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Mazda
Hybrid Cars
Mazda hybrid cars are still a few years away from hitting the
showrooms. The two Mazda concept hybrid cars that have been
shown off at the Tokyo Motor Show are the Mazda
RX-8 Renesis hybrid and the Mazda
Ibuki hybrid.
Ibuki
- top and RX-8 Renesis - bottom |
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The Mazda RX-8 Renesis hybrid is the world's first rotary
hydrogen-gasoline hybrid car. The Renesis Hydrogen Rotary
Engine incorporates an electronically-controlled hydrogen
injector system coupled with a pressurized hydrogen tank.
The dual-purpose engine can also run as well on gasoline
as it can on hydrogen.
The Mazda Ibuki hybrid is a more traditional gasoline-electric
hybrid car more closely related to the MX-5 Miata series
in body style and engineering. The Ibuki runs on a mid-engine
gasoline-electric hybrid that combines a 1.6-liter DOHC
four-cylinder engine (177 hp) to an electric motor. Like
other gasoline-electric hybrids, it offers idle engine shutdown,
regenerative braking and electrical startup. What is unique
about the Ibuki is its automated rollover bar and rigid
but lightweight carbon and plastic weight reduction components.
Mazda is behind Toyota and Honda in getting its hybrid
car into the showrooms, but when it does it will likely
offer technology and innovations that no other auto manufacturer
can offer.
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