Mazda has just shed light on rumors of a revival of the rotary company. It’s about electrification, special editions and a new swivel logo.
Mazda has been telling us for a long time that it wants spinning power back. We recently learned that this is possible through the use of hydrogen, but so far the only rotor we can get is the range extender found on the Mazda MX-30. The Japanese automaker has now applied for eight new brands, and some of them definitely confirm rumors of a rotary engine revival. Some of these feature either new trim levels of existing models or special editions. But four are associated with the xEV rotor-electric system: “e-SKYACTIV R-Energy”, “e-SKYACTIV R-HEV”, “e-SKYACTIV R-EV” and, finally, the trademark for the new logo. It looks somewhat like a real rotor with an integrated e.
We previously reported on the registration of a new Mazda R logo, hinting at a number of models. It could now be the three E-SKYACTIV R variants mentioned above. As the suffixes indicate, the EV and HEV registrations are for hybrid and all-electric models, but R-Energy remains a mystery. It could have been the previously rumored hydrogen-powered rotor. It seems like this and anything else that uses the jog dial, even as a range extender, might get a new “e” or “R” logo, or both. The Model R could also be reserved for the revival of the Spirit R, which was a special RX-7 model of the FD generation. The RX-7 of this generation was called Efini in some markets, not Mazda, and the badge bears a resemblance to the new rotor badge.
Other registered trademarks include FIELD JOURNEY and SPORTS APPEARANCE, which may refer to a special version of the Mazda CX-5 SUV or similar.
There is also a trademark “VS TERRACOTTA SELECTION”. VS is the code for the MX-5 Miata RF, so this trademark alludes to the Miata RF with a terracotta theme, perhaps in the color of the interior trim or upholstery. The next trademark is “PRO-XROSS STYLE” which sounds like something off-road and can refer to both the CX-30 and CX-8. With all the trademarks listed above, it looks like Mazda could release a lot of special editions before new models are updated, or it could keep those names for special versions of future models – time will tell.
Earlier we wrote that Mazda develops hydrogen-powered rotary engine.
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