Rotary lovers are getting ready to buy an all new Mazda Rotary supercar
Why? Well, recent patent filing shows that Mazda engineers are combining the best of both worlds, battery power and rotary boost.
Mazda’s newest creation is said to combine a naturally aspirated 2.4L SKYACTIV-R 3-Rotor petrol powered engine with an electric motor for a combined estimated power delivery of 590 horsepower.
Interestingly, the Mazda ICONIC SP concept car shown at the recent Tokyo Motor show in 2023 has a different powertrain. (2-Rotor system with a weight of just 1470kg).
It should be noted that the rotary power is used as a generator to charge a battery pack which in turn powers electric motors connected to the wheels to propel the sleek car.
Let’s look a little further into this. We all know that a vehicle’s power and weight ratio is an important factor in determining its driving range whether its battery powered vehicle or even combustion powered.
Imagine this, there will be two heavy metal and or aluminum powertrains, which is an electric motor plus battery pack working with an internal combustion engine with fuel tank (assuming a full tank of petrol) which would significantly increase the vehicles total weight (mid-sized electric cars are already heavy and plug-in hybrids are as heavy) thus significantly decreasing any possible real world gains in driving range and performance.
Lets not forget the cost of maintenance for both systems (this mean twice the cost) which we have already witnessed with the many plug-in hybrid premium vehicles which have been on sale in Malaysia the last 8 years or so.
Meanwhile, this new Mazda supercar (revival of the RX-7 nameplate please) will measure 4180mm long, 1850mm wide and 1150mm tall. It will ride on a 2590mm wheelbase.
Lets wait for its launch.
