Rotary Rebirth: 2019 Marks the Return of Mazda's Rotary in a Very Different Way
November 18 2019, Centennial Auto Group
Although the iconic RX-7 is not destined to return to Mazda showrooms in the near future, Mazda's unique rotary powerplant is reportedly set to return in some markets in 2019.
Rather than powering a sports car, Mazda's next rotary is more likely to be fitted to an electric Mazda, serving as a smooth and silent range extender when the Mazda's batteries run out of juice. According to Mazda's European VP Martijn ten Brink, this rotary "functions purely as a generator," it's shoebox-sized, isn't turbocharged, free from vibration, and completely imperceptible when operating.
Yet while a rotary-boosted electric car remains a concept for the future, albeit an entirely realistic one, Mazda's other advanced powertrain developments are just around the corner. One such development is SkyActiv-X, a Spark Controlled Compression Ignition engine that will improve torque and responsiveness while improving fuel efficiency by 20-30 percent.
It's an engineering marvel with real-world consequences, the answer to a question every automaker has been fruitlessly asking. SkyActiv-X is most likely set to arrive in 2019 in the next-generation Mazda 3 in the form of a 2.0-liter engine with around 190 horsepower and a potential fuel economy rating of around 5.0 L/100km.
Rotary? Sure, we'll take it. But SkyActiv-X is on the horizon, and we couldn't be more excited about the possibilities.
In the meantime, you can check out all of the Centennial Auto Group's pre-owned Mazda inventory or learn more about Mazda's current product portfolio at CentennialMazda.ca.
