Mazda goal: Get 30 percent better mileage in 7 years
YOKOHAMA, Japan--Mazda Motor Corp. aims to boost average fuel efficiency 30 percent in the next seven years with new and reworked engines.
The company will upgrade almost all its gasoline engines by 2015 and roll out a stop-start idle system, a gasoline rotary engine, and new diesel engines. Plans to trim 220 pounds from all new vehicles starting in 2011 will help Mazda achieve the goal.
Seita Kanai, Mazda's research and development chief, outlined the strategy here June 23.
He did not give an average fuel efficiency figure for Mazda's fleet, but the automaker already has improved fuel efficiency 30 percent since 2001, he said. More efficient engines will account for about two-thirds of the increased fuel efficiency.
(Source: Automotive News)
