We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Car website. However, if you would like to, you can change your cookies at any time
The start point for the best source of fleet information |
Mazda's ambitions to cut its emissions and fuel use by 30% before 2015 will be achieved mainly through increased efficiency of petrol and diesel engines under its new Skyactiv technology banner, rather than through moves to hybrid or electric vehicle, according to UK boss Jeremy Thompson.
The drivetrain, body and chassis engineering developments, consisting of a whole series of small changes to every element of the vehicle, will first filter through to the market on the production version of the Minagi concept early next year, which is a small crossover SUV to sit below the CX-7 off-roader in the range. Mazda is aiming for sub-120g/km emissions from the 2.2-litre diesel, which Thompson branded "pretty astonishing for that segment".
Thompson said Mazda is looking to improve on the efficiency of internal combustion engines, rather than find alternatives to them. "We are aiming for class-leading economy and CO2 relative to the performance, and to create an alternative to
hybrid and EV solutions," he told BusinessCar. "Current petrol and diesel engines are only around 30% efficient, and we are not going to see that as a glass ceiling."
Thompson said Mazda holds a licence to use Toyota's hybrid system, but is looking to optimise its current engines first. "We won't deploy it until we've got a perfect internal combustion engine. We're far from denialists - EVs and hybrid will have their time and place," he said.
The quest to optimise petrol and diesel engines will lead to the next generation Mazda 6 being offered with emissions of around 105g/km.
Mazda is also planning on rolling out stop-start system to its diesel engines, although a timescale hasn't been confirmed, as well as a regenerative braking system that would further bring down emissions, before the longer-term goal of adding hybrid and electric vehicle technology.
Follow BusinessCar on TWITTER
BusinessCar magazine ©2019
Business Car Magazine © 2020 | Business Car is part of NS Media Group.
