Mazda EV SUV poised for tokyo motor show debut
MAZDA EV SUV POISED FOR TOKYO MOTOR SHOW DEBUT
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Mazda will take the cover off its first battery-electric vehicle to, the automaker has confirmed, be wrapped in a sub-compact SUV bodystyle at the Tokyo Motor Show on Oct. 23. Previewed earlier in the form of the e-TPV prototype and about the size of a Mazda CX-3, the model is expected to stay close to the prototype's 35.5-kWh battery, which in the e-TPV was good for 138 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, all of it sent to the front wheels. When it comes to the size of the vehicle itself, we figure the battery size suggests something closer to the CX-3 than the CX-5 -- as a natural competitor to the Hyundai Kona.
All of that sounds nice, but there's a catch: Unless that battery doubles or triples in size between now and the debut date at the end of October, this will mean that the production model will have a range between 120 and 150 miles. That would place it quite far off pace from competitors in the segment, which appear to be multiplying rapidly.
But here's the good news: a version of this EV is expected to use the rotary range-extender technology we told you about last week. This means that while the car will operate as an EV at slow speeds, it will rely on a gas-fed rotary engine to generate power for its batteries. It appears that buyers will be able to choose between a pure-EV model and a range-extended rotary version, ahead of the debut of a third version in the form of a plug-in hybrid version later in the product cycle.
"A completely new model, the EV will be the third installment in the automaker's new-generation lineup. Developed in accordance with Mazda's human-centric philosophy and making full use of the benefits of electric drive technology, it offers performance drivers can enjoy effortlessly and whole-heartedly," the automaker said in a brief statement.
Does such a lineup make sense: a pure-EV for those who need the Mazda SUV as a city car and a rotary range-extender version for those who need more than 150 miles of range? It certainly sounds like it does. And hopefully Mazda will actually offer this model in the U.S. (and not just because we want to see rotary engines in a car again, although that's a big part of it). At the moment, the company has not confirmed future U.S. market availability. But it could be a good fit.
We'll have more information about the scheduling of the commercial debut by the time of the Tokyo Motor Show in a matter of weeks, as well as at the LA Auto Show by the end of the year.
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