A new patent registration by Mazda with the United States Patent and Trademark Office sparked more rumors about the arrival of an electrified vehicle from the high-performance Japanese firm. Its main capability: It will carry up to four engines.
First of all, it should be specified that the fact that a brand registers a patent does not mean that it will be marketed, but that the company takes care not to launch other similar products.
However, it does mean that the company in question is at least toying with the idea of bringing this type of vehicle to market, which promises to be a game changer for the industry.
This isn’t the first time an interesting Mazda patent has come to light. A few months ago, the company announced its intention to launch a 100% electric vehicle that could be based on the Mazda3. However, this new leak may be focused on a far more specific location.
The patent suggests that a Wankel-type gasoline heat engine will be placed in the forward position. It will be supported by three additional electric motors.
The first pair of those will be induction and provide an additional 23 hp to the front wheels. The third motor will be synchronous with permanent magnets and will deliver up to 36 hp to its rear axle, thus giving this model all-wheel drive.
This scheme of different types of electric motors makes a lot of sense, as the power delivery of each is done very differently, so they will give Mazda’s electrified car a more linear torque curve throughout the rev range. ,
On the other hand, its battery also presents an interesting system, as it provides variable voltage depending on the situation. The patent claims the model will hold up to four 48-volt modules strung together in a single package.
When low capacity or mere support is required, the power system will be low, as it will operate as a car known as a mild-hybrid.
However, as soon as the user needs more of a push, the battery will use an electrical switch to reconfigure the remaining cells so that the element operates at 96 volts. As the patent shows, this design will save weight all over, something important for a model of these specifications.
At the moment, not much is known about this alleged high-performance model, nor whether or not Mazda will ever build it in series; It is possible that the brand uses this mechanical architecture in some other model and not necessarily in an alleged sports coupe.
