Mazda Motor Corporation has just launched the Mazda MX-30 in Japan but as an e-Skyactiv G mild-hybrid (MHEV) rather than a fully-electric (EV) crossover that recently went on sale in Europe. The biggest news so far concerning the MX-30 is the revival of the rotary engine as a range extender option for the Mazda MX-30.
While the rotary range extender has been announced as part of Mazda’s Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030 initiative way back in 2018, this is the first time that we get confirmation that it’ll be launched in the market by 2022. The announcement was made by Mazda President and CEO Akira Marumoto during the Japanese launch of the mild-hybrid MX-30.
The last vehicle to utilize the Wankel rotary engine was the Mazda RX-8. Unfortunately, due to stricter emissions regulations and other challenges, the iconic engine design was phased out in favor of Mazda’s current crop of Skyactiv engines. For a long time now, the Japanese automaker from Hiroshima remained enthusiastic that they will one day revive the rotary engine, so the recent announcement is truly welcome news for Mazda fans and car enthusiasts alike. Though the rotary engine won’t be applied in a sports car as most fans were hoping, the rotary engine extender could pave the way for the development of a high-performance rotary engine that’s perfectly appropriate for a sports car.
To recap, the Japanese-market Mazda MX-30 uses an e-Skyactiv G MHEV powertrain that consists of a 2.0-liter gasoline engine and a 24-volt integrated starter generator. We also now have official power figures for the mild-hybrid powertrain, wherein total system output is 156 hp and 199 Nm of torque. Power is sent to either the front (on 2WD models) or all four wheels (on AWD models) via a 6-speed automatic transmission.
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