Mazda to sell diesel-hybrid cars in FY 2016 – report

2014_Mazda3_Hybrid_001

According to a report by The Yomiuri Shimbun, Mazda could be the first Japanese carmaker to begin selling diesel-hybrid cars in Japan and Europe as early as fiscal year 2016.

The report adds that the Hiroshima-based manufacturer is targeting a fuel economy of 40 km per litre with its diesel-hybrids, and suggests that the diesel engine will be the main source of drive, with an engine-powered small motor playing a supporting role.

Mazda currently has two diesel engines in its SkyActiv line-up – the 2.2 litre SkyActiv-D and recently-announced 1.5 litre SkyActiv-D. The latter made its debut under the bonnet of the new 2015 Mazda 2, which has recently been spotted testing in Thailand.

The sold-in-Japan-only Mazda 3 Hybrid (above) is a petrol-hybrid, mating the battery, control system, electric motor and eCVT from the Toyota Prius to Mazda’s own 2.0 litre SkyActiv-G petrol engine. The result is a claimed fuel economy of 30.8 km per litre on the JC08 cycle.

PSA Peugeot Citroen and Mercedes-Benz both have diesel-hybrid vehicles on sale, denoted by the HYbrid4 and BlueTEC Hybrid monikers respectively.

We’ve spotted HYbrid4 variants of Peugeots 3008, 508 and 508 RXH estate, plus the Citroen DS5, here in Malaysia, and recently, British journalist Andrew Frankel drove from Africa to Britain in a Mercedes E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid on one 80-litre tank of diesel, averaging about 32.3 km per litre.

Diesel-powered vehicles account for half of new car sales in Europe. They’re also on the rise in Japan, according to The Yomiuri Shimbun – around 76,000 units found homes in the Land of the Rising Sun last year, which is about 1.9 times up on the year before.

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Jonathan James Tan

While most dream of the future, Jonathan Tan dreams of the past, although he's never been there. Fantasises much too often about cruising down Treacher Road (Jalan Sultan Ismail) in a Triumph Stag that actually works, and hopes this stint here will snap him back to present reality.

 

Comments

  • kl fella on Aug 14, 2014 at 1:51 pm

    diesel-hybrid is the way to go for EEV

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
    • Same L0rrr on Aug 14, 2014 at 5:10 pm

      Whole world going to hybrid/EV for better fuel consumption and clean energy.

      While Proton still talking about power (with their powerless engine), flowery handling, smoke this car smoke that car, 160km/h cornering bla bla bla syok sendiri. NAIVE!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 4
  • O.M.G.
    Can Malaysia pls introduce Euro4 diesel just before the arrival of Madza diesel hybrid?
    Thank you.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 0
  • HP?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2
  • death (Member) on Aug 14, 2014 at 2:14 pm

    Nice 1 Mazda, will look forward on you =D

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • fast5 on Aug 14, 2014 at 2:28 pm

    Good for Japan Mazda and Global but not in Bolehland.
    100% on import tax and excise duty. Thanks Gov for increasing taxes.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 1
    • lonelyobserve (Member) on Aug 14, 2014 at 3:07 pm

      Plus lousy Euro 2M standard fuel. Many green diesel vehicles unable to reach Boleh Land. Even though some can enter, modifications still needed to suit the fuel and the emission and fuel consumption will be different from the Europe and Australia figures.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 0
    • kadajawi (Member) on Aug 15, 2014 at 3:53 am

      Fuel saving cars in Malaysia are getting tax rebates. This could easily be 100% tax free (just like the S400 hybrid), at least until the end of 2015. Hopefully the government will extend that, and SOON. Car makers need some time to make plans…

      And the big problem is of course Malaysian fuel quality…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Semi-Value (Member) on Aug 14, 2014 at 2:30 pm

    love it…but then malaysia fuel quality….petronas x boleh

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 0
    • lonelyobserve (Member) on Aug 14, 2014 at 3:09 pm

      If fuel standard is “Boleh”, national cars will take big damage as green diesel vehicles from continental will flock in and grab national cars’ market share.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
      • kadajawi (Member) on Aug 15, 2014 at 3:54 am

        National cars surely will also want better fuel quality… in any case Proton needs to develop cars for better fuel quality anyway in order to export them. And then downtune the engines for the Malaysian market…

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • If Mazda claimed it can get 40km/l hopefully it will reach our shores later but please improve the quality of diesel here first.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
    • kl fella on Aug 14, 2014 at 5:40 pm

      BHP diesel and petrol fuel already somewhere in between euro 3 and 4 standard

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
      • I thought it was only Johor BHPs. Is that so?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2
      • Chris (Member) on Aug 15, 2014 at 8:38 am

        I read several post regarding that as well, but how true is it? I doubt I can test it with whatever car I have now so…

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • drCooper on Aug 15, 2014 at 8:31 am

    One thing I hate about hybrid car is that they always scarifies the trunk space for batteries…why can’t just makes the battery flat and squeeze them under occupant floor area between drive shaft and exhaust pipe ?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • kadajawi (Member) on Aug 15, 2014 at 12:00 pm

      A few reasons. First of all the car has to be from scratch be designed for that. The space would remain unused in non hybrid/electric versions.

      Then there is the risk of something on the road may pierce the battery, which is a bit dangerous as it leads to a fire (though you’ll have plenty of time to stop the car and get out of it). Happened to Tesla (lowering a car doesn’t help… Tesla’s fix was improving the armour even more and raising the ride height while driving on the highway (the car usually sits low when driving on the highway to reduce drag and improve range).

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • looks like the european got it right…diesels are the waayy to go, even the normal turbodiesels are doing far better on average compared to petrols hybrid in REAL world test. And lately Japanese consumers have started to embrace diesels too (increase in sale of diesel cars)thanks to the removals of previous ancient legislation penalising diesels cars.

    Diesels hybrid will further improve the already good mileage of a diesels cars until we move to future all electric vehicles. Yup, Mazda have taken the leading initiative amongst the Japs car manufacturer. Good job Mazda

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • kadajawi (Member) on Aug 15, 2014 at 12:03 pm

      Diesel and hybrid are good for different things. Diesels aren’t good for short distance drives, it IIRC hurts the engine. A diesel needs to be driven. They are great for highway driving, low FC there. A hybrid system is great for stop & go. Combining the two seems like a good idea, but it always depends on what it is used for. Diesel engines are also heavier, and I guess more expensive (at least manufacturers charge more).

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • niterunner99 on Aug 15, 2014 at 10:34 am

    My goodness! Merc E300 Bluetech Hybrid can do 2400km/tank!! (estimate: 80L tank X 30km/L)
    I can use 1 tank to go from SG to Phuket round trip!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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