For Mazda fans, the rotor engine is their spiritual totem. Rotor engines use triangular rotor rotation to control compression and emissions, which is very different from the linear motion of traditional reciprocating piston engines. The rotor of the rotor engine works three times per rotation, which has the advantage of a high horsepower volume ratio (the engine volume can output more power than the general four-stroke engine that only works once every two turns).
However, from production assembly to maintenance and repair, the rotor engine is very different from the traditional engine, and the development cost is large. And the reciprocating piston engine in the power, weight, emissions, energy consumption and other aspects have been significantly improved than in the past, coupled with the major automobile companies on the reciprocating piston engine technology research maturity, and the rotor engine technology is unfamiliar, the rotor engine does not show obvious advantages, so the major automobile companies have no enthusiasm to develop and utilize, only Mazda.
Discontinued in 2012, the RX-8 is Mazda's last rotor-engine-powered series. Prior to this, both the RX-3 and the RX-7 enjoyed a special place in the car world in this special engine form. Among them, RX-7 due to the influence of anime, movies and other popular culture, even if it has been more than 20 years since its exit, its second-hand car prices are still high, and the modifications are still dazzling, and it is not too much to call it a "hall-level" Japanese sports car.
Recently, Mazda officially announced that its classic rotor engine will be installed on the MX-30 model in the form of a range extender, and said that the extended range version of the Mazda MX-30 model will be officially released in March 2023. At present, Mazda MX-30 has a pure electric version and a fuel version of the two power systems to choose from, of which the fuel version matches the 24V micromix system, and the pure electric version has a cruising range of 256 kilometers. This is undoubtedly exciting news for Mazda fans, and the rotor engine has finally returned, albeit as a "supporting role".
The MX-30, Mazda's first mass-produced electric vehicle, debuted in Tokyo in October 2019, is powered by an electric motor with a maximum power of 143 hp and a peak torque of 265 Nm. Mazda launched a hybrid version of the 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine + 24V light mix the following year, and there has been news that it will launch an extended-range version of the car series equipped with a rotor engine.
At present, the Mazda MX-30 pure electric version has a range of 256 kilometers. It is understood that Mazda hopes to increase the range of the MX-30 to 400 kilometers through the range extender system, and increase the mileage while using rotor engine technology to enhance the motor capability. Officially, the new power is called "multi-electric technology", and the rotor engine will become the range extender of the electric motor.
For many car fans, the rotor is faith. But for the MX-30, the rotor is just smaller in size and weight than the piston reciprocating engine, which is different from the RX rotor sports car. Although in the editor's opinion, the design of the door is somewhat homage to the RX-8, it is an SUV after all.
So far, there is no news of the introduction of MX-30 in China. In the domestic market, the mileage of new energy models is often 5.600 kilometers or even more than 1,000 kilometers, for the MX-30, which has a range extender and only 400 kilometers of cruising range, there is almost no competitiveness in the Chinese market, not to mention the pure electric version with a cruising range of 256 kilometers! Maybe not entering the Chinese market is a better choice for the Mazda MX-30.
Auto Network Review: The return of the rotor is gratifying, but it is somewhat regrettable that it is used to generate electricity.
Fans are looking forward to the return of the rotor because of the fascinating performance of the rotor engine, and the small "body" can burst out of huge energy, which may be the essence of the rotor. The use of rotor engines for power generation, although somewhat unexpected, is also reasonable. In the tide of new energy, even If Mazda has always insisted on itself, it is inevitable to make compromises, after all, ordinary reciprocating piston engines are almost no one has developed, who will pay attention to the rotor? Even if there are some sighs, but after all, the rotor engine has returned, everyone still does it and cherishes it!