Mazda’s famous rotary engine finally made its big return last 12 months, however it wasn’t under the hood of a substitute for the RX-8. In actual fact, it wasn’t even in a performance automotive in any respect. As an alternative, it served as a spread extender for the MX-30 electric crossover. You’ll be able to’t buy that exact automotive within the U.S., but that doesn’t mean Mazda’s given up on bringing the rotary engine back to the Land of the Free. In an interview with Automotive News, the CEO said that’s because we want a more powerful twin-rotor engine.
Speaking with Auto News, CEO Masahiro Moro said it isn’t easy to develop a rotary engine that meets stricter emissions requirements but that the corporate expects to get there soon. ”I need a rotary engine that complies with very stringent emission regulations. That’s going to be a big challenge. We’re very close,” Moro explained.
While other countries already get the MX-30 with a rotary engine, it’s allegedly too weak to present us big, strong Americans the type of power we demand. Due to that, Mazda plans to double the variety of rotors, with Moro saying:
If we’re eager about the U.S. market, one rotor will not be enough. Two rotors are needed to generate more power. We have now tested with the only rotor. The following phase might be moving to 2. The rotors spin individually in several chambers with one shaft. We’d like to generate more electricity. Two rotors will generate more power, which is more suitable to U.S. market characteristics.
While it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who’s been being attentive, that second-to-last sentence might be a bummer for anyone hoping that whatever automotive the brand new two-rotor engine leads to won’t be a hybrid. It seems like the brand new engine will still function a spread extender similar to within the MX-30, and the team simply needs something that may recharge the batteries more quickly than the single-rotor engine.
That will surely be a change in comparison with the RX-7 and RX-8, but at the identical time, if that’s what it takes to get a production version of the Iconic SP Concept, I’ll take it. If the selection is between a stunning electric coupe with a rotary range extender or no coupe in any respect, I’m going with the previous option each time.
This Article First Appeared At jalopnik.com
