The Mazda MX-30 is a race car – or a series of race cars. It’s also a brand, the first for Mazda in its longstanding history of road and track performance.
The entire MX-30 project is a collaboration between Mazda and Zoom Motors, another carmaker based in Dubai and led by German auto veteran Heinz OllENDORF.
The Mazda MX-30 isn’t just one racing car but four variations with different engine types. Zoom Motors has been developing their V6 engines for several years, initially with plans to produce them as standalone motors for other carmakers.
Zoom-Zoom Goes Racing
Zoom Motors has solid roots in motorsports, having fielded a Mazda MX-5 Cup team in the Dubai 24 Hours. The carmaker has an evident passion for racing, and with its growing engine expertise, it made sense to turn that into a full-fledged race series.
Hence, the Mazda MX-30 concept was created and unveiled at the Dubai Autodrome circuit in February last year. The MX-30 is a series of V6-powered race cars aimed at different levels of competition worldwide.
Zoom Motors also intends to offer a selection of chassis, gearboxes, and other MX-30 components as aftermarket options. The MX-30 series was developed with input from a number of racing organizations, including the experienced folks at the MRT-Powered By Mazda program.
That collaboration makes sense, as Mazda has a long history of participating in racing in Japan and worldwide. The Zoom Motors and Mazda partnership marks the first time a Mazda race car has been created outside of Japan.
The Mazda MX-30: A Visual Guide
The MX-30 Pro is a mid-engined race car powered by a V6 engine. The Road Warrior version has its engine at the front of the car and is intended for touring car racing.
The Supercharged MX-30 is a rear-wheel-drive car with a supercharged V6 engine. The Rotary-Engined MX-30 is a front-wheel-drive race car that uses a rotary engine. Zoom Motors says that the MX-30 line is designed to be adaptable for various levels of competition, including GT3 and GT4.
While the cars’ layouts are fixed, other components such as the suspension are designed to be easily swapped out. The cars also feature a Mazda-inspired design, prominent intakes, side mirrors positioned at the A-pillars, and a wide, aggressive stance.
The Mazda MX-30 Pro Race Car
The Mazda MX-30 Pro is a mid-engined car with hybrid technology. Zoom Motors has not disclosed the exact powerplant, but the MX-30 Pro’s V6 engine is a hybrid unit that uses both a supercharger and a turbocharger.
The electric supercharger provides instantaneous torque at low rpm, while the turbocharger comes into play above 6,500 rpm. The MX-30 Pro has a carbon fiber chassis, weighs only 1,940 pounds, and low center of gravity.
Zoom Motors also says that the car’s design is intended for ease of servicing and repairs.
The Mazda MX-30 Road Warrior
The rear-wheel-drive Mazda MX-30 Road Warrior is designed for touring car racing, essentially a road-going version of the Pro car. The engine is positioned in the front of the chassis, with the gearbox and differential located behind the driver.
The MX-30 Road Warrior weighs around 2,300 pounds, making it a heavier car than the Pro version. The engine in the Mazda MX-30 Road Warrior is a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four.
Zoom Motors says that the engine’s turbocharger was designed with a low center of gravity, intended to help maintain the car’s handling.
The Mazda MX-30 Supercharged Racer
The rear-wheel-drive Mazda MX-30 Supercharged features a 2.0-liter supercharged inline-four. The supercharger is mounted on the engine’s oil pan, while the radiator is positioned behind the engine.
Zoom Motors says the engine’s placement provides ample room for the driver’s legs in the chassis. The supercharged engine in the Mazda MX-30 Supercharged generates more power than the turbocharged engine in the Road Warrior.
The Supercharged MX-30 weighs around 2,200 pounds and is, therefore, lighter than the Road Warrior.
The Mazda MX-30 Rotary Racer
The last of the MX-30 series is the Rotary-Engined racer, a front-wheel-drive car with a 1.6-liter rotary engine. The engine is mounted behind the driver and features a cooling system similar to that of the Supercharged car.
Zoom Motors says that the cooling system allows the driver plenty of leg room. Although Mazda has been clear about the engine types for each MX-30 variation, it has not provided any specifics about the cars’ weight, power, or other performance specs.
Conclusion
The Mazda MX-30 is a new concept aimed at various levels of racing, and Zoom Motors is targeting a 2021 debut for the cars. The MX-30 series is designed to be adaptable and applicable across a number of racing disciplines, including touring car racing and GT3.
Although Mazda has not provided any specifics about the cars’ performance, we expect them to be very fast. Zoom Motors has a long history in motorsports, and Mazda has a long history of racing in Japan and worldwide. This partnership marks the first time a Mazda race car has been created outside Japan.