The first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions Mazda would be the brand’s use of the rotary (or Wankel) engine. Last used in the Mazda RX-8 back in 2012, Mazda has just restarted production of its rotary engine, albeit for the Mazda MX-30 R-EV. The Mazda MX-30 R-EV is an electric vehicle by Mazda with a range extender rotary engine.
The production of the rotary engine for the Mazda MX-30 will take place at Ujina Plant No. 1 in Hiroshima City. The production of the rotary engine marks a return after an 11-year hiatus. Before the hiatus, Mazda had cumulatively produced 1.99 million rotary engine vehicles.
Although the rotary engine is making a comeback for the Mazda brand, it won’t be driving the wheels this time as it functions as a generator or a range extender for the Mazda MX-30 R-EV. The engine in question is an 830-cc single-rotor unit called the Mazda 8C.
With the rotary engine in the MX-30 R-EV, what drives the wheels is a single electric motor setup that makes 170 hp and 260 Nm. It is slightly faster than the non-range-extender version of the car by 0.6 seconds in the century sprint. The MX-30 R-EV clocks 9.1 seconds while the MX-30 clocks 9.7 seconds.
The Mazda MX-30 REV houses a 17.8-kWh battery that is only able to provide 85 km of range. However, with the range extender/generator, the Mazda MX-30 REV is essentially a series hybrid with a 50-litre fuel tank. You basically don’t have to worry so much about charging the car, but should you choose to do so, the MX-30 R-EV can still be charged like the usual electric vehicle via either AC charging or DC charging.
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In Malaysia, the MX-30 is only available in its non-range-extender version. It houses a 35.5-kWh battery that provides 199 km of range (WLTP). The Malaysian-spec Mazda MX-30 is propelled by a single-motor setup that powers the front wheels, making 143 hp and 271 Nm. The Mazda MX-30 fetches a price of RM198,780 in Malaysia.
The rotary engine is an iconic engine that has become quite synonymous with the Mazda brand. Now, it has made its return, albeit in a ‘greener’ iteration.
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