Mazda postpones the MX-30 Rotary Range-Extender Engine

It isn’t yet canceled, but it is at least partially.

Turn away from those who have fallen in love with Mazda’s proprietary rotary engine. According to the Japanese automaker, the MX-30’s rotary engine will not be used as a range extender by the MX-30 in the first half 2022 . This was confirmed. According to Automotive News Masahiro Sakata, a Mazda spokesperson said that they are still looking at using a rotary engine for range extension, but that it is not clear when.

Mazda postpones the MX-30 Rotary Range-Extender Engine

Mazda North America confirmed this year that the MX-30 and the rotary engine range extender would be coming to the US. American fans who are eager to see this new development might need to wait a little longer. This is a little bit uncertain, however. According to Japanese media, Mazda has dropped the rotary engine range extender entirely because it required a larger battery. This made the vehicle too costly. Mazda’s rotary engine will continue to be available, but it will now serve as power-assist technology in series and plug-in hybrids. Mazda can reduce the battery’s size and thus lower the cost, but it will still be used more often.

Mazda postpones the MX-30 Rotary Range-Extender Engine

Mazda postpones the MX-30 Rotary Range-Extender EngineAutomotive News also reported that plug-ins and series hybrids with rotary engines would be revealed sometime between 2022-2025. However, the engines will not be used to power the wheels directly but instead act as generators in the same way Nissan’s self-charging electric e-Power works. After receiving so much attention over the past two-years, Mazda’s plans to revive the rotary engine have become blurry. We can take some comfort knowing that the project is still on the horizon, but it’s still being considered.