Mazda’s novel MX-30 R-EV range-extended plug-in hybrid is now on sale, joining the existing fully electric model but with a longer driving range.

Revealed at the Brussels Motor Show and priced from £31,250, it revives the brand’s rotary engine technology last used in the RX-8, which stopped production in 2012, in series plug-in hybrid form. This means that the 830cc single-rotor petrol engine only ever acts as a generator to feed the battery, it doesn’t drive the wheels direct. Mazda says the benefits of such an approach include a seamless driving experience compared to a parallel PHEV where the engine and electric drivetrain work in tandem.

It also brings practicality benefits compared to the MX-30 BEV. The 18.7kWh battery gives the R-EV a 53-mile pure electric range while the combined powertrain has a flexible total range of over 373 miles.

That’s some three times the official 124-mile (200km) range of the MX-30 BEV, enabling longer-distance drives without range or charging anxiety, while also conferring significant tax savings compared to combustion-engined cars. Its WLTP CO2 output of 21g/km puts it in the 8% BiK bracket for the current tax year; also lower than many other PHEVs.

The MX-30 R-EV is compatible with both AC charging and rapid DC charging; three-phase AC charging takes around 50 minutes, while DC rapid charging can be completed in around 25 minutes.

And the R-EV’s 170hp output means it delivers slightly better acceleration performance than the 145hp fully electric MX-30. It also provides three drive-modes to suit different driving situations – Normal, EV and Charge – which alter rotary engine usage to support needs.

It’s offered in the same three grades as the all-electric model: Prime-Lime, Exclusive-Line and Makoto – while a bespoke Edition R tops the line-up but is limited to 400 units in the UK. Prime-Line and Exclusive-Line R-EV models are priced identically to the BEV versions while the Makoto R-EV models get a £450 price premium. The top-spec R-EV only Edition R is priced at £37,950.

All R-EV models feature a rotor badge on the front wings and an e-Skyactiv R-EV badge on the tailgate to set them apart from fully electric versions. They also get bespoke wheels.

The Edition R models – where R stands for ‘return’ – get a unique colour combination of Jet Black with Maroon Rouge side pillars and a black roof. The Maroon Rouge colour accent pays homage to the roof colour of the R360 – Mazda’s first passenger car. Inside, the front seat headrests are embossed with the rotary symbol and Edition R name, while the mats feature the rotary badge and contrasting white stitching.

Mazda has more than half a century of expertise in the development of rotary engines. between the launch of the Mazda Cosmo in 1967 and production of the RX-8 ending in 2012, it mass-produced more than two million rotary engines. It’s now been adapted as a power generator rather than a drive unit, meeting evolving auto sector requirements.

Jeremy Thomson, managing director, Mazda Motors UK, said: “I’m really excited about the new MX-30 R-EV joining our electrified line-up in the UK this summer. A great example of Mazda’s challenger spirit, thanks to its unique technological approach, it’s a car that’s the perfect solution for customers who want an electric car for everyday usage but the flexibility to undertake longer journeys without the reliance on charging infrastructure. With the option to choose either the pure electric MX-30 or the new R-EV version depending on their needs, our customers now have even more choice.”

The e-Skyactiv MX-30 R-EV is available to order now, with the first UK cars due to arrive this summer.