Mazda doesn’t see a need to delve deeply into electric and hybrid technology anytime soon. Instead, the company will be focusing on enhancing the efficiency of its range of SkyActiv petrol and diesel engines through other means, Auto Express reports.
“I think there’s at least 20-30% better fuel economy by the end of the decade,” said Mazda Europe boss, Jeff Guyton on the future of SkyActiv engines. “We expect to achieve the EU’s 95g/km target without any significant deployment of electrical drive,” he added.
Such means include the introduction of advanced engine technology and a reduction in weight. “We are very passionate about weight. Weight reduces driving fun and efficiency. If you can focus on weight reduction at an affordable price, the car can be more fun to drive and have fuel economy benefits,” Guyton explained.
On that note, Guyton warned that regulators should not measure CO2 output merely based on the emissions from a car’s exhaust. “Eventually somebody needs to reflect on the fact that with most electric vehicles, there’s a big tailpipe – it’s just not on the car, it’s back in a power station some place,” he said.
He added, “that might have benefits at a location, but from a CO2 standpoint we think it’s quite likely we have a well-to-wheel CO2 (in our cars) that’s the equivalent of an electric vehicle.”
That said, treading down the electrification route hasn’t been entirely discounted of course as the Mazda 3 Hybrid is currently being offered in Japan. “We are interested in electric technology and it will be in the distant future when it will be quite important. But we think it will take some time to be commercially attractive without tax payer-funded incentives,” Guyton concluded.
Proton 1.5 TGDi 180hp 250NM euro 6c emission ftw!!!!!
Toyota (UMW) has better engine offering. Mazda SkyActiv is just was too noisy and underpowered.
Wondering which car you comparing between Toyota and Mazda that is available in Malaysia?
Vios : Mazda2 Skyactiv
Altis : Mazda3 Skyactiv
Camry : Mazda6 Skyactiv
Clearly comments from another Toyota die-hard supporter without actually study on the difference between Toyota CVT engine & Mazda SkyActiv engine.
Any facts & technical to justify so?
Agree. 1 of the largest CO2 emission worldwide is the electricity generation by coal powerplant. Hydro electric is minor in malaysia
The move will eventually bite the company when fuel reserve become less and less. By that time, other companies are already running while you are still crawling on this technology. Even if they do not want to go into hybrid and electric now, there’s no harm setting up a small R&D doing just that.
Mazda has signed their partnership with toyota.dont worry about mazda, their know how to survive.
We all learn from mistakes and it could be someone else’s mistake. Remember, Nokia? Apple, HTC and few others introduced smartphones. But Nokia did nothing. Eventually Nokia lost not just their number 1 mobile telephone manufacturer spot but from the industry. There are talented people out there inventing new stuff, improving energy storage and exploring other workable solutions. Hydrogen fuel cell cars looks promising and Toyota begun development in 1992. More than 20 years of experience before launching a production car. If Mazda choose to wait and see, they may lose out from the market.
Mazda should pursue the hybrid route not just to save fuel, but the instant torque delivery from electric motor. Very useful for urban driving. Torque from NA engines always comes very late in the rev range.