Mazda’s European president James Muir has challenged the logic of private UK customers buying supermini (B segment) diesels despite his own company introducing a diesel-powered 2 (Demio) this month.
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Muir said: “It takes around 94,000 miles (150,000km) to break even with a small diesel so is it logically worth buying one? Absolutely not.”
But he claimed that taxation alters views and diesels “are all the rage among C02-fixated politicians but what happens when they look at NOx?”
At GBP1,000 more expensive than petrol counterparts, the Mazda 2 diesels will have 114gm/km C02 ratings, lower than the crucial 120gm/km London congestion charge waiver level, which Muir said: “makes it pretty compelling for the UK capital.”
Muir revealed that within 18 months Mazda would use an in-house (ie non-PSA-Ford) 2.2-litre, 170-180 horsepower diesel to double or treble sales of the currently petrol-only CX-7 SUV crossover. That power unit will also provide a diesel upgrade for the new 6.
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By GlobalDataMeanwhile a C-sector concept car, hinting at a future Mazda compact SUV crossover by 2010, will feature on the Hiroshima brand’s August Moscow motor show stand.
Muir said: “Developed in Europe, it looks at further exploration of the SUV segment. It is stretchy in looks but not a flight of fancy.”
Hugh Hunston
