Mazda restarts rotary engine development division

Another day, another Mazda rotary engine story, except this time, it’s from the automaker itself instead of a third-party speculator. Mazda announced a new division to “accelerate its research and development of rotary engines.”

Mazda restarted its RE Development Group within the Powertrain Technology Development Department of Powertrain Development Division (yes, that’s what it’s called). Before we get too excited, Mazda noted that the RE Development Group would focus on the use of rotary tech as generators, also known as EV range extenders.

The automaker didn’t explicitly say the engines would be used as primary components in new vehicles, however, so the jury’s still out as to whether we’ll see anything legitimately exciting from the effort.