Ford affiliate Mazda Motor Corporation has set itself the target of reducing the fuel consumption of vehicles sold globally by an average of 30% by 2015.
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The method will include lightweight technologies, the upgrade of almost all petrol engines, introducing a smart idle stop system, a new petrol rotary engine and new diesel engines worldwide.
By 2015, the automaker will have renewed almost its entire powertrain lineup and, from 2011, through steadily developing safe, lightweight, new generation platforms, aims to reduce the weight of its new vehicles by 100 kilograms or more.
The smart idle stop system will be launched next year along with a more advanced version of the automaker’s unique three layer wet paint system.
Mazda also expects to have carbon-neutral bioplastics ready for use in vehicles by 2013.
The company claims that, in the seven years from 2001 to 2008, the average fuel economy of its vehicles sold in Japan improved by about 30%.
It claims its new start-stop is the only idle stop system in the world that restarts the engine from idle by injecting fuel directly into the cylinder and igniting it to force the piston down, enabling a fast and quiet restart as well as an improvement in fuel economy by up to 8%. The system will initially appear in Japan and Europe; however, it will eventually be rolled out worldwide.
In 2009, an E85 fuel-compatible flex-fuel engine will be introduced in northern Europe and North America
From 2011, new petrol engines will incorporate next generation direct injection spark ignition and other systems to boost power by 15 to 20% and improve fuel economy by approximately 20%.
Also from 2011, Mazda plans to introduce new diesel engines worldwide that meet the strictest future exhaust gas regulations in each market. These engines will feature next generation direct injection technology, turbocharging systems and NOx reduction technology, which will enhance fuel economy by 20% and produce cleaner exhaust gases.
The petrol rotary engine, will be substantially upgraded in the early 2010s. Currently referred to as the 16X, the next generation will offer substantially improved performance and economy through use of direct injection spark ignition and high-speed combustion technology.
Mazda has also been working with hydrogen-powered vehicles since 1991 and its latest Hydrogen RE Hybrid this month gained Japanese government approval to begin testing on public roads.
The latest 5/Premacy-based vehicle offers 40% more power and an extended hydrogen driving range of 200kilometres (120 miles) and will be available for commercial lease in Japan during this fiscal year.
In fiscal 2007, the volume of CO2 emissions from production in Japan was reduced by 15.4% compared to 1990 levels.
In 2005, Mazda was the first auto manufacturer to introduce a three layer wet paint system which reduces VOC emissions by 45% and CO2 emissions by 15%.
It now plans to introduce a more advanced version of this unique paint system in 2009 as it finalises the development of an innovative water-based paint technology that reduces VOC emissions by a further 57% without increasing CO2 emissions.
Producing around 25% fewer CO2 emissions than common water-based paint, this new technology is intended to make the automaker’s paint shops the cleanest in the world.
Last week, it revealed plans to develop a bioplastic made from non-food-based cellulosic biomass ready for use by 2013.
