Mazda plans to sell a diesel-electric hybrid passenger car in fiscal year 2016, according to a Japan News article yesterday. The unnamed car, likely a Mazda6 or similar, will be sold in Japan and Europe but probably not in North America due to heavy import costs and an expectation of slow sales.
“Using a diesel-fueled engine as the main drive source, Mazda will develop a system in which an engine-powered small motor will play a supporting role.
“Mazda aims to develop diesel-powered hybrid cars that can travel about 40 kilometers per liter of light oil—about 30 percent farther than ordinary diesel-powered vehicles run, according to sources.”
The report by Yomiuri Shimbun can be read here.
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An automotive enthusiast for most of his adult life, Aaron has worked in and around the industry in many ways. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP), the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA), the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA), and freelances as a writer and journalist around the Web and in print. You can find his portfolio at AaronOnAutos.com.
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Good catch. I saw this here first and it should be bigger news.
I agree, this is very potent.
Thanks. Since it’s only in Japan and Europe, it’s largely been ignored in the U.S. press.
It’s pretty interesteing to see they are doing at last. I remember talking to them in 2009. They claimed they ahd no desires to go hybrid or electric, saying the internal combustion engine had a lot to offer still. Diesel and hybrid, makes me tink of BMW and Mercedes. That puts Mazda up there in terms of competition for Germany. We’ll see how they play it out.