TOKYO — Mazda's first production full electric car has finally been revealed, and it's called the MX-30. And the name and shape point to it being a sporty, fun EV, though we're still waiting for more details.

Starting with the name, the 30 designation gives you an idea of its size, which is similar to the upcoming CX-30, itself close to the Mazda3 hatchback. And importantly, it has the MX prefix, which is only used on Mazda's sporty cars, typically with piston engines. The RX prefix is for sporty rotary cars. So clearly the aim of this car is to be fun.

Its shape points to sportiness, too. It has a fastback roofline that is coupe-like. In fact, you could arguably call this a coupe, since it uses the same type of rear half-door arrangement found on the RX-8 and Saturn Ion coupes. And of course it was used on the less coupe-like Honda Element and Toyota FJ Cruiser. The roof also is available in a contrasting graphite color. The lower half of the body is simple, and a bit boxy with the blunt nose. That nose features a much smaller rendition of Mazda's pentagonal grille, and the grille blends into the headlights. And like all crossovers, the MX-30 has big plastic fender flares.

Inside, the MX-30 features a typically minimalist, modern dashboard that's low and wide. New for the MX-30 is a touchscreen display for climate control functions, and it sits on a "floating" center stack and console. The cabin features unique materials such as fabric made from plastic bottles, and cork in the center console. That cork is made of leftovers from a cork stopper company, and it's a nice throwback to Mazda's origins as a cork producer.

While we get a great look at the MX-30 inside and out, Mazda was light on critical details for an electric car: power and range. Both are mysteries, though it seems it is a single-motor vehicle, and so is likely front-drive only. It does feature an electric version of G-Vectoring Control, which is the system that reduces torque with steering input to shift weight forward for a larger front contact patch and more eager turn-in. The battery, located in the floor of the car, is cooled with a refrigerant, so it isn't simply air-cooled, and the car will be compatible with DC fast charging stations.

Mazda also didn't provide an on-sale date for the MX-30. We expect it will be available sometime in the next year. Whether it will come to America is also an open question. But as a stylish crossover, it seems like it would be an EV with U.S. sales potential.

Mazda hinted its first series-produced electric car, the MX-30 introduced in late 2019, might not be sold in the United States. We could see it on our shores with another powertrain under its coupe-like sheetmetal, however. The company announced a mild-hybrid variant of the crossover during a press conference held in Japan.

Technical details about the gasoline-electric MX-30 are hazy, but Mazda said it's powered by the same basic mild-hybrid system available in the Mazda3 and the CX-30. That means the drivetrain is built around a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a small electric motor that captures the kinetic energy generated while braking. It uses this electricity to power the car's electronics, and it injects it into the driveline to deliver bursts of extra power.

Fuel economy and performance figures haven't been released yet. We expect the mild-hybrid model will be quicker than the heavier electric version, and its driving range will be appreciably greater. The electric model is equipped with a relatively small, 35.5-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack that delivers a 124-mile range. Mazda explained using a smaller pack yields total CO2 emissions on par with a turbodiesel-powered Mazda3.

The biggest visual difference between the two variants is an e-Skyactiv-G emblem on the hatch. Both model wear the same sporty design characterized by a steeply-raked roof line and a set of rear-hinged half doors reminiscent of the rotary-powered RX-8. It's the same story inside, where the hybrid and the EV are all but identical.

Significantly, the hybrid MX-30 is expected to cost less than the electric model, which carries a base price of €33,490 (about $40,000) in Germany. All told, it's better positioned than the EV to stick the landing if it's sent to the United States.

Mazda hasn't yet published a list of the countries where it will sell the hybrid MX-30

Mazda teased out the possible return of the rotary engine as a range extender in the MX-30 earlier this year, but now the rotary’s return appears to be official for Mazda’s new crossover. In a video (below, skip to 7:34, and turn on English subtitles) streamed to Mazda’s official YouTube channel, CEO Akira Marumoto confirmed that Mazda will use a rotary engine in the MX-30.

Just as it was initially teased out, Mazda plans to use the rotary as a range extender on the otherwise all-electric version of the MX-30. Marumoto said that it will begin testing with a small batch of prototypes next year. The goal is to have a production version of the MX-30 with a rotary engine on Japanese roads in 2022.

