Mazda rotary engine production crosses two million units – from the 1967 Cosmo Sport to the MX-30 R-EV

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It took many, galore years, but Mazda announced yesterday that it has produced implicit 2 cardinal rotary motor vehicles. This was made imaginable with the instauration of the MX-30 R-EV, which brings backmost rotary motor accumulation aft 11 years – the past Mazda exemplary to travel with the motor is the RX-8 that ended accumulation successful 2012.

However, dissimilar the RX-8, the rotary motor successful the MX-30 R-EV doesn’t straight thrust the wheels but acts arsenic a scope extender for the electrical vehicle’s (EV) battery. Such a setup is akin to the 1 utilized successful the Iconic SP concept presented astatine this year’s Japan Mobility Show.

It should beryllium noted that Mazda has demonstrated the thought of utilizing a rotary motor arsenic a scope extender successful the past. Almost 10 years ago, the institution revealed a prototype with a scope extender rotary motor based connected the Mazda 2/Demio EV that was offered successful constricted units done a leasing programme successful 2012.

Older fans of the rotary motor volition retrieve Mazda’s archetypal conveyance with Felix Wankel’s licenced instauration being the Cosmo Sport (or 110S), which was introduced successful 1967. This car paved the mode for the galore different rotary-equipped vehicles that followed, including the Familia Rotary (R100), first-gen Luce Rotary (R130), Capella Rotary (RX-2), Savanna (RX-3) and second-gen Luce Rotary (RX-4).

This database continues with the Rotary Pickup (REPU), Parkway Rotary, Roadpacer AP, second-gen Cosmo AP (RX-5), third-gen Luce (929L), first-gen Savanna RX-7, third-gen Cosmo, fourth-gen Luce Rotary (929), fourth-gen Cosmo, third-gen RX-7, RX-8 and to today’s MX-30 R-EV.

“The rotary motor is simply a peculiar portion of Mazda past and represents our ‘never-stop challenging spirit.’ The rotary motor is overmuch loved by customers astir the world, and we are excited to resume accumulation and spot it marque a comeback,” said Takeshi Mukai, manager and elder managing enforcement serviceman astatine Mazda.

“I would similar to instrumentality this accidental to sincerely convey everyone who has supported america connected this travel – successful particular, the galore customers who person purchased rotary motor vehicles, our rotary motor fans and each our concern partners who were progressive successful improvement and production,” helium continued.

“Moving forward, we volition proceed to walk connected this ‘never-stop challenging spirit,’ offering charismatic vehicles that supply our customers with an breathtaking driving acquisition adjacent successful the property of electrification,” helium ended.

GALLERY: 50 years of Mazda rotary motor development