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Self-Driving Toyota e-Palette Concept May Host Mazda Rotary Engine

By Neeraj Padmakumar

CHIBA, JAPAN - JANUARY 15: Mazda Motor Corporation logo is shown on display at the 2016 Tokyo Auto Salon car show on January 15, 2016 in Chiba, Japan. TOKYO AUTO SALON 2016 is held from January 15 to 17, 2016. (Photo by Christopher Jue/Getty Images)
CHIBA, JAPAN - JANUARY 15: Mazda Motor Corporation logo is shown on display at the 2016 Tokyo Auto Salon car show on January 15, 2016 in Chiba, Japan. TOKYO AUTO SALON 2016 is held from January 15 to 17, 2016. (Photo by Christopher Jue/Getty Images) /
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Mazda confirms the development of a newer version of its celebrated rotary engine through a healthy collaboration with Toyota for a self-driving EV.

We have just seen the Toyota e-Palette concept, an antecedent to the electric future of mobility, at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show a few days ago. The concept is aimed to serve a multitude of mobility requirements like delivering pizzas, packages, ride sharing locomotives and more. This cube-shaped self-driving electric vehicle comes equipped with a healthy miscellany of purpose-built interior aspects that would only further facilitate it to fit into a range of diverse duties.

Toyota has also confirmed their partnership plans with the likes of Uber, Amazon, and Pizza Hut and Mazda, with Mazda being entitled to the project as a technology partner. The folks over at Mazda have also recently confirmed the development of a range extending rotary engine for the e-Palette. This just makes it all worth the wait.

Yes, you heard that right; the much exalted rotary (Wankel) engine from Mazda will actually be making a comeback through the e-Palette concept!

Green Car Reports reports that the brand’s spokesperson Jacob Brown confessed:

"“Mazda will provide technical information on a (rotary engine) range extender to be used in the vehicle being developed. We will reveal more details at an appropriate time.”"

The use of a range extender would enable the makers to curb the size and expense of the batteries used and thus make the cars lighter, less expensive and longer in range. Though the e-Palette concept shown at the CES doesn’t boast of an internal combustion engine,  Brown’s confirmation points to an e-Palette concept with one of the Mazda-sourced rotary engines doing the range extension duties!

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Rotary engines are lauded amongst the kit car builders and hotrodders of the world for their lightweight, compact size, tuning potential and high power to weight ratio. However, the economy-cautious share of the public might find these thoroughly undesirable for their pathetic fuel efficiency figures. However, these traits surely make them the perfect fit as range extenders.

Toyota hasn’t given any word on this so far. But should they really have to, when the two brands have already announced they are teaming up for a shared electric project and one of them even went as far as to confess the plans to share the power-trains? Well the question itself seems rhetorical.

According to the Toyota Newsroom,

"“The automobile industry is clearly amidst its most dramatic period of change as technologies like electrification, connected and automated driving are making significant progress. Toyota remains committed to making ever better cars. Just as important, we are developing mobility solutions to help everyone enjoy their lives, and we are doing our part to create an ever-better society for the next 100 years and beyond.”"

Next: Byton’s Electric SUV Concept Gives Us A Peek Into The Future

Just in case you are wondering, this is how the e- Palette might look like!

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