ROTARY CONCEPT SHOWS FUTURE OF MAZDA POWER

Rotary-electric show star could even be carbon negative, claims Mazda

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Mazda has revealed a 503bhp sports saloon with a rotary-electric powertrain that promises up to 500 miles of combined range and is set to feature in a production car in the next three years.

The Vision X-Coupé – star of the brand's stage at the Tokyo motor show – is a sleek, rakish four-door with styling based on the Iconic SP concept revealed at the same show two years ago.

It is also, visually and conceptually, evolved from the 2015 RX-Vision concept, which set the tone for the Kodo design language the firm still deploys today and previewed plans for a new generation of powertrain based around a rotary petrol engine.

The concept uses a turbocharged two-rotor engine as part of a plugin hybrid system, which is said to be capable of delivering 100 miles of range with the engine off. But unlike the electric MX-30 crossover, which uses a rotary as a generator to top up the battery, this concept's rotors actually drive the wheels, as in the RX-3, RX-7 and RX-8 coupés.

"I believe the internal combustion engine can make the environment even cleaner than battery EV"