Mazda To Offer Diesel-Electric Hybrid By 2016: Report

Mazda will add a diesel-electric hybrid power plant to its passenger car range by 2016, according to reports out of Japan.

Japanese news service The Yomiuri Shimbun says unnamed Mazda sources have confirmed the carmaker is currently developing the new power plant, chasing a fuel figure as low as 2.5 l/100km.

That would compare quite favourably with Toyota’s current passenger hybrid champion in the petrol-electric Prius C, which boasts fuel consumption of 3.9 l/100km in Australia.

Mazda’s current policy on economy centres mainly around its Skyactiv technology; based on ‘traditional’ petrol (in non-turbocharged form) and diesel internal combustion engines without battery-powered motors for company.