Mazda: Yes to Diesel; No to Hybrids (update: Toyota hybrids, New Sky-D engine)
03-29-09, 02:24 PM
#32
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It would be as if you were judging Scotch by vodka standards.
All that really matters is that diesel's energy density is about 10 percent higher than gasoline.
Until hydrogen is figured out diesel is the best stop-gap we have. Hybrids don't preform well enough and battery tech is still awful and harms the environment even more than petrol. And other than the Tesla tell me another electric car that is even close to good?
I was addressing you personally in regards to CA diesel prices. My quote was misleading, sorry.
03-29-09, 03:47 PM
#33
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This hybrid versus diesel nonsense goes on the same way everytime. The preachers/fanboys take everything so personally that they have to start insulting eachother like school children with snide remarks. Grow up people. Back in a place called the real world both hybrid/electric and diesels both share a place in the market. This is hardly a zero sum game. Andbody who honestly believes that needs to take the blinders off, seriously.
03-29-09, 04:15 PM
#34
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diesels work best in markets where there is weak emissions testing, they become overly expensive when asked to meet US emissions.
Add new gasoline tech like DI and Valvematic and diesels offer insignificant mileage gains.
Add new gasoline tech like DI and Valvematic and diesels offer insignificant mileage gains.
03-29-09, 06:58 PM
#35
Only because CARB was too stupid to make a different emission standard for diesel. Diesel release far fewer hydrocarbons than gasoline (primary polutant) but releases more NOx compared to gasoline. So, in their infinite wisdom they made diesel standards the same as gasoline effectively banning diesel untill Mercedes created the Blutec urea system. With urea, diesels are far cleaner.
They're Tier 2 Bin 5s. That's ULEV or what the rest of the gasoline cars meet. Keep in mind that we also needed ULSD before MB would even bring over their good diesels because the sulphur content would "destroy" their emissions system.
04-13-09, 05:49 AM
#36
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Thread Starter
FlipFlop
Just a few weeks ago, Mazda was adamant that diesel engines would be enough to satisfy its needs for more fuel-efficient cars - but now, in a major shift in strategy, the carmaker will be embracing hybrids and electric powertrains in the coming years.
The change in heart was revealed by Mazda's CEO Takashi Yamanouchi last week at the New York Auto Show. Speaking with Automotive News, Yamanouchi confirmed that Mazda will have hybrid and electric powertrains in its lineup by 2015, although the company will still be focusing on improving the efficiency of both its diesel and petrol engines.
Furthermore, Yamanouchi was confident enough to state that Mazda's next-generation of petrol engines will achieve the same fuel-economy as current diesels, and that its diesels will achieve the same fuel economy as existing hybrids.
Interestingly, despite the close links between Ford and Mazda, Yamanouchi claimed that new hybrid and electric technology will be "unique" to Mazda - although "if Ford desires, [Mazda] will be ready to see its technology".
Despite the shift in strategy, petrol and diesel engines will still play a large role in the company. The reasoning is that with hybrids and electric vehicles Mazda will be able to satisfy almost 90% of the car-buying public, and not just a limited segment of the market.
The change in heart was revealed by Mazda's CEO Takashi Yamanouchi last week at the New York Auto Show. Speaking with Automotive News, Yamanouchi confirmed that Mazda will have hybrid and electric powertrains in its lineup by 2015, although the company will still be focusing on improving the efficiency of both its diesel and petrol engines.
Furthermore, Yamanouchi was confident enough to state that Mazda's next-generation of petrol engines will achieve the same fuel-economy as current diesels, and that its diesels will achieve the same fuel economy as existing hybrids.
Interestingly, despite the close links between Ford and Mazda, Yamanouchi claimed that new hybrid and electric technology will be "unique" to Mazda - although "if Ford desires, [Mazda] will be ready to see its technology".
Despite the shift in strategy, petrol and diesel engines will still play a large role in the company. The reasoning is that with hybrids and electric vehicles Mazda will be able to satisfy almost 90% of the car-buying public, and not just a limited segment of the market.
04-13-09, 05:21 PM
#37
Hydrogen will still win. Think about it...we spend so much money using fossil fuels to refine more fossil fuels, and are not able to get that fuel back. At least with hydrogen you'd be able to replenish the fuel source...water.
As far as changing one evil with another, don't you think that if they can come up with a way to harness it for cars, that they will find a way to harness it for the refineries? You might use gasoline for a time being, but it'd only be a matter of time before they start switching everything over to hydrogen.
You also don't have batteries to charge, batteries to dispose of when they die out from being cycled too much, weight issues, etc etc.
Time will tell what wins out.
As far as changing one evil with another, don't you think that if they can come up with a way to harness it for cars, that they will find a way to harness it for the refineries? You might use gasoline for a time being, but it'd only be a matter of time before they start switching everything over to hydrogen.
You also don't have batteries to charge, batteries to dispose of when they die out from being cycled too much, weight issues, etc etc.
Time will tell what wins out.
03-19-10, 05:12 AM
#38
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Thread Starter
Update
Mazda is seriously considering a 4-cylinder diesel for the CX crossover for the U.S. market in efforts to boost fuel-economy without sacrificing performance, reports Road&Track.
The 2.2L diesel inline 4-cylinder in the European 5-passenger CX-7 makes 170-hp and a peak torque of 295 lb-ft. That’s enough to get it from 0-62 mph in 11.3 seconds. In comparison, the 2.3L direct-injection gasoline engine makes 260-hp, allowing the CX-7 to go from 0-62 mph in 8.2 seconds.
If the decision to bring diesel to the U.S. is approved, a Mazda official says that it would be the company’s next-generation diesel called SKY-D that would make it here. It is a little bit more powerful than the 2.2L diesel unit and would most likely be offered with the company’s new dual-clutch automated gearbox. The 6-speed manual may also be retained.
03-19-10, 08:39 AM
#40
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03-19-10, 12:11 PM
#41
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Oh I guess it never surfaced. I recall seeing a Tribute hybrid on display somewhere, I just assumed that it was on sale. Looking at their website I see that it is not.
03-19-10, 03:15 PM
#42
I thought I heard a while back that Ford sold its stake in Mazda. It was one of those moves that happened when Ford was trying to accumulate cash.
03-19-10, 03:23 PM
#43
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Thread Starter
Cali
2009 Mazda Tribute: Tributes received a power boost for 2009. The i models got a 171-hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder to replace a 153-hp 2.3-liter engine. The s models' 3.0-liter V6 gained 40 hp for 240 total. Hybrids, still sold only in California, got a 153-hp 2.5-liter four that replaced a 133-hp 2.3-liter version.
03-20-10, 11:12 AM
#45
Lexus Fanatic
Originally Posted by GS69
Mazda Tribute: Tributes received a power boost for 2009. The i models got a 171-hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder to replace a 153-hp 2.3-liter engine. The s models' 3.0-liter V6 gained 40 hp for 240 total. Hybrids, still sold only in California, got a 153-hp 2.5-liter four that replaced a 133-hp 2.3-liter version.
I had forgotten that the Tribute Hybrid is offered in CA. I see no reason to limit it to just there, though. (I try and keep so many auto facts in my head that I occasionally mess one or two of them up)
Originally Posted by SLegacy99
So I am not crazy
Last edited by mmarshall; 03-20-10 at 11:17 AM.