“If you have money, research rotors; if you don’t have money, sell cars.” Mazda has a saying that I believe most car fans have heard of, but it is indeed the case. Mazda is obsessed with rotors.
In 2003, Mazda launched a new rotary engine sports car RX-8. In 2010, the RX-8 failed to pass the Euro V emission standards, resulting in a sharp decline in RX-8 sales. Only 1,134 units were sold globally that year. The last Mazda RX-8 rolled off the assembly line in Tokyo, and the car was officially discontinued.
With the discontinuation of the RX-8, the Mazda rotary engine began to stay away from consumers' attention. After a few years of silence, there is new news about the Mazda rotary engine.
Mazda officially released the latest promotional video on "Youtube". At 7 minutes and 34 seconds in the video, company president and CEO Akira Marumoto personally announced that "the rotary engine will become the extended range of the MX-30 "Tool", the extended-range version of the MX-30 prototype will be tested in 2021 and will be officially put into mass production in 2022.
Going back to the design, the MX-30 is obviously different from other Mazda models in appearance. Mazda’s iconic large-size shield-shaped front air intake grille is canceled on the front face, leaving only a small-size inlet grille. Air grille. The special "free door" design is also a highlight of the car, similar to the RX-8's B-pillar-less design. In terms of size, the length, width and height of the MX-30 are 4395/1795/1550mm respectively, and the wheelbase is 2655mm.
Entering the car, it is exactly the same as many Mazda models. There is nothing new. The steering wheel is a three-spoke design. The rear is equipped with a large-size LCD instrument, a floating central control screen and an air-conditioning operation panel below, all of which support Touch operation. The console in the gear lever area is quite unique, somewhat similar to a diver's "diving platform", which increases storage space.
For the power part, according to previous news, the new car may adopt a hybrid technology solution consisting of a rotary engine, a wheel hub motor, and a battery pack. The rotary engine is small in size and is not only suitable for use as a range extender to generate electricity. , while also having the advantage of directly driving the vehicle.
At present, Mazda has overcome the economic problems of the rotary engine to a certain extent, and when used as a range extender, the advantages of the rotary engine in terms of small size, light weight, high power and low vibration will be fully utilized. Incisively and vividly.
Although the birth of the rotary engine has nothing to do with Mazda, its development and future are closely tied to Mazda. This engine that once created brilliance in the competition has always been talked about by people. Its advantages are very prominent, and its shortcomings are also obvious. When it was hidden, people knew that Mazda would never give up on it. If it is resurrected in another identity in the future, will you support the paranoid Mazda out of sentiment?
This article comes from the author of Autohome Chejiahao and does not represent the views and positions of Autohome.