Unfortunately, Mazda wasn’t super forthcoming about the specifics of this upcoming rotary engine. A news brief over two years ago (where Mazda officially confirmed the rotary was coming back) contained the most detailed information about the engine. Mazda says it’s going to be compact, have a high power output and be a smooth operator. Of course, those are all things we expect out of a rotary engine. Any numbers or specifications for the engine are still unknown.

Mazda hasn’t announced specific plans for this rotary range extender outside of the MX-30 for now. The cute and spunky MX-branded crossover is now on sale in Japan where it’s launching with a mild-hybrid powertrain. An all-electric version of the MX-30 has been on sale in Europe for about a month now, too. There are still no official plans for Mazda to unleash the MX-30 on the American public, and even if it did, there’s no guarantee that we’d get one with a rotary range extender. Mazda could always stick the rotary in a different car, but that’d mean an even longer wait for us to see one here.

In October last year, Mazda confirmed the return of the rotary engine as a range extender for the brand’s first electric model. The MX-30 with a rotary engine should be now in the testing phase before going on sale in Europe in the first half of 2022. The Zoom-Zoom company has just confirmed the rotary power will be making a comeback to the US market as well.

In an interview with The Detroit Bureau, Jeff Guyton, Mazda’s North American operations boss, announced the MX-30 with a rotary range extender is planned for North America. This is the first time we hear a firm confirmation about Mazda’s plans to bring the hybrid to the United States.

“We have launched the MX-30 in Europe, which is our first battery-electric vehicle. And we will be making that product available in the future with a rotary range extender. Any chance of it coming to the US? Yes, it will, though we haven’t talked about the date publicly yet,” Guyton told the publication during the interview.

He didn’t go into more details but our colleagues decided to ask again and make sure things are crystal clear. “And it will have the [rotary engine] range-extender option for the US, like you’re planning in Europe?” “That’s our plan,” Gayton confirmed. “For the U.S. market, the range-extender option would be more appropriate.”

Meanwhile, a new report from Nikkei Asia claims Mazda’s goal with the rotary range extender will be to double the range of the MX-30. Currently, measured by Europe’s WLTP cycle, the brand’s first production EV can travel up to 124 miles (200 kilometers) at a single charge. The engineers will be looking to double that number to approximately 249 miles (400 km).

The 2022 Mazda MX-30 EV is officially on its way to the U.S. as Mazda North America announced the car’s formal introduction today. It will initially be sold exclusively in California this fall before reaching additional markets at a later date.

We asked Mazda when, and a spokesperson told us that availability will be “expanding to other states in 2022.” A national rollout will commence “over the coming years,” and “additional states will be added based on customer demand.”

So yes, the MX-30 will only be available in California at launch, but it sounds like there’s hope that availability will reach many more states as time goes on. Today’s news doesn’t only concern the full-electric version of the MX-30, though. We also have details to share about the future rotary generator version of the crossover.

Previous to today, the rotary range extender version was confirmed for U.S. consumption, but no timing was available. We asked Mazda for more details, and a spokesperson sent us the following.

“The series plug-in hybrid version of MX-30 will debut as a 2023 model in the year 2022. A rotary generator will charge the battery powering the electric motor of the vehicle. More details will be shared closer to the launch of that vehicle.”

That’s the information you were all waiting to hear. The rotary MX-30 will be a 2023 model year car, and we can expect full U.S.-specific details to drop sometime next year.

Here’s what Jeff Guyton, president of Mazda North American operations, said about the rotary.

“The rotary generator will mark the return of our unique rotary powertrain. This technology is being engineered for nearly silent operation and will replenish the battery rather than drive the wheels. As a result, the MX-30 will always drive like the engaging EV that it is, but with freedom to charge from the wall or on the go.”

That’s just how Mazda has teased it out, making its operation similar to the discontinued Chevy Volt or BMW i3 REx. In addition to the rotary engine, there will be a more traditional PHEV and regular gasoline-electric hybrid version available eventually.

“Mazda is preparing for the fast-changing U.S. market demands by taking a multi-solution approach to electrification,” Guyton said. “The battery-powered MX-30 will begin the introduction of additional electrified models, including a series plug-in hybrid with a rotary generator for MX-30, a plug-in hybrid for our new large platform, and a traditional hybrid for our new American-made crossover. While these powertrains will be optimized for their platforms, Mazda fans can expect great driving dynamics and beautiful design across all models.”

