Mazda Clings to Rotary Engines for New Hybrid Models

How stubborn can one automaker be? When it comes to the rotary engine, Mazda is like a dog with a bone; they won’t let it go.

We could see new hybrid-powered Mazda vehicles in the future, with the brand’s trademark rotary engine as the main source of power for these hybrid vehicles. In addition to finding a place for the rotary engine to continue, Mazda intends to expand its offering of PHEV-powered models and will also likely borrow a traditional hybrid system from Toyota. This borrowed system will be temporary as Mazda works toward developing its own traditional hybrid system.

Mazda must phase out non-hybrids

Hybrid-powered Mazda vehicles are still relatively new in the market, but the stubbornness often goes along with impatience. Currently, hybrid models only make up 22 percent of all Mazda vehicles sold in Japan and the United States. These vehicles are doing better in Europe, where the mix is up to 85 percent of Mazda vehicles sold.

In order to understand what these percentages mean, we must learn how much each market contributes to Mazda’s global sales. Europe is only about 15 percent of the entire Mazda market; Japan represents 12 percent, but the U.S. is the largest market for Mazda, representing around 32 percent of the market. This could mean that Mazda needs to tread lightly when changing its offerings in the U.S.

Larger markets get a better mix

Because the U.S. is such a large market for Mazda, it doesn’t make sense for the brand to delete gas-powered models in favor of electrification. Instead, Mazda should offer a mixture of the two and allow the movement toward hybrid vehicles to naturally push out the gas-powered vehicles.

There’s already a problem in the U.S. hybrid mix from this brand. The Mazda CX-50, which has been a huge hit for the brand, borrows many items from the Toyota RAV4. Mazda might have a serious issue using the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with three hybrid motors.
Part of the charm and allure of the Mazda brand is the dynamic powertrains equipped with SkyActiv technology that hits maximum torque at low RPMs. This isn’t what the RAV4 powertrain offers, which could be a little problematic in the CX-50. That said, the hybrid powertrain could easily offer acceleration that befits a Mazda, making the CX-50 hybrid much more enjoyable to drive.

The Mazda placeholder will be removed

Eventually, Mazda will have its own hybrid powertrain, using the rotary engine as the power generator. When this happens, the Toyota hybrid system can be deleted from the CX-50 lineup, and the new Mazda hybrid system will be inserted. While we don’t know much about what Mazda is working on, the thought is that the new hybrid system should be more robust than a mild-hybrid, 48-volt system and less robust than a plug-in hybrid. This new system is expected to be a traditional hybrid layout, which doesn’t need to be plugged in to recharge. Currently, Mazda’s PHEV system requires a plug to recharge the batteries.

Will the new hybrids use rotary engines?

Mazda isn’t dead set on utilizing rotary engines, but it’s stubbornly continuing to put money and energy into developing hybrid powertrains with rotary engines. Still, the traditional hybrid system that we see in the future could use an inline-four or inline-six setup instead of a rotary system. The success of more traditional powertrains might push the rotary system down the line a few years.

Big moves from Mazda

Mazda is making big strides toward additional hybrid models making it possible for more impressive powertrains to be offered. The new hybrid CX-50 is already on its way and the CX-80 PHEV begins its time in Japan and Europe soon. These are only the beginning of Mazda adding more hybrid offerings to the mix.

Mazda has set a goal of selling at least 60 percent electrified vehicles before the end of the decade. Considering that time is only five years away and Mazda doesn’t have many hybrid models yet, they need to get busy adding more to the market. We should see a much broader lineup of Mazda hybrid vehicles by 2028.

Will the Miata receive a hybrid powertrain or could it become a full EV? Mazda hasn’t had a lot of luck with EVs yet, but they could borrow a proven system and offer some all-electric models until a better system is developed.

Mazda moves fast toward the future

Somewhere in the mix of the Mazda hybrid and PHEV models, we should see some rotary-powered Mazda hybrid models. Maybe the Miata will have this system under its hood, its hard to tell one way or the other. Regardless, Mazda has embraced hybrids and should expands its electrified vehicle offerings over the next few years.