Mazda Investor Presentation Indicates New Powertrains
A recent Mazda investor presentation revealed some interesting new details about the company’s near future. It’s no secret that Mazda has been steadily climbing towards positioning itself as a premium brand. Part of that strategy will include beefing up the brand’s selection of powertrains. Here’s a look at what Mazda might have in store for us.
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Promising powertrains
If you’re familiar with the Mazda lineup, you know that the brand’s offerings boast inline-four engines. Going forward, Mazda wants to mix that up by adding an inline-six and a hybrid option.
The inline-six mill would have gas, diesel, and SkyActiv-X variants. Plans for hybrid powertrains include a 48-volt mild hybrid system and a plug-in hybrid, created in collaboration with Toyota. The hybrid powertrains would be accompanied by a rotary range extender, as the automaker has previously discussed.
Mazda also wants to open up more possibilities for different designs. Save for the Miata, the Mazda lineup’s architecture is designed to accommodate transversely mounted engines. To help broaden the brand’s horizons for future vehicles, Mazda is looking to create some architecture that works with longitudinal arrangements.
Other plans for the future
As Mazda moves forwards, the brand wants to go green and create a stronger presence as a corporate citizen of the United States. For instance, Mazda would like to open over 300 new-generation Mazda stores, as well as break ground on a new U.S.-based plant within the next few years. The new plant will be used to produce hybrid SUVs. The new hybrids won’t just be for the United States market — Mazda intends to release hybrid models in China, and sell a Toyota Yaris-based model in Europe.
The company’s eco-friendly efforts won’t stop there. From 2022 onwards, Mazda wants to invest in reducing the carbon output from its plants, with the eventual goal of reducing the plants’ carbon footprint to zero. On top of that, Mazda wants to improve its workplace environment and find ways to optimize or automate skills that would require the skills of a Takumi craftsperson.
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Kimiko Kidd is a native Daytonian. She graduated from Wright State University with degrees in environmental science and sociology. She loves her trusty old Honda Civic, but dreams of owning a 1974 Ford Falcon XB with a custom paint job and a vintage Kawasaki Z1000. In her free time, Kimiko can be found watercolor-painting, baking muffins, collecting rocks, playing old-school Nintendo games, writing her novel, sewing stuffed animals, and cosplaying as her favorite Mad Max characters. See more articles by Kimiko.