Mazda will launch the latest variant of the Mazda MX-30 electric crossover at the 100th edition of the Brussels Motor Show happening on January 14 to 22, 2023 in Brussels, Belgium. What makes the new MX-30 variant special is that it features a new generation Wankel rotary internal combustion engine (ICE) as a range extender.
The MX-30 is Mazda’s first electric model that is based on the CX-30. Available in full battery electric, plug-in hybrid, and mild hybrid configuration, the MX-30 is currently offered in Japan, US, Australia, New Zealand, and select European markets.
Set for its global unveil later this week, the new Mazda MX-30 REx comes with a new rotary engine that has been “reborn for the electric age,” as per the Japanese marque.
Best-known as the powertrain of Mazda’s timeless RX-series sports cars, as well as the engine that garnered the brand of being the first Japanese manufacturer to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Mazda is reviving the rotary ICE platform as a battery range extender for its MX-30 electric crossover model. Similar to how the local-market Nissan Kicks’ ePOWER powertrain layout works, the rotary engine in the upcoming MX-30 REx will solely serve as a generator to charge its battery and will not be directly sending power to the wheels.
With the help of the new generation rotary ICE range extender, the new Mazda MX-30 REx is said to feature a range of up to 270 miles. As per Autocar UK report, the first British-market MX-30, which went on sale in September 2020, came with a 130-mile range.
The MX-30 REx’s range extender is the first rotary engine in a Mazda since the Mazda RX-8 sports coupe, which production ended over a decade ago.
