MX-30 plug-in hybrid resurrects rotary engine

BRUSSELS — Mazda's famed rotary engine is getting primed for electrification.

The MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV plug-in hybrid, which debuted at the Brussels Motor Show last week, features a gasoline rotary engine as a power generator that, along with a 17.8-kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery, gives the small crossover an electric-only range of 53 miles.

Mazda said the range should allow customers to use the MX-30 in electric mode for most daily driving needs.

The MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV's rollout fulfills a Mazda promise to resurrect the rotary engine after retiring the technology in 2012 when the RX-8 sports car was dropped.

European deliveries are expected to start in April at a base price of €38,150 ($41,320) in Italy. It will also be sold in Japan, with timing undetermined. There are no plans to bring it to the U.S., a Mazda spokesperson said.

The electric motor offers maximum output of 170 hp at 9,000 rpm and can produce up to 191 pound-feet of torque.

The rotary engine generates maximum output of 74 hp at 4,700 rpm and is more compact than a reciprocating engine with similar output, Mazda says. The crossover's single-rotor is 33 pounds lighter than the double-rotor engine used on the RX-8 largely because aluminum was used for the engine housing instead of steel.

The car supports vehicle-to-load power capabilities, meaning it can run electrical appliances and devices of up to 1,500 watts.

The plug-in hybrid can be charged to 80 percent from 20 percent in about 25 minutes using a DC fast charger of 36 kilowatts or more. The same charge takes 50 minutes using three-phase 11-kW AC charging and 90 minutes with 7.2-kW AC charging.

Rotary engines are a key part of Mazda's electrification strategy because they can be easily combined with other components such as generators, batteries and fuel tanks, creating multiple powertrain options for the same vehicle.