Mazda is bringing rotary engines back!
The Mazda MX-5 is a survivor. Against all odds, the small, affordable sportscar is still going when almost all competitors have seemingly vanished. Mazda’s fierce independence and refusal to let one of its trademark products die can be credited to that, and now, it’s about to revive another one of its iconic products – the rotary engine.
Well, sort of. Alongside the MX-5’s longevity sits a bit of a black hole. The Wankel rotary engine – the source of power for many of Mazda’s most iconic models – has not been a part of the Mazda line-up since the RX-8’s departure over ten years ago. But Mazda has just confirmed that it’s coming back, and soon. But in a completely different way to what’s gone before it.
It’s been rumoured for a few years now, but Mazda is finally ready to show to the world the revived rotary it’s been promising for some time – and it’s a crucial part of a new plug-in hybrid powertrain. On 13th January at the Brussels Motor Show, it will reveal a new version of its MX-30 crossover equipped with this rotary range-extender setup, the model presently only available with a fully-electric powertrain.
No technical details have been confirmed, but it wouldn’t be hard to imagine the new rotary engine working directly in line with the electric powertrain the MX-30 already employs, given its compact nature. The MX-30’s 35.5kWh battery is small for a car of its size, and ripe to be deployed alongside a rotary engine that can generate additional charge for it, in a range-extender setup. Perhaps the power of the electric will step up from the 143PS (105kW) output it presently deploys, to compensate for the extra weight.
And could the MX-30 rotary range-extender revive the ‘RX’ designation missing from Mazda’s range since 2012? For now, all we know is that the car will wear a new badge, incorporating an ‘e’ (presumably standing for electrification) into a Wankel rotor. All will be revealed later this week.
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