Mazda: The Wankel engine celebrates its comeback
RAFFINED With the MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV, Mazda is introducing two new technological specialties to its range. The serial hybrid drive is particularly efficient, and the small Wankel engine provides power.
Mazda has long been known for unconventional technology solutions. The Japanese company has now added a special plug-in hybrid model to the MX-30 series. The MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV is always powered solely by the electric motor.
With the energy from the 17.8 kWh battery, the car has a range of 85 kilometers; together with the 50 liters of petrol for the Wankel engine with generator, more than 600 kilometers are possible.
1-disc rotary piston motor
A serial hybrid concept similar to the e-Skyactiv system of the Mazda MX-30 has so far only been available from Nissan in the e-Power drive. In the hybrid concepts e:HEV from Honda and E-Tech from Renault, the drive is also largely purely electric, but the combustion engine also helps with the drive when more power is required.
The Wankel engine of the MX-30 R-EV - the first of its kind since the end of production of the RX-8 ten years ago - delivers a single-disc rotary engine with 830 cm3 engine has a maximum torque of 116 Nm and a peak output of 55 kW (74 hp). Thanks to direct injection, it is significantly more fuel-efficient and less polluting than its predecessor in the RX-8.2-emissions are 21 g/km, which corresponds to a fuel consumption of around 1 l/100 km.
Three driving modes are available
Depending on the driving situation, you can choose between Normal, EV and Charge mode. As long as the battery charge is sufficient, the car drives electrically in normal mode without the combustion engine being in operation. If more power is required, the Wankel motor-generator automatically switches on. In Charge mode, the battery charge level can be reserved for specific requirements - for example, to drive quietly through a residential area at night.
Charging to 80 percent in 25 minutes
Because the battery is small and light due to the range extender concept, the charging times are short. With a quick charger, the battery can be charged from 20 to 80 percent in around 25 minutes; with the three-phase 11 kW standard charger, this process takes around 50 minutes. The new model also supports the V2L (Vehicle to Load) function. This allows electrical appliances with up to 1500 W to be operated via the socket in the trunk.
