Mazda's first electric car will debut at Tokyo Motor Show

Mazda has long championed driving dynamics as a core competency (remember "Driving Matters"?), but the brand will dip its toes into the brave new world of electric cars next month.

The Japanese automaker will use the Tokyo Motor Show next month to debut its first electric car. The unnamed Mazda EV will reportedly come as both a pure electric car and with a range-extending internal-combustion engine, according to Automotive News. The publication named a Japanese spokesperson who confirmed the news.

A Mazda representative confirmed to Roadshow that a battery-electric vehicle will, indeed, debut in Tokyo, but there was no mention of a model with a range extender. The spokesperson also did not confirm the bodystyle, nor powertrain specifications, but said it will be a new model and not based on a current Mazda vehicle.

It seems like a good educated guess that this will be a crossover or SUV of sorts with compact proportions. The world can't get enough utility vehicles.

The reported information also claims Japan, China and Europe will be target markets. In North America, the range-extending engine is supposedly a high priority. That reported nugget of information seems to tease the fact this electric car will not have hundreds of miles of range. Speaking of the range extender, it's likely it will mark the return of the rotary engine at Mazda. This time, it'll have a far different purpose, however.

Originally published Sept. 16, 8:38 a.m. PT.

Update, 10:35 a.m.: Adds confirmation from Mazda that it will show an electric car in Tokyo.