Mazda MX-30 uses rotary engine for double the range

Ever since becoming famous for its Wankel-engined sports cars, Mazda has been unable to drop the idea of developing a commercially viable rotary powertrain for its production cars.

It is now official that the upcoming next-gen MX-30 CUV will make use of such an engine, but not without a caveat. The original Mazda MX-30 sold poorly because of its limited all-electric range of just 200 kilometers (125 miles). The next generation will see it retrofitted with a rotary motor acting as a range extender. Compared to a conventional IC engine, the design benefits from being more compact and less prone to vibration. The driving range will be double the original one (400 km / 250 miles).

Sales will begin in 2022, Mazda reports.