Mazda Not Rushing to Build Hybrids

Mazda gets it. Simple as that. It knows how to make cars that are fun to drive and are affordable. And not one of them is a either a hybrid or an EV. This is no mistake and Mazda, at least for its immediate future European lineup, intends to keep it that way. Unlike fellow Japanese brands Toyota and Honda, Mazda is still heavily invested in the good old internal combustion and diesel engines. Instead of going battery happy, Mazda plans to continue concentrating on maximizing the efficiency of internal combustion.

Turbocharging, a method used by many, also has no place at Mazda for the foreseeable future. According to Mazda's R&D spokesman, "While downsizing can be an effective method for reducing emissions, adding an electric boost often merely offsets the loss in power from reduced displacement. We want to make sure our engines are optimally designed, to make better effect of the benefits of combined battery power." Mazda's solution is its SkyActiv lineup of powerful, but small gasoline and diesel engines. It also developed an energy recovery system through braking called e-ELOOP, similar to what's used in hypercars like the LaFerrari.

Only here it comes as a part of the modestly priced $2,080 GT Technology Package on the Mazda6. The new Mazda3 is also expected to be offered with this system. And just to show that EVs don't have mass appeal, the automaker built a prototype Mazda2 EV only to prove its point. As expected, it didn't appeal to Mazda's customer base. The bottom line is this: Mazda believes it can continue to be competitive in terms of lowered C02 and fuel economy figures with gas and diesel engines and completely avoid hybrids and EVs. And for that, we're eternally grateful.