The Rotary MX-30 is no longer a hope or a wish. Mazda has finally delivered the official word that a production model with a Wankel engine range-extender is happening. They’re calling it the MX-30 R-EV, and it will make its debut at the Brussels Motor Show on January 13th, 2023. For reference, the current MX-30 BEV uses a 35.5-kWh battery giving it only 100 miles of range. Its single-motor setup produces144 horsepower and 200 lb.-ft. of torque, providing it a paltry 9.6-second 0-60 mph run.
The last time a Wankel engine was used in a new Mazda model was in 2012, the last year of the RX-8. While that provided primary propulsion, this implementation will spin at a constant speed to act as a generator. That generator will recharge the battery, a similar setup to the late BMW i3 and Chevrolet Volt. How much extra range over the existing model it will provide? We do not yet know. How much extra driving range will it gain? We do not yet know. Will the battery get a boost in capacity? Hopefully all of these questions and more will be answered at the Brussels Motor Show in January.
More on the rotary MX-30 here.