Photo: Mazda / edited
Revealed in 2019 at the Tokyo Motor Show, the MX-30 is a bit of a lost cause. Mazda's first mass-production electric vehicle is a crossover with very poor driving range. Over in the United States, for example, it can barely cover 100 miles (make that 160 kilometers) before running out of electricity.
Driving range is a little better in Europe, where its rating for the combined test cycle under the WLTP is 200 kilometers (322 miles). Another big issue of the MX-30 comes in the form of practicality, with those rear-hinged rear doors being a bit of a pain to use by people with kids. Then there's the pricing, with Mazda charging $34k in the US or €35k in Germany for it.
Given these numbers, the CX-30's quirkier sibling received a mild-hybrid powertrain. That didn't improve sales either. The latest addition to the lineup is called e-Skyactiv R-EV, with R standing for a rotary engine that acts as a range extender. In other words, an electric motor provides propulsion rather than the single-rotor engine with 830 cubic centimeters to its name.
Introduced with much pomp in early 2023 at the Brussels Motor Show in Belgium, the MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV for the European market has just entered production at Mazda's Ujina Plant #1 in Hiroshima. The first Mazda with a rotary since the RX-8 was discontinued in 2012 rocks a 17.8-kWh battery pack that provides up to 53 miles (85 kilometers) on the WLTP.
This unnecessarily complicated powertrain is priced similarly to the all-electric version. Over in the United Kingdom, the Edition R sits at the very top of the range with a sticker price of £37,950. That's a whopping €45,040 in Germany or $48,400 at current exchange rates. The R-EV isn't off the table for the US market despite hearsay suggesting otherwise. For the time being, it's not known if this rotary-engined PHEV will arrive for the 2024 model year or later. We also don't know if it will be limited to certain states. The EV is currently exclusive to the state of California, and its poor sales certainly show it.
Why did Mazda choose a rotary instead of an in-line or V-type engine for the e-Skyactiv R-EV? For starters, the Japanese automaker made a name for itself with rotary sports cars. But more importantly, the smaller package and lighter weight prevailed over traditional engine designs. Roughly 15 kilograms (circa 33 pounds) lighter than the twin-rotor engine of the RX-8, the 830-cc unit features direct injection for improved fuel economy and EGR for improved efficiency.
The front-mounted electric motor belts out 166 ps and 260 Nm at full song, which means 164 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. Pretty good, but not stellar either. AC charging takes in the ballpark of 50 minutes, while fast charging on direct current requires approximately 25 minutes for a full charge.
That said, how many do you think Mazda will sell in Europe this year? If you ask me, under 10,000 units.
Given these numbers, the CX-30's quirkier sibling received a mild-hybrid powertrain. That didn't improve sales either. The latest addition to the lineup is called e-Skyactiv R-EV, with R standing for a rotary engine that acts as a range extender. In other words, an electric motor provides propulsion rather than the single-rotor engine with 830 cubic centimeters to its name.
Introduced with much pomp in early 2023 at the Brussels Motor Show in Belgium, the MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV for the European market has just entered production at Mazda's Ujina Plant #1 in Hiroshima. The first Mazda with a rotary since the RX-8 was discontinued in 2012 rocks a 17.8-kWh battery pack that provides up to 53 miles (85 kilometers) on the WLTP.
This unnecessarily complicated powertrain is priced similarly to the all-electric version. Over in the United Kingdom, the Edition R sits at the very top of the range with a sticker price of £37,950. That's a whopping €45,040 in Germany or $48,400 at current exchange rates. The R-EV isn't off the table for the US market despite hearsay suggesting otherwise. For the time being, it's not known if this rotary-engined PHEV will arrive for the 2024 model year or later. We also don't know if it will be limited to certain states. The EV is currently exclusive to the state of California, and its poor sales certainly show it.
Why did Mazda choose a rotary instead of an in-line or V-type engine for the e-Skyactiv R-EV? For starters, the Japanese automaker made a name for itself with rotary sports cars. But more importantly, the smaller package and lighter weight prevailed over traditional engine designs. Roughly 15 kilograms (circa 33 pounds) lighter than the twin-rotor engine of the RX-8, the 830-cc unit features direct injection for improved fuel economy and EGR for improved efficiency.
The front-mounted electric motor belts out 166 ps and 260 Nm at full song, which means 164 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. Pretty good, but not stellar either. AC charging takes in the ballpark of 50 minutes, while fast charging on direct current requires approximately 25 minutes for a full charge.
That said, how many do you think Mazda will sell in Europe this year? If you ask me, under 10,000 units.
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