Mazda MX-30 R-EV: Release Date, Engine, Range, Specs
Mazda’s much-anticipated, on-again-off-again rotary engine project, now known as the Mazda MX-30 R-EV, has finally debuted at the Brussels Motor Show 2023. The rotary-passioned automaker first announced its plans to release a production vehicle with a rotary range extender when the all-electric Mazda MX-30 EV model debuted. However, the Mazda MX-30 R-EV release date and markets for this new Mazda plug-in hybrid with a rotary engine have yet to be confirmed.
The return of the rotary engine to a production car is an exciting turn of events for many. It signals the carmaker is still committed to improving the Wankel engine design and making it feasible for the next chapter in its history.
Still, this won’t mean the second coming of the Mazda RX-7 or RX-8, even though the new Mazda MX-30 plug-in hybrid does share some similarities with the latter rotary-engined wonder (more on that later).
Meet the Mazda MX-30 R-EV With a Rotary Engine
Now that the Mazda MX-30 plug-in hybrid or Mazda MX-30 PHEV model has debuted, we know a bit more about its design, specs, range and performance. We also know some of the unique Mazda MX-30 hybrid features that help it stand apart from the previous pure EV model, the Mazda MX-30 EV.
Here’s what we’ve learned about the Mazda MX-30 rotary range extender model, and what is still to be learned in the coming months:
The Mazda MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV Powertrain
The upcoming Mazda MX-30 rotary model, the MX-30 R-EV, will be motivated by a unique plug-in hybrid system featuring a single-rotor Mazda rotary engine as a range-extending generator. The single rotor has a displacement of just 830cc, making this smooth and lightweight rotary engine the ideal companion to an electric motor in this series hybrid setup.
The Mazda MX-30 R-EV’s rotary engine, named the 8C, never drives the wheels. Instead, it generates electricity to charge the battery and power the electric motor, thereby extending the plug-in hybrid crossover’s total driving range.
In this series hybrid setup, the Mazda MX-30 R-EV rotary engine’s single rotor spins within a narrow RPM range, optimizing for efficiency. In total, the Mazda MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV drivetrain generates 168 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque; the single-rotor rotary engine produces 73 hp and 86 lb-ft of torque on its own.
The new Mazda MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV boasts three drive modes: Normal, EV and Charge.
What We Know About the Mazda MX-30 R-EV Range
Mazda estimates the new Mazda MX-30 PHEV will offer about a 50-mile range on pure EV power alone before the rotary range extender kicks in to help generate electricity, allowing for likely hundreds of miles more of hybrid driving range.
The automaker has yet to provide an estimate for the total Mazda MX-30 PHEV range, but we suspect a figure nearing 400 miles. That’s because the Mazda MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV powertrain is paired with a rather large gas tank for a series hybrid, measuring a sizable 13.2 gallons.
Unique MX-30 R-EV Features
The new Mazda MX-30 R-EV shares many features with the MX-30 EV, including its body, chassis, platform, and interior. However, the entire Mazda MX-30 lineup offers some unique features, with this new MX-30 PHEV model adding several distinctive features that separate it from the limited-range EV version.
Like the last production Mazda car with a rotary engine, the Mazda RX-8, the new MX-30 R-EV features a rotary engine with side intake and exhaust ports, plus unique rear suicide doors, which Mazda has referred to as freestyle doors.
The rear-hinged doors can only be opened after the front doors, and they must be closed again before the front doors latch. Essentially, it’s the same rear-hinging door design as the RX-8, with the rear door’s handles hidden within the body, providing a streamlined look that almost gives off a two-door appearance.
Some of the exclusive Mazda MX-30 R-EV features include:
- e-Skyactiv R-EV powertrain with a single-rotor rotary engine
- Rotor-shaped badges on the front fenders
- “e-Skyactiv R-EV” badge at the rear
- Unique MX-30 R-EV wheels
Mazda MX-30 R-EV Trims: Edition R
Mazda will offer its new rotary-assisted MX-30 PHEV in a special “Edition R” trim that features a range of exclusive features, including some bodywork painted in a striking Maroon Rouge Metallic color, a nod to the automaker’s first passenger car: the R360 coupe.
The Maroon Rouge Metallic top on the new Mazda MX-30 R-EV Edition R is similar to the dark red soft top found on the 2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata 100th Anniversary edition, which was also inspired by the R360 coupe’s color scheme.
This special edition of the MX-30 R-EV will also receive Edition R rotary-themed motifs inside the cabin, notably on the front headrests.
When Is the Mazda MX-30 R-EV Release Date? Where Will It Be Available?
Mazda has yet to provide the Mazda MX-30 R-EV release date, nor the markets where it will be available. Considering it made its world premiere in Belgium at the Brussels Motor Show 2023, it seems safe to say Europe will be among the first to get the Mazda MX-30 rotary plug-in hybrid: the U.K. is set to see availability this summer.
The Hiroshima-based automaker has hinted that the Mazda MX-30 range extender model could be coming to the United States, and we hope it will, but it would likely arrive much later than in Europe, Japan and other markets.
Stay Tuned for More MX-30 R-EV News and Updates
Whether you’re waiting for more Mazda MX-30 R-EV news or are simply curious to see how this next-generation Mazda rotary engine setup plays out once it reaches production, be sure to check back with the MazdaMotoring blog for more MX-30 R-EV updates as they become available.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Mazda MX-30 R-EV release date?
Mazda has yet to announce the full Mazda MX-30 R-EV release date, nor all the markets where it will be sold. The MX-30 R-EV debut occurred in January 2023 at the Brussels Motor Show, so Europe should be among the first markets where the Mazda MX-30 PHEV is available, starting in the summer of 2023, with the United States market potentially following.
Does the Mazda MX-30 R-EV have a rotary engine?
Yes, the Mazda MX-30 R-EV has a rotary engine that works as a generator to power the electric motor. The new Mazda MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV powertrain operates as a series hybrid, where the electric motor drives the wheels, and the rotary engine range extender generates electricity to power the electric motor, offering around 400 miles of total driving range.
What is the Mazda MX-30 R-EV model and its range?
The Mazda MX-30 R-EV is a plug-in hybrid with a rotary engine. It utilizes a rotary range extender to generate electricity and power the electric motor. As a series hybrid, the wheels are only driven by the electric motor: the rotary engine acts as a generator, extending the driving range. Expect an EV range of around 50 miles and a total range nearing 400 miles.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Never miss a Mazda when you sign up for our email list: