In an interview, Mazda Europe says they are sticking to diesel engines. In 2020, they will show a different approach to them.
While the entire automotive industry is slowly turning to alternative energy, Mazda continues to be a black sheep. Although the Hiroshima carmaker will soon unveil its electrification strategy, Mazda was, until earlier this week, one of the only brands not offering electric vehicles. This changed with the unveiling of the Mazda MX-30 at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show.
Furthermore, the brand’s leaders have even decided to go against the trend with the recent arrival of a CX-5 Signature powered by a 2.2L turbocharged diesel engine, after several years of waiting. Perched at the top of the compact SUV lineup, this diesel livery will not run out at a staggering rate. First, the asking price ($45,950) is quite high, but in addition, the term “diesel” has lost its lustre following Volkswagen’s TDI engines scandal, so much that many models formerly available with diesel technology are no longer offered with this type of motorization.
It seems, however, that Mazda wants to change the game in that sense. In an interview with Britain’s magazine Autocar, Mazda Europe’s director of research and development, Christian Schultze, said “We are sticking to diesel engines. In 2020, we have a new approach to diesel engines. We will show you how clean and very efficient diesel engines can be.”
It is of course too early to speculate on this new engine, but let’s say that the advent of the SkyActiv-X technology augurs well for the rest of Mazda’s turbodiesel story. Since SkyActiv-X technology works similarly to diesel engines, it would not be surprising that Mazda applies the lessons learned with the 4-cylinder X-equipped for this new diesel engine.
Despite this statement from the European penchant of the brand, we must not believe that Mazda will stick to traditional solutions. The presentation of his first electric vehicle at the Tokyo Motor Show is proof of this, as is the upcoming arrival of hybrid and plug-in hybrid models.
