Mazda's Rotary to Return as EV Range Extender in Europe

Mazda is bringing back the rotary engine.

Mazda on Monday confirmed plans for an electric version of the MX-30 with a rotary range extender. It will be called the MX-30 R-EV; the compact crossover debuting in 2019 will also offer a mild hybrid powertrain that relies on a 2.0-liter inline-4 in some markets.

The rotary-powered MX-30 will debut on January 13 at the 2023 Brussels Motor Show. Sales in Europe are expected in the spring, but sales in the U.S. have not been announced. According to a report on our sister site Green Car Reports, the R-EV will not be launched in the US, at least initially, as the company concentrates on other vehicles.

The MX-30 is available in the US starting with the 2022 model year, but only in California.

According to Mazda, the rotary engine in the Range Extended MX-30 is a new design. This engine functions as a generator rather than a direct source of power for motion.

The current MX-30 is powered by a 35.5 kwh lithium-ion battery with an EPA-rated range of only 100 miles. The range with a rotary range extender is unknown.

Mazda has already introduced an electric vehicle with a rotary range extender with the 2013 Mazda 2RE Range Extender Concept. That rotary was a 0.3-liter single-rotor that could add 111 miles of range on a full tank of gas.

Mazda's struggle to reduce emissions from its rotary engine means that a rotary-powered sports car is unlikely to return to the market.

Mazda plans to introduce some form of electrification in all models in its lineup by 2030. This is part of Mazda's overarching goal of reducing emissions by 90% from 2010 levels by 2050.

Update: This article has been updated to include the name of the extended-range MX-30 and information about its possible introduction in the U.S.