Mazda to offer hybrids and EVs by 2015, bring new engine tech to Tokyo Auto Show
As late as last year, Mazda declared it wouldn't offer alternative powertrains in order to meet its goal of reducing the fuel economy of its vehicles by 30% by 2015. Now, Mazda CEO Takashi Yamanouchi has announced the automaker will begin offering both hybrids and electric vehicles in the future, but would only say that the vehicles would be in the Mazda line-up come 2015.
However, Mazda's goal of creating more fuel efficient vehicles won't stop at hybrids and EVs. According to Yamanouchi, "Our new gasoline engines will achieve the same fuel economy as current diesel engines, and our diesel engines will achieve similar fuel economy as existing hybrids." This new engine tech will be unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show this October.
Yamanouchi said that Mazda "will be able to offer affordable eco-friendly vehicles to 90 percent of the car-buying public, not to just a limited segment of the market." This line of eco models will feature reduced weight, improved aerodynamics, start-stop engine technology and lower rolling resistances. Mazda hasn't decided to begin offering a diesel engine in the States, but it could be in the cards, and Yamanouchi made it clear that the new engines and their corresponding technology wouldn't be shared with Ford, although Mazda is open to selling the technology to the Blue Oval.
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
the_MVP_X 10:09AM (4/13/2009)
It's no Ford anymore.
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Mazda FTW! 10:14AM (4/13/2009)
A hybrid Mazda...what would that be like?
I'd prefer a lightweight machine with a TT-I4 with some energy saving tech instead of a battery laden hybrid.
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Chris 10:48AM (4/13/2009)
Can anyone comment on how a rotary engine would work in a Volt-like hybrid set-up, where the engine simply charges the battery? They are very light and compact, so it seems like it would make sense.
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jordan 6:29PM (4/13/2009)
The short version: awesomely.
Picture this: a hybrid-like system with a 1- or 2-rotor setup (I'm going to assume it'll be mounted transversely for space-savings). Even with a single rotor setup, you can still push ~130hp worth of power (if needed) to the battery to keep it charged (say, if, you have a few times where you need lots of juice to get up and go). The e-shaft for something like that could also be made tiny, so I would bet that you could easily cut the size and weight of a 13B in half.
I'd really like to know what kind of fuel economy you could get with something like that... (ie: using the new rotary tech, direct injection, etc, not my '87 13B's numbers)
Nateb123 5:46PM (4/14/2009)
Rotaries aren't very fuel efficient which is the real problem. I love my RX-7 but in no way am I under the illusion it's anything but a sports car engine. Maybe with an revolution in seal and rotor design but right now there's not a lot going for the rotary in terms of fuel efficiency. High surface area and low volume doesn't exactly make for a complete burn although they do put out far less NOx than piston engines.
Chris 8:23AM (4/24/2009)
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/04/22/sae-2009-fev-proposes-wankel-rotary-as-range-extender/
Well, I guess this answers my question.
Kareem M. Kamel 10:32AM (4/13/2009)
Go the Fiat way ...
1.4s - 1.6s 4 Cylinders Turbo Euro 6 engines ...
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but why is it taking BIG companies so much time to do Hybrids and EVS ?
Everyone talking 2015 - 2020 - 2030 ..
Chevy although facing serious problems made the volt .. its not public ready yet I know but if a big giant struggling company can build one
and a few more Chinese and Asian ones ..
Why can't everyone else build em ?
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Kitko 11:22AM (4/13/2009)
EV as we know them today are not the way to go en-masse, we don't have enough electricity to run them. By we I mean the World. Grids collapse every summer when people turn on their aircons. Imagine millions recharging their cars overnight....
Mazda is ahead of pretty much anyone else (that includes Honda and BMW) with hybrid Petrol/Hydrogen engines. Minimally modified standard Renesis engine can use both and a fleet of hydrogen rotaries in RX-8s and 5s (Premacy) has been leased to Japanese authorities and private companies for about three years now. Mazda even runs hydrogen "gas" stations in Japan.
I suppose Mazda's EVs will be supplementary offerings, not their core line up. The current Mazda's start-stop technology is different than anybody else's and it works better, their 2.2 liter diesel is the best in the class (even Germans and French admit that) with several new technical solutions patented like an iPhone. I will not be surprised to see few surprised faces drop when they introduce new petrol engines.
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marcelbourasseau 4:53AM (4/20/2009)
When Mr. Yamanouchi says "Our new gasoline engines..."
Will thoseinclude a new Rotary engine?
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Ray 11:28AM (4/13/2009)
Wish they thought of this sooner. I've been looking at the Mazda 6. The V6 gets 17 city/25 highway, I wasn't impressed.
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Imag 11:46AM (4/13/2009)
I hope by "new engine tech" they mean the 16X. Run it on hydrogen, I don't care, just get that motor out.
Oh, and if you could wrap it in a shiny new RX7, that would be nice too ;)
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bismillah 12:03PM (4/13/2009)
You'd really think Mazda would want to INCREASE the fuel economy of their vehicles by 30% . . . .
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Steve 1:52PM (4/13/2009)
Or reduce the fuel CONSUMPTION...