Mazda is reviving the rotary engine, but don't get your hopes up for a new-era RX-7...
has developed an all-new rotary engine, resurrecting the iconic combustion engine type as a range extender for a compact EV. The Wankel rotary has long been a defining technology from Mazda since the 1960s, but has here been rebooted for a very contemporary new application. While far from being news of a new rotary powered sports car, it does reiterate Mazda’s habit of following its own tune when it comes to engineering and design.
The new Wankel rotary will be placed under the bonnet of the MX-30, a small crossover that until now has only been available in Europe as a full-EV. It will act as a range extender by producing electricity for the batteries when they’re depleted, rather than driving the wheels directly. Mazda has not revealed any specific technical specifications yet, but the fundamentals of the rotary engine do inherently suit this application.
Firstly, the Wankel rotary is comparatively small compared to traditional piston combustion engines, with its barrel-shaped packaging also being more flexible. It’s also an inherently smooth engine, helping improve overall refinement. Being a range extender, it won’t be physically connected to the wheels so engineers will have the capability to fine-tune its operating window, helping overcome some of the Wankel’s inherent compromises.
As any Mazda fan would know, rotaries have a few quirks relating to their longevity and reliability, with issues usually surrounding their rotor tips, high oil consumption and high fuel consumption. However, with the ability to precisely control the engine’s warm-up procedure, manage temperatures and having to be tuned for a narrow optimum efficiency window, many of these problems should be able to be engineered out.
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