Mazda confirms development of full hybrids; Certain of an electrification of 100 percent of the line-up by 2030 | CarGuide.PH

Mazda is confident they will achieve their goal of a fully electrified offering by 2030. In an interview, Ichiro Hirose, Mazda’s Chief Technology Officer, says that of this figure, only 25 to 40 percent will be fully electric; the rest will use some sort of hybridized powertrain.

The Japanese automaker’s commitment to the internal combustion engine will see them develop their own strong hybrid system, which will slot in between the company’s current Mazda M Hybrid (mild hybrid) and Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) offerings. This new engine will combine a “clean-burning, efficient gasoline engine” with an electric motor.

The goal, according to Naohito Saga, Mazda’s Executive Officer of R&D Strategy, is to deploy them on a variety of engine configurations, but focus on smaller vehicles that will benefit more from the technology; larger vehicles will have the PHEV powertrain.

The CX-80 uses essentially the same engines used in the CX-60, but for the Japanese market they offer the 3.3-liter Skyactiv-D diesel engine without electric assistance. This engine produces 231 hp and 500 Nm compared to the electrified version, which together produces 254 hp and 550 Nm.

The CX-80 is the latest member of Mazda’s Large Product Group, which includes the CX-60, CX-70 and CX-90. Mazda is targeting combined global sales of 200,000 vehicles for these three nameplates in the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. So far, the CX-90 is by far the best seller of the range, with global deliveries of 43,962 through August this year.

Currently, Mazda’s global sales are 24 percent electrified. Electrified powertrains represent 85 percent of their sales in Europe, but only 22 percent in the United States and Japan.