Mazda’s history once featured a range of rotary-powered vehicles, from sports cars to pickup trucks and even a minibus. While the Japanese market-exclusive Parkway minibus was a unique offering, the brand’s current lineup focuses primarily on SUVs with traditional powertrains. However, according to Mazda CEO Masahiro Moro, reviving the rotary engine across various body styles remains a possibility.
The Iconic XP concept, showcased at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show, featured a two-rotor rotary generator and garnered an overwhelmingly positive response. ‘I got an unbelievable reaction,’ Moro said. ‘That was a great encouragement, and I decided to reopen the rotary engine development group.’
Moro acknowledges the challenges of making the rotary competitive with modern turbocharged engines and electric drivetrains, particularly in meeting emissions standards in the US and Europe. ‘It’s a high hurdle, but in the last year, the progress has been very encouraging.’
If successful, Mazda could integrate the rotary engine into multiple models, either as a range extender or standalone powerplant. Moro highlighted the rotary’s versatility due to its compact design: ‘It works well because it’s very narrow. The rotary engine is the only engine we can install in any project.’
Potential applications include a second sports car to complement the Miata, as well as a sporty sedan. ‘The sedan segment has shrunk but there are many fans,’ Moro noted. ‘We’ve got a really beautiful concept. We already have this idea. We are able to install a six-cylinder, but marketability remains a concern.’
Electrification may also influence Mazda’s design direction. ‘I don’t know how the vehicle profile will be changed for the electric-car era. That tends to be a longer platform, shorter overhang. That will give us a great hint where we evolve our current design theme to for the next generation.’
Regarding a small pickup truck, a segment Mazda exited in 2009, Moro was contemplative. While there’s customer interest, the lack of a suitable platform is a current limitation. ‘We could work with other OEMs to get it. Pickup truck is good for many people. Our coverage of the total industry is only 50 percent because we don’t have a pickup truck. It’s a good time to think about a future portfolio.’
