You’re likely well acquainted with Mazda’s iconic rotary engines, renowned primarily among sports car enthusiasts for their presence in models like the RX-7 and RX-8.
However, Mazda’s history with these technically intriguing engines extends beyond just sports cars, reaching back into various models from the distant past. Even in 2024, Mazda continues its relationship with the rotary engine, albeit in a different context compared to its predominantly sporty predecessors.
Today, you can still purchase a Mazda featuring a rotary engine, although it’s of a significantly different nature than its predecessors. Mazda offers a variant of the electric MX-30 equipped with a rotary engine serving as a range extender.
Undeterred by the shifting automotive landscape, Mazda remains committed to the rotary engine, establishing a dedicated department named the RE (Rotary Engine) Development Group. This initiative aims to accelerate the advancement of new rotary engines.
The RE Development Group operates within Mazda’s Powertrain Technology Development Department, also known as the Powertrain Development Division. Consisting of 36 technical experts, this group is focused on further refining rotary engines for use as generators.
While this direction may dampen hopes for a sporty Mazda model featuring a rotary engine, Mazda’s Chief Technology Officer, Ichiro Hirose, reassures that the company remains faithful to its commitment to crafting compelling models that embody Mazda’s Challenger Spirit in the era of electrification.
Presently, Mazda envisions a future for the rotary engine primarily as a generator for electric vehicles. However, the company hints at the possibility of integrating it in a more dynamic fashion beyond the confines of a crossover like the MX-30 R-EV.
In October of the previous year, Mazda provided a glimpse, albeit in broad strokes, of what an electrically powered coupe featuring a rotary engine could entail. Whether this concept will materialize into a production version remains to be seen.
