Mazda MX 30 R-EV launch by Steve Rogers
The famed rotary engine is back but powering an
electric motor not a Le Mans winning super car.
Mazda has dusted off the cobwebs and given its rotary
engine a new life as an electric generator for the hybrid MX 30.
The rotary engine is renowned for it lightweight,
compact design as well as being smoother than conventional piston engines and
served Mazda well powering the 1967 Cosmo and several RX models.
The downside is a terrible thirst but that will not
matter this time because the 830cc rotary engine is being used as an electric
generator to charge the battery, so instead of driving the wheels it drives the
electric motor.
Unlike its electric MX 30 sister the R-EV will never
give you range anxiety because it has a 50 litre fuel tank to keep the engine
running when called on to charge the batteries.
In simple terms this is a plug-in hybrid with, thanks
to its lightweight construction, a better than average 53 miles electric range
that can be topped up to 80 per cent in 25 minutes from a 36kWh fast charging
unit, and 90 minutes using a 7.2kW home charger.
Mazda is a bit out of kilter with the rest of the car
industry deciding to continue developing petrol and diesel engines alongside
hybrid and electric, and given the Government’s decision to put off scrapping
the combustion engine until 2035 the decision seems to be justified.
Mazda’s UK boss Jeremy Thomson told me the company is
committed to becoming carbon neutral but pointed to the fact that demand for
electric cars is cooling off as people worry about the the cost of electricity,
battery range and the charging infrastructure which, he said, is posing a
serious risk to EV uptake.
So, where are we on charging stations? Way behind
target.
To date there are 44,000 but to reach the Government’s
target of 300,000 by 2035 the rate of installation has to be trebled to 10,000
every three months. That sounds a tall order.
On that basis the MX-30 R-EV is a very useful addition
to the range. Sales of the electric model have been slow and that is no doubt
down to its low 124 mile range which does not leave much in reserve in the
event of a long journey, but not a problem here.
The new model shares the same footprint as the sister
car and offers something different to the opposition. It has the same
pillarless design and rear hinged doors, just like a Rolls-Royce Phantom,
giving it a clean profile.
It is a novel idea and worked well on the RX-8 sports
coupe all those years ago but as a family car getting in and out of the back
seat is a bit of a trial and six footers will be scrunching up for the lack of
legroom. It’s also a bit claustrophobic because of the small amount of glass.
Inside has the premium feel we have come to expect
from Mazda which has definitely upped its game in recent years. The vegan feel
to the cabin is carried over from MX-30 with recycled materials. The cork
linings are a nod to Mazda’s beginnings in 1920 as a cork manufacturer.
The dashboard is devoid of switches with a top mounted
touchscreen taking care of main operations best dealt with by the rotary
controller conveniently positioned behind the gearstick. Another screen at the
base of the centre console takes care of the permanently displayed heating and
ventilation controls. That works well too.
As with MX-30 the R-EV is all about driving enjoyment
so expect an easy going, agile feel with a reasonably sharp uptake when the
fast pedal is floored. What can throw you is the lack of engine noise, even
though there is an engine under the bonnet. There is a bit of a hum, and that’s
it.
It is a sophisticated set up with three drive modes
one of which recharges the battery on the move but for a hassle free long drive
leave it in normal and top up the fuel tank as and when. Top speed is limited
to 87mph in an effort to extend the battery range and given our maximum speed
limit should be enough for comfortable overtaking.
The range is split into three models, Prime-Line,
Exclusive and Makoto with prices ranging from £31,250 to £36,000.
We can safely say that the arrival of R-EV will
guarantee a lot more MX 30s on our roads.
Fast facts
MX-30 R-EV Makoto
£36,000
Rotary 830cc + motor 168bhp
0-62mph 9.1secs; 87mph
37.2mpg combined (50mpg driven)
21g/km. First road tax £55
Insurance group 23
Boot: 332-1137
