Mazda further add fuel to the electrified rotary revival rumours.
This R logo is apparently not the only trademark that Mazda has applied for in recent time that hints towards an electrified rotary revival. Yes, Mazda Motor Japan has been looking at the revival of the rotary engine and with an electric motor working alongside to provide supercar performance with minimal fuel usage.
Having said that, it is well known fact that rotary engines are fuel guzzlers and there is a lot of doubt if the inventors of the fuel sipping Skyactiv engine can deliver again with their latest rotary engine.
Meanwhile, news has recently broke that the Japanese automaker has applied for a total of 8 other new trademarks, and one of which is essentially a rotary-shaped emblem with an orange-lined ‘e’ cut-out in the middle of it.
And if that still is not a clear enough hint that Mazda is bringing back the rotary in the electrified era, the three (of eight) other trademarks applied by the Japanese automaker were the names: e-SKYACTIV R-Energy, e-SKYACTIV R-HEV, e-SKYACTIV R-EV. The e- prefix ahead of SKYACTIV pointing towards electrification of some sort, with the R- prefix following on from that more than likely standing for rotary.
As for what HEV and EV stands for meanwhile, conventional naming wisdom dictates that it would mean hybrid electric vehicle and (battery-powered) electric vehicles. A pattern which is consistent with Mazda’s prior XEV powertrain plans that would see the compact rotary engine replacing the conventional piston-powered ones in mild-hybrid or self-charging series-hybrid applications, while also serving as a range-extender in full-EV use cases.
Unfortunately, it still remains much of a mystery as to what exactly R-Energy stands for. Though the most exciting hypothesis currently out there is for it to apply to a rotary engine fuelled by hydrogen, which has been since given further credence by Mazda dropping some hints to such a possibility at the announcement of its ‘Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030’ development plan last June.
Of course with all these just being trademark applications, it is therefore worth bearing in mind that these logo and names might end up being placeholders that never ever see the light of day on a production car.
With this much smoke rising from Mazda in regards to an imminent rotary revival in recent time however, it is really hard to believe that the spinning Dorito might not be making a comeback sometime sooner than later.
Now in terms of the other four trademarks applied by Mazda on the other hand, these included the ‘Field Journey’, ‘Pro-Xross Style’ and ‘Sports Appearance’ names that likely will be used as to denote special edition variants of its ever-expanding crossover line-up.
The Japanese automaker is possibly intending to debut a terracotta-themed MX-5 RF too, if the ‘VS Terracotta Selection’ (which mimics the already available VS White Selection) trademark is anything to go by at least.
