Kia Niro wins Green