Rejoice! Mazda is bringing back the rotary engine on January 13. However, you’re probably aware of what we’ll be saying next. This engine won’t mean the revival of the Mazda RX-7 or any rotary sports car. Instead, as the company has teased and announced multiple times, it will serve its duty in the MX-30 subcompact electric crossover as a range extender.
This officially means that the Mazda MX-30 is technically going to be available as a plug-in hybrid since apart from the rotary engine serving its duty to charge the tiny 35.5 kWh lithium-ion battery, the electric powertrain can also be charged. The rotary engine won’t be powering the wheels as its purpose is to merely add range and compensate for the MX-30’s mediocre range of fewer than 200 kilometers.
The plug-in hybrid Mazda MX-30 will finally make its debut at the upcoming Brussels Motor Show on January 13, with all details to be revealed at the show. Though no details have yet been revealed regarding the rotary engine, we uncovered a patent filing from last year that showcases how Mazda is tackling the poor efficiency of the said engine type.
For now, the Mazda MX-30 is solely available in pure electric form, wherein its 35.5 kWh battery powers a single front-driven electric motor that produces just 144 hp and 271 Nm of torque. That’s enough for this crossover to reach 9.7 seconds, while its top speed is just 140 kph in order to preserve range.
The plug-in hybrid Mazda MX-30 will first go on sale in Europe this spring of 2023, though it’s also been confirmed for the North American market as well.
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