Mazda's new MX-30 and why Rotary lovers should be excited!

Back in 2019, Mazda unveiled its new crossover SUV at the Tokyo Motor Show, the MX-30. The car is a plug-in hybrid, with a 35.5kwh battery creating 141hp & 195Lb-ft of torque, with a range of 130 miles, which isn't really that great. The Mx-30 has been on sale for some time now, in fact, it was first available in Japan in 2020. However, in 2023 a new variation was announced, seeing the return of the famous Rotary Engine that the brand is known for.

The new MX-30, featuring the 830cc Rotary Generator

The Rotary variant of the MX-30 is still a plug-in hybrid, but, addresses the range anxiety that many associate with today's electric cars, and houses a single 830cc rotary engine which is used as a generator. Mazda state that owners can expect to get around 50 miles of EV power before the generator kicks in to recharge the battery. Yes, that's right, the Rotary engine won't power the wheels in any way and only runs at around 2500-4000rpm. Sorry to break the news.

We do get an increase in power though, achieving 168bhp and 192 lb-ft of torque. But, let's be honest, if your buying an EV, your not looking for speed or power but rather range & better economy. So, expect to achieve around 400 miles before needing to stop to refill, the rotary providing around 350 miles on top of the 50 miles provided by the battery when fully charged. Buyers will also get the rear-hinged "suicide doors" found on the Rx-8, a nice touch.

Now that we've got those details out of the way, let's talk about the elephant in the room and why this crossover SUV, in a world FULL of other SUVs, is good news for Rotary enthusiasts.

The new 830cc Rotary with some interesting features on the sides walls.

Now, rotary engines are famous for a few things. Those are Apex seals, carbon build-up & poor fuel economy. Sounds pretty terrible when you put it that way, but there are benefits to having a rotary. The engine is extremely light & compact, and the power output incredible considering its size. Provided it has enough lubrication & cooling, the engine is reliable, with fewer moving parts, allowing it to go all the way up to 9-10 thousand RPM. Love it!

With Mazda's new Rotary engine though we see a few changes to the design which, address some of the issues that pushed people away. The combustion chamber has increased from 650cc to 830cc, meaning we get more power & torque from the get-go over the older designs. But won't that mean more weight? Well, no. The housing is made of Aluminium which alone saves 15kg. Compression ratios have been improved to around 11.8 and we also see the apex seals increase in thickness to improve reliability, coated for extra protection. We also see an improvement economically, with Mazda opting for direct injection over port injection which, Mazda say should increase fuel consumption by up to 25%. Nice.

So why should we be excited? Well first and foremost, this is by all accounts a more powerful, more reliable, economical rotary-powered engine for car enthusiasts to get stuck into. I am certain that as you read this article, there are petrol heads around the world developing ways to combine these engines to replace their 13B's for yet more "Braps". For those that have driven a rotary car, you'll know that these cars provide a driving experience like no other, with smooth acceleration, great handling and a noise like nothing else on the road. So imagine what it's going to be like with 830cc engines placed into the lightweight chassis of old. Yoshiaki Noguchi, assistant manager of Mazda's powertrain development division said the new engine would still perform well at high engine speeds, so this makes it perfect for older RX series cars & lightweight chassis alike. You SHOULD be excited!

Mazda's 2015 RX-Vision concept

Secondly, Mazda hasn't completely ruled out the return of another Rotary sports car that we've grown to love. Noguchi stated. "It’s a dream of engineers at Mazda to have a sports car with a rotary. Now is not the time for that". Don't get me wrong, a sports car is still a bit of a dream, but the fact that the Rotary engine has continued to be developed shows Mazda's commitment to the engine and we all know deep down that they want to release another Rx series car.

In 2015 Mazda teased us with the RX-Series concept which captured hearts with a beautiful body just screaming out for a Rotary engine. But it never came to light and it appears given the comments from Mazda this year, we will have to wait even longer to see an RX return. I take this news as a silver lining as you will. Ok, I'm upset that the return of the rotary is in yet another SUV, BUT, it has returned with several improvements.

So, hand on tight rotary fans, It will arrive one day. For now, let's get our hands on these new engines and make some flames & noise in the meantime!