Mazda has officially confirmed that its renowned Rotary engine will return to the United States, not as a separate engine, but as part of the MX-30's plug-in hybrid powertrain later this year. The engine will not directly power the wheels, but will instead serve as a range extender.
The company announced that the well-known engine would be used in Mazda's next MX-30 plug-in hybrid crossover, which would go on sale in the second part of the current fiscal year. That contract expires on March 31, 2023, so we may have to wait a little longer for the rotary-assisted crossover to appear in American showrooms.
Since the fully-electric MX-30 debuted at the 2019 Tokyo Auto Show, rumors of the engine returning to the market have been circulating, with Mazda confirming, then placing a stop on its release. According to Automotive News, the engine was supposed to debut in the first half of the 2019 fiscal year, but instead, the brand decided to launch a plug-in hybrid.
Mazda confirmed a hybrid version of the MX-30 would be powered by a rotary range extender more than a year ago. However, a Mazda spokeswoman stated six months later, in July 2021, that the rotary engine was still being considered as a range extender.
In the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Australia, the MX-30 is currently offered as a fully electric car. Because the engine never transmits power to either of the wheels, a range extender differs from a standard plug-in hybrid. The engine's main purpose is to recharge the batteries that power the electric motors. Range extenders have larger, more expensive batteries, but their engines are used less frequently than plug-in hybrids. Because of its tiny size, Mazda claims that the rotary engine is ideal for electrified powerplants.