Mazda And Toyota Seeking Hybrid Synergy
On October the 26th, 2009, Mr E. Niedermeyer asked the best and brightest whether Mazda can catch up on hybrid technologies. If you were a betting person, you’d have probably said no. Partly because Ford had divested a huge chunk of Mazda, which meant they took their hybrid system with them, but mainly because Mazda had no aspirations towards hybrids. It was more interested in lighter materials and stop/start systems. So, can Mazda catch up on hybrid powertrains? Well, the answer, to paraphrase a certain President, is yes they can and Mazda are going straight to the people who know this technology best. Asiaone.com reports that Toyota and Mazda have reached an agreement in which Toyota will sell Mazda key components in which they can build a hybrid car.
All that needs to be finalised are the prices for each part. Asiaone.com believe that Mazda will use the Mazda 3 as starting block for their hybrid endeavours by simply outfitting the hybrid technology to the car. The battery will be supplied by Toyota’s joint venture with Panasonic. This deal seems to be a win-win situation. Mazda save money on R & D costs, Toyota get revenue and profit on this new contract with Mazda and because more parts are being manufactured, the price of Toyota’s hybrids can come down (or Toyota get more profit on their hybrids, depending how you want to look at it). But despite this cordial arrangement, Toyota dismissed any idea of a capital tie up between the two companies. Makes sense, Toyota doesn’t need another brand in its portfolio. Who do you think they are? Volkswagen?
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I love Mazda and I really hope they leave Toyota alone..They would be better served buying the dual mode tech from BMW/Daimler since atleast one of them wont use it. Its an expensive system but suits them better. It provides better power in the mid range. If they spread the tech out over the entire line(especially the CUV 's) the cost would go down.
I think the reason for this is pretty simple... Mazda wants to kick fuel economy way up and wants to do it soon. Hybridizing works and HSD is effective and relatively inexpensive. Ford's system is similar because the basic idea is a good one and Ford is able to build hybrids with it profitably or at least without losing their shirts. The two-mode (I presume this is the system shared with GM or is very similar) is very costly and heavy. It has a lot of parts in it, so significant cost-cutting isn't on the horizon and reliability is iffy. It might have some advantages but is going to be difficult to adapt to a small car at a reasonable price. Mazda should license it if their hybrid is going to be a bus or garbage truck. I wouldn't rule out something with some zoom-zoom to it... HSD is fairly compact and light (aside from the battery - go to Li-Ion to save weight and bulk there). It needn't adversely affect the vehicle all that much.
UMMM, Story WRONG YET again... Mazda have been experimenting with Hydrogen Hybrids for many years...there is the Premacy (Mazda 5) Hybrid...a hydrogen Rotary Engine generates ELECTRICITY to drive Electric Motors through the front wheels..A series Hybrid with NO Battery backup... Ford have had their Escape/Mazda Tribute with a Syn Drive Hybrid System from Toyota, so I guess Ford put in a good word for Mazda to let Toyota partner up. And then there is the Hydrogen Rotary Duel Fuelled Mazda RX-8...looks like Hydrogen has been dropped by BMW.
I'll take an mx-5 for $22k with 250lb-ft of torque @ 0 rpm & at least 35/45.