An interesting development has come out of the land of the rising sun. Mazda CEO Masahiro Moro has shocked the automotive world with his statements at the Tokyo Auto Salon, the Japanese flagship auto show. He stated that Mazda has developed a new rotary engine that has the potential to revolutionise the automotive sector. The new rotary engine could prove to be the end for the hydrogen research a lot of car manufacturers have been focused on. So what makes this new design so special? And is it really as revolutionary as Mazda claims?
Can this new rotary engine prove to be the end of hydrogen?
The world’s car manufacturers have been focused on finding an alternative fuel source. Or at least find a way to engineer current technology to meet the ever tightening emission regulations. The world’s worst polluting countries have even passed laws restricting emissions. Obviously a sector that is responsible for a large quantity of the worlds pollution needs to find a solution to the climate crisis, or at least minimise their contribution to it.
According to Mazda’s CEO, the company decided to invest heavily in a rotary engine that could deliver electricity to a battery cell that powers the vehicle. So they began research and development in February. Now they have revealed their progress. After their initial phase of developing a single rotary engine, Moro has revealed that Mazda is currently working on a twin-rotary engine to power their new generation of cars.
It might be a case of Mazda is simply trying to stay ahead of their competitors. They do have the funds to pour more money into rotary engine design than their competitors. They have established themselves as a reliable car manufacturer that leads the automotive sector, particularly the Japanese market. With their compatriots struggling to keep up.
How far along is the design of this new engine? Is it just for show or are Mazda serious?
The auto show in Tokyo where Moro made the statements was in January of 2025. His exact timeline for phase one was that Mazda would open a new research and development department on 1 February 2025. So their progress has been impressive. They already have a working, single motor rotary engine that can power their concept cars. But that’s just phase one.
They have now revealed their plans to continue with R&D and develop a twin-rotary engine that industry insiders have proposed could power a new generation of Mazda sports cars. Mazda changed the sector with the RX-7 which used a single rotary engine, which made the car nimble and good to drive. So Mazda has always been a pioneer of the rotary engine.
But many saw this as just a something for show. And that with the ever-changing automotive market, they would eventually join their competitors and do what everyone else was doing. Not so. Mazda has showed their commitment to doing things differently by investing heavily in the rotary technology that made them different. Defining them as a brand. So will the new twin-rotary engine finds its way into their new cars?
Can the world accept a return to a rotary powered car for the future?
While some insiders point to the fact that the rotary motors only produce electricity for the battery pack. So in essence, they are still considered to be electric vehicles. That’s not a bad thing by today’s standards. The world is keen on the EV at the moment. And while their compatriots struggle, Mazda has focused their energy, and indeed a large portion of their money, into the rotary engine and the possible long term applications of the technology. Their last few concept cars won awards for their revolutionary designs. Can they put theory into practise?