As for the pure EV coming here this fall, it’s exactly what we saw launch in Japan and Europe so far. A single electric motor making 144 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque will power the front wheels. There’s a small 35.5 kWh battery pack, but Mazda hasn’t released any EPA range estimates yet. On the optimistic European WLTP test, it earns a 124-mile rating. We don’t know how much less it will be in EPA testing, but we can almost certainly expect a number under 124 for its official range rating here. Mazda says that its battery can go from nothing to 80% charge in about 36 minutes when utilizing a DC fast charger.

A partnership with ChargePoint is in the works, but Mazda isn’t releasing details on public charging solutions in the U.S. at this point — we’re told to expect more information closer to market launch. That wait is looking shorter than ever at this point for California residents, as they’ll be able to drive home in Mazda’s first EV before the year is out.

First, the good news. Mazda's new MX-30 EV crossover will start at $33,470 when it goes on sale in the United States this fall. It will go on sale in California initially, and will roll out to other states in 2022 depending on demand.

The starting price is surprisingly competitive for the electric crossover considering Mazda tends to imbue its vehicles with luxury features and materials that would typically be found on more premium brands. And, because this is Mazda's first foray into EVs, the car will be eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit. California offers even more incentives on top of that, anywhere from $1,500 to $6,000, depending on your household income.

That makes the handsome MX-30 a pretty good proposition in the rapidly growing EV field. Price-wise, it falls in line with the Hyundai Kona EV, beats the new Volkswagen ID.4, but is undercut by the Nissan Leaf. From the looks of it, the MX-30 has a more luxurious interior than all three.

Mazda has also partnered with the popular EV charging service ChargePoint to give MX-30 owners a $500 credit. That can be used towards re-juicing the batteries at one of ChargePoint's stations or to install a ChargePoint Level 2 charger at home

However, here comes the less-than-great news. There is a very good reason for the MX-30's surprisingly low price point: battery range. Mazda confirmed that the MX-30 will have an EPA-estimated range 100 miles from its 35.5 kWh lithium-ion battery. This is staggeringly low for an EV these days. Even the 114-mile Mini Cooper SE or 149-mile base Nissan Leaf outdoes it; a Kona EV gets 258 miles and an ID.4 tops out at 260 miles. Mazda, however, says that the smaller battery was chosen to preserve handling dynamics and minimize environmental impact.

Having only 100 miles is going to create some serious range anxiety, and we're guessing will significantly reduce the number of people willing to consider it. The eventual rotary range extender may change the equation, but in the meantime, Mazda is hoping its MX-30 Elite Access Loaner Program may make a difference. The service allows MX-30 owners to borrow other Mazda vehicles for 10 days a year for the first three years of ownership.

Mazda Connected Services, which allows owners to monitor their vehicles via a smartphone app, is complimentary for the first three years as well. The software also lets owners remote start and stop the car, check battery levels, access the climate control system, and lock or unlock the doors.

Mazda says the battery can be filled to 80% with approximately 36 minutes on a Level 3 DC 50 kW fast charger. On a Level 2: AC 240V/30amp charger, that'll take 2 hours and 50 minutes. A household-style Level 1: AC 120V/15amp charger will require 13 hours and 40 minutes. Mazda is also providing an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty on the battery.

The base MX-30 EV comes chock-full with features. Standard equipment includes an 8.8-inch center display and will have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Luxury features like heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear selector, power sunroof, heated power-folding mirrors with memory function, eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, a rear-view camera and parking sensors, and a frameless auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

Standard safety tech includes adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, blind-spot and lane-departure warnings, lane-keeping assistance, rear cross-traffic alerts, automatic brake support, and driver inattention warning.

For drivers who want a little more, Mazda is offering the MX-30 EV Premium Plus package. That adds a premium Bose 12-speaker audio system, heated steering wheel, HomeLink, and guide lines in the rear-view camera display. Premium Plus safety features include blind spot assist, front cross-traffic alerts, and a 360 around-view monitor. The Premium Plus stickers at $36,480. The only other option will be premium paint colors, which vary in price depending on the hue.

While pricing intersects competitively with Mazda's higher-end features and design, the MX-30 EV may not be the car for you if your driving needs require some padding in the range. This seems to make the proposed rotary engine range extender a sensible addition to the MX-30 line, if Mazda can successfully bring it to the United States.