after vehicles.
During production, Ibishu decided to offer the engine separately for motorsport purposes, a practice that continues to this day. The three-rotor powertrain quickly became far more popular than anticipated, eventually becoming a staple of the (street) racing scene throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. To this day, it continues to be used competitively in various forms of motorsport.
The three-rotor has proven to be an incredibly modification-friendly and reliable engine if properly maintained. Its relatively simple and very human- design makes it easy to understand, work on, and modify. The versatility of its three-rotor configuration allows for a wide variety of builds, ranging from drift and track-day cars to dedicated drag machines.
Over the years, the engine has truly become a cult favorite among enthusiasts. An enormous variety of aftermarket parts and customizations are still available, with no signs of the platform slowing down, even more than 30 years after its debut.
Features:
New 3-Rotor Engine
- Custom engine sounds created with Engine Simulator by Ange Yaghi.
- Different sounds depending on the engine block configuration (stock, bridge-ported, peripheral-ported, etc.).
- Every new .dae and .dds asset is manually created from scratch, without AI.
- Lots of aftermarket parts to choose from.
- These are represented by lore-friendly brands such as Nomi, Adler, Wangan, etc.
- Almost every customization option is also represented in-game.
- Ibishu also sells the engine separately to this day, making it a popular choice in the tuning scene.
200RX & Diana Type-RX
- A limited-production trim featuring the 3-rotor powertrain.
- Distinguished by its anodized aluminum trim, 3-spoke wheels, and classy yet sporty interior.
- Exclusive to the Japanese market.
- Only available for the 1994 model year.
- Considered rare today.
- Developed the Ibishu Experimental Division (I.E.D.).
Beta Ibishu 200RX / Diana type-RX 0.9.1.4
The legendary three-rotor powertrain, developed by the Ibishu Experimental Division
