SLegacy99

Mmmm. And the things that I retain. Such as the 2003 Corolla had 130 HP (prior to revision of testing) and was rated for 32/41 MPG with a 5MT. Why do I know this?!!?!?

mmarshall

Probably for two reasons. It's presumably a U.S.-spec Corolla, and you, or someone close to you, owned one, or researched one.

The Corolla, back then, in the compact-sedan class, had a reputation for good gas mileage. Still does, to some extent, though, of course, not up to Prius standards.

GS69

Toyota Agrees to Provide Mazda with Key Hybrid Parts

Tokyo - Toyota Motor Corp and Mazda Motor Corp announced Monday that the two automakers had reached an agreement under which Toyota would supply hybrid technology used in the Prius.

Mazda is to launch its own hybrid vehicles by 2013 while the automaker plans to combine Toyota's hybrid parts with its next-generation engine, the company said.

Toyota already provided its hybrid technology and parts to Nissan Motor Co and US automaker Ford Motor Co, which has capital ties with Mazda. Toyota and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd, the maker of Subaru, are also jointly developing hybrid vehicles.

Mazda is likely to gain access to Toyota's key hybrid parts including batteries, an electric motor and a control unit, while Toyota hopes to reduce costs for the core hybrid components through mass production, Kyodo News reported.

Toyota, the manufacturer of the Prius, the world's best-selling hybrid, has been struggling recently to regain consumer trust after more than 8 million cars were recalled worldwide over problems with brakes, accelerator pedals and floor mats.

jruhi4

Here's more on the above:

Mazda to license hybrid technology from Toyota
by Sam Abuelsamid - Autoblog

Starting in 2013, Mazda will become the second manufacturer (after Nissan) to directly use Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive technology. Mazda has signed a licensing agreement with the hybrid behemoth that will see the smaller company get a supply of hybrid hardware – presumably including transmissions, power electronics (including software) and battery packs.

The drive components will be paired up with the new-generation, direct-injected Sky engines that Mazda displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show last fall. Mazda will build a new hybrid vehicle starting in 2013 using this equipment, the first it has produced on its own. The only previous Mazda hybrid was the Tribute, a re-badged Ford Escape.

Nissan has now produced its own in-house hybrid system and when the Altima is redesigned in the next few years it seems unlikely it will retain its current Toyota hybrid system. Here's the joint Toyota/Mazda press release:

TMC and Mazda Agree to Hybrid System Technology License

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) and Mazda Motor Corporation (Mazda) have reached an agreement on the supply under license of hybrid technology used in the Toyota Prius.

Leveraging this agreement, Mazda plans to combine the hybrid system with its next-generation SKY* engine that is currently under development, and develop and manufacture a hybrid vehicle in Japan. Mazda is aiming to commence sales of a hybrid vehicle starting in Japan by 2013.

Positioning response to environmental issues as a management priority, TMC began sales of the Prius, the world's first mass-production hybrid vehicle, in 1997. Since then, over 2.3 million TMC-produced hybrid vehicles have been delivered to customers in over 70 countries and regions.

TMC recognizes the importance of benefiting the environment by encouraging the popularization of its eco-friendly technologies, which are represented by its hybrid systems. Accordingly, TMC has announced that it will consider requests from other companies to supply hybrid technology.

Based on its long-term vision for technology development, Sustainable Zoom-Zoom, Mazda aims to increase the average fuel economy of Mazda vehicles sold globally 30 percent by 2015, compared to its 2008 level. In order to offer all of its customers driving pleasure as well as outstanding eco-friendly and safety performance, Mazda is implementing a Building Block Strategy. Under this strategy, Mazda will enhance the core aspects of its vehicles - including engines, transmissions and weight reduction - and then progressively add electric devices such as idling stop, regenerative braking and hybrid systems.

Through this partnership, each company intends to offer technologies and products with outstanding environmental benefits to as many people as possible.

*Concept name for engines and transmissions that are intended for launch from 2011 onward.

Mazda to license hybrid technology from Toyota — Autoblog

SLegacy99

Good for Toyota I guess.

GS69

Mazda6 Diesel Confirmed w/ Hybrid-Like 43 MPG

If there's one thing we're clamoring for here in the U.S., it's more diesel engines in passenger cars. Mazda will soon be answering our cries, as it plans to launch its all-new SKY-D powertrain in its "next-generation mid-sized car" (read: Mazda6) sometime in 2012.

The big news about this engine is that it's expected to achieve up to 43 miles per gallon on the highway, trumping the current class-leader of fuel economy in the mid-size sedan department, the Ford Fusion Hybrid. This powerplant will be mated to a brand new six-speed automatic transmission, called SKY-Drive, and will not only meet Tier 2 Bin 5 regulations, but will meet North America's strict emissions standards.

In addition to the SKY-D diesel engine, Mazda has said that it plans to build a new SKY-G gasoline engine that when coupled to the SKY-Drive six-speed automatic will provide 15 percent better fuel economy than the its petrol poweplants currently in use. Hit the jump to read the full details in Mazda's press release.

