Mazda aggressively pursuing environmental agenda
Showing that Toyota isn't Japan's only "green" carmaker, Mazda president and CEO Hisakazu Imaki (pictured)
highlighted Mazda's environmental initiatives in a press conference leading in to this year's Tokyo Motor Show.
Imake said that Mazda's first priority is aggressive implementation of direct injection in Mazda's gas engines, to
achieve lower emissions with good performance. Mazda's new JDM Atenza 2.3 liter turbo, for example, uses direct
injection and achieves both 270 hp and SU-LEV classification (super ultra-low emissions vehicle: emissions 75 percent
lower than 2005 Japanese requirements).
Direct injection also makes possible Mazdas Smart Idling Stop System that uses direct injection of fuel into a
stopped engine to restart it without using a starter motor. This makes restarting after fuel-saving idle shutdown
easier, quieter and more efficient.
Imaki outlined Mazdas progress in developing hybrids with Ford, including upcoming pilot tests of hybrid Mazda
Tributes in the U.S. He went on to say that Mazda would introduce production hybrids in the near future.
Finally, he said Mazda is ahead of schedule with its hydrogen-fueled rotary engine, with a lease program for hydrogen
RX-8s launching in early 2006.
[Tipped by Joel. Source: Mazda]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Yaroukh 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Maybe Prius is not the most environment-friendly vehicle, maybe there are several more vehicles on the market that match Prius; the PR-critical difference IMO is that Toyota devoted a single model exclusively to the hybrid-approach (moreover the model looks wierd which definitely counts this time).
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TheChaz 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
270 hp 2.3 liter turbo? That's a motor I'd like to see in america. Most of the (stock) engines putting out that kind of power for this market are 3.0 liter (or greater) V6s.
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Carzzi 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
TheChaz: The 276hp turbo 2.3-four is available in the USA on recently launched Mazdaspeed 6. It is equipped with a 4WD drivetrain and will offer a more confortable alternative to the WRX & Evo.
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Carzzi 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
TheChaz: The 276hp turbo 2.3-four is available in the USA on recently launched Mazdaspeed 6. It is equipped with a 4WD drivetrain and will offer a more confortable alternative to the WRX & Evo.
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Meek 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
"Showing that Toyota isnt Japans only green carmaker"
What, did Honda close up shop?
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Whydrive 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Honda conceded defeat to Toyota when they released the latest Civic.
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