New Mazda3 SkyActiv-Hybrid debuts in Tokyo Motor Show 2013
The all-new third-generation Mazda3, which Malaysians had the chance to see for the first time at the recently-concluded Mazda Motor Show held at 1 Utama Shopping Centre over the weekend, is being showcased at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show ahead of its official entry into the Japanese domestic market scheduled to take place today.
Retaining its Axela name in the Japanese market, the new 3 is offered to Japanese consumers with a full range of petrol, diesel, and hybrid power plants mated with both manual and automatic transmissions. Regular petrol and diesel engines available in Japan include the familiar 2.0 SkyActiv-G and 2.2 SkyActiv-D complemented by the newly-developed 1.5-litre SkyActiv-G pumping out 110hp and 144Nm, up from the current Mazda3 1.6 with 103hp and 144Nm.
A hybrid powertrain joins this collection of engines, mating Toyota’s hybrid system with a reworked version of the 2.0 SkyActiv-G engine tuned with a renewed emphasis on fuel economy. The exhaust piping reverts from the 4-2-1 layout of the regular SkyActiv-G to a 4-1 system with a portion of exhaust gas recirculated to minimize knocking and thus enable the SkyActiv engine’s unusually high 14.0 compression ratio.
Charge for the electric motor is stored in a nickel-metal hydride battery which Mazda selected on the grounds of structural stability and superior stability over increasingly-popular lithium-ion batteries. Compared to a fuel consumption of 30.4 km/l tested on the Toyota Prius, Mazda claims that the Mazda3 Hybrid is capable of doing slightly better at 30.8 km/l. We will be testing the Mazda3 Hybrid out later this week here in Japan and will bring you more details on the vehicle after that.
Another alternative energy powertrain being developed for the Mazda3 and showcased at the motor show is a derivative of the 2.0-litre SkyActiv-G variant powered by compressed natural gas (CNG). Mazda believes that the SkyActiv-G’s high 14.0 compression ratio makes the engine an ideal platform on which to explore alternative fuels such as E85 bioethanol and CNG, both of which are higher octane than regular petrol.
The new Mazda3 is expected to launch in Malaysia early next year as a fully imported model, with local assembly likely to commence at a later date. It was announced that a highly-specced 2.0-litre sedan with sunroof will go on sale at an estimated on-the-road price of RM139,000. Nothing has been confirmed beyond that, although buyers can reasonably expect the addition of a hatchback variant as a minimum.