SLegacy99

Better fuel economy, that's great. But how bout some power figures. Doesn't mean anything until I see that.

joe80

Mazda really needs this. 43mpg is very very impressive!

jruhi4

I attended Mazda's New York Auto Show press conference and it struck me how they didn't say a word about hybrids or the new agreement for them to use Toyota's hybrid technology.

jruhi4

The ever-contrarian Mazda's Sky-D diesel to be low-compression and naturally-aspirated?! Here's the story:

Mazda's diesel to take on hybrids
Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News

New York -- As other automakers rush to bring more hybrids to market, Mazda Motor Corp. is taking an entirely different approach to fuel economy.

The Japanese automaker plans to bring a diesel-powered midsized sedan to the United States in 2012 that will get 43 miles per gallon. That is better than any of today's midsized hybrids, and Mazda promises its car will cost far less.

Consumer Reports test engineer Jake Fisher called it one of the most important announcements made at the New York auto show last week.

"That was big news, because we need a small displacement, fuel-efficient diesel that doesn't cost an arm and a leg," he said. "Volkswagen has one, but every other manufacturer seems scared of diesels. I think it's fabulous that Mazda has thrown its hat in the ring."

Mazda, Japan's fifth-largest carmaker, has a history of contrarian thinking. It remains the only proponent of the rotary engine and has always found its biggest successes by zigging when other zag.

Its new Sky-D diesel is no exception. While the engine has been in development for years, Mazda CEO Takashi Yamanouchi said his company only decided to bring it to the U.S. market after learning Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. would not bring diesels here. Toyota does not see a "substantial" market for diesels in the United States.

"That provides us with a huge opportunity," he told The Detroit News. "We're able to provide hybrid-like performance at lower cost. It will probably make some hybrids unnecessary."

Diesel engines have always gotten better mileage than their gasoline counterparts, but they also have been significantly more expensive. That is because they usually require a costly after-treatment system to remove polluting nitrogen oxide from the exhaust. Mazda says it can avoid this because of a unique approach to building diesel engines.

"The trend in the past has been to increase the compression ratio in the diesel. But when we studied the combustion itself, we found a better way was to go for a lower compression ratio. When you do that, it significantly reduces the emission of nitrogen oxide," Yamanouchi said. "When you burn the air-fuel mixture more cleanly, you need less after-treatment -- and that means lower cost."

Mazda has already patented its diesel system, he noted.

"It's something that others won't be able to easily emulate," Yamanouchi said, noting that the Volkswagen Jetta is the only sedan available in the United States that offers a small, low-cost diesel. "Our diesel's performance will be superior to the Jetta's, so it provides us with a huge opportunity."

Diesels lack U.S. success
Not everyone is sure it does.

Analyst Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics LLC in Birmingham says Americans have never been sold on diesels and doubts Mazda can do much to change that -- particularly with the price gap between diesel and gasoline fuel closing.

"Diesels are not going to fly in this country unless there is a significant discount for diesel fuel, but at this point, it's approaching parity with gasoline," he said. "You will go broke trying to educate the American customer about the benefits of diesel."

Diesels have long been regarded by most Americans as loud, dirty and expensive. But thanks to reformulated clean diesel fuel, today's models are neither. And both VW and its luxury brand, Audi, have found that plenty of Americans do appreciate the fuel-savings and environmental benefits they offer.

Audi introduced two diesels to the United States in 2009, and sales of both have far exceeded expectations, said Audi spokesman Christian Bokich.

"We think this is the right time for diesel," he said, noting the Audi A3 TDI won the last Green Car of the Year Award.

Still, diesels account for 3.7 percent of the U.S. light vehicle market, according to Ward's Automotive Group.

Diesels have long dominated the European car market, largely because hefty taxes on gas made them more economical, Hall said. But diesels' lead has narrowed in recent years, with the market almost evenly split between the two fuel options as automakers are figuring out how to coax more miles per gallon out of gas engines, Hall said.

Performance issue raised
He has other concerns about Mazda's strategy. Mazda says its diesel sedan will cost even less than VW's because it will not turbo-charge its engine. But Hall said naturally aspirated diesels offer lackluster performance -- a shortcoming that could undermine the "zoom-zoom" image Mazda has worked hard to earn.

Yamanouchi said the high torque offered by the Sky-D engine will certainly deliver more driving excitement than a hybrid and at a much more attractive price. He hinted that Mazda's unique approach will deliver unexpected performance gains.

Mazda's new clean diesel will make its U.S. debut on the next-generation Mazda6 midsize sedan, the current version of which is built at a Flat Rock plant Mazda operates jointly with Ford Motor Co., its largest shareholder.

The Sky-D motor will likely find its way into most of Mazda's lineup. The automaker believes diesel engines will allow it to meet the U.S. government's tough new fuel economy requirements without a hybrid. Finalized last week, these new rules require automakers to achieve an average fleet fuel economy rating of 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016.

Hall said that is technically possible, but only if American consumers buy the vehicles.

http://detnews.com/article/20100409/...ake-on-hybrids

TRDFantasy

Mazda should stick with hybrids for the US, and not diesels.

Mazda is going to fail with diesels in the US.