Disclosed are various embodiments for reluctance synchronous machines having a rotor comprising a plurality of rotor core assemblies configured to form a reluctance torque tunnel having at least a first reluctance tunnel segment and a second reluctance tunnel segment and a stator having a plurality of coils configured to form a coil winding assembly, the coil winding assembly positioned within the reluctance torque tunnel, such that at least one of the plurality of coils is surrounded by the first reluctance tunnel segment or the second reluctance tunnel segment, alternatively the rotor may be the coil winding assembly and the stator may be the reluctance torque tunnel.