From 1967 to 2012, Mazda produced 1.9 million vehicles with rotary piston engines (RPDs) named after engineer Felix Wankel. The Japanese company held on to this design longer than others, but eleven years ago it also gave up: increased oil consumption, high costs for warranty obligations and the inability to comply with tougher economic standards put an end to the RPD. However, after the break, Japanese engineers still brought the Wankel engine back to life, albeit in a slightly different role. The Mazda MX-30 R-EV hybrid SUV, equipped with a new rotary piston engine, debuted at the Brussels Motor Show.
It is now really impossible to use RPD as the main source of thrust for the above reasons. But the rotary engine is still very compact and balanced, so the Japanese engineers decided to use it as an onboard generator to recharge the traction battery of an electric vehicle. In this case, the RPD almost always operates in a steady state, which can significantly reduce oil consumption and harmful emissions.
On prototype with rotary extension we drove back in 2014: then this motor was installed in the trunk of the Mazda Demio electric hatchback. But now, after nine years of fine-tuning, the Japanese have decided to use such a power plant on the most outrageous model in the range – the compact Mazda MX-30 SUV with a coupe-like silhouette and swinging doors in different directions without a central pillar. Until now, the MX-30 has only been offered as “mild” hybrid with a conventional gasoline engine and a clean electric vehicle. The version under the long name Mazda MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV became the third in the range.
This is a serial hybrid: an electric motor on the front axle is responsible for the rotation of the wheels, which produces 166 hp. and 260 Nm against 145 hp and 271 Nm for the purely electric version. The rotary engine is installed under the hood and has no mechanical connection with the wheels: it drives only the generator, which recharges the traction battery.
The rotary engine itself has an 8C index and only one section with a working volume of 830 cubic centimeters. For example, the Renesis engine in the latest Mazda RX-8 sports car was a two-section, 1.3-liter displacement. The rotor radius is 120 mm, its thickness is 76 mm, and the width of the entire engine is only 840 mm. It is equipped with a direct fuel injection system and exhaust gas recirculation. Power – only 75 hp at 4700 rpm, but this is enough for the generator.
Under the floor of the cabin is a traction battery with a capacity of 17.8 kWh (against 35.5 kWh for a purely electric version), a full charge should be enough for 85 km. And taking into account the travel extension and a 50-liter gas tank (it is installed under the rear seat), the cruising range is approximately 600 km versus 200 km for an electric car. You can also charge the battery from AC or DC terminals.
The R-EV rotary hybrid turned out to be slightly lighter than the electric car: the curb weight is 1703 kg versus 1720 kg. Top speed is also limited to 140 km/h. But a more powerful electric motor made it possible to reduce the acceleration time to “hundreds” from 9.7 to 9.1 s. There are driving modes to choose from Normal (hybrid), EV (electric) and Charge (to conserve battery power).
Outside and in the cabin, the hybrid is almost indistinguishable from other variants of the MX-30 model. So the main visual sign of a unique modification will be the nameplates on the front fenders in the form of a stylized rotor with the letter e inscribed in it. Europe has become a priority market for the Mazda MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV rotary hybrid, where sales will begin in the summer. It is stated that the price of such a hybrid will not differ from the electric version. For example, in Germany, they ask for at least 36,000 euros for such a Mazda.
