Trademark applications filed with IP Australia suggest Mazda is on track to bring back the rotary engine for the first time in more than a decade – but as a range extender for its electric SUV, rather than in a high-powered sports car.
The Mazda MX-30‘s rotary-powered range-extender variant is edging closer to showrooms after two years of delays, with three Australian trademark applications hinting at an upcoming arrival for the hybrid powertrain.
In 2020, Mazda confirmed it was developing a rotary engine-powered range-extender for the MX-30 electric car – to be sold alongside the model’s 2.0-litre hybrid petrol engine and electric-motor variants.
Range-extenders act as a generator, increasing an electric car’s range by charging its battery while on the move, rather than directly driving the wheels.
Submitted to IP Australia, Mazda has trademarked the ‘e-SKYACTIV R-EV’ and ‘e-SKYACTIV R-HEV’ names – likely referencing the MX-30’s e-Skyactiv engine as well as the planned Rotary-Electric Vehicle and Rotary-Hybrid Electric Vehicle variants.
A third trademark application has revealed Mazda’s proposed design for the badges on its range-extender equipped models, incorporating an ‘e’ (for electric) inside the shape of a rotor.
While Mazda’s rotary engine design has a number of shortcomings – such as a lack of torque, high fuel consumption, and a question mark over long-term reliability – the car-maker claims its range-extender would not suffer the same issues due to the engine running at a steady state.
Mazda claims the MX-30 Electric has a maximum driving range of between 200km and 224km from its 35.5kWh battery – approximately half the range of its competitors in the $70,000-75,000 electric car market. However, real-world testing by Drive has found its maximum driving distance on a single charge is closer to 150km.
In March 2021 – before the MX-30 arrived in Australia – Mazda’s local arm said it was interested in adding the rotary range-extender powered variant to its 2022 line-up, however the model is yet to enter production.
Since its Australian arrival in 2021, Mazda has sold 1556 examples of the MX-30 – the company’s second-lowest selling model, behind the MX-5 sports car.
Mazda Australia only imported 100 examples of the MX-30 Electric, but slow uptake of this variant has resulted in some dealers offering discounts of up to $15,000.
“Sales for the full-electric Mazda MX-30 are in line with Mazda Australia’s projections. A portion of the initial allocation of Mazda MX-30 Electric models remain available, along with some ex-demonstrator models,” a statement from the company said at the time.
The post Mazda MX-30 rotary range-extender one step closer to Australia appeared first on Drive.
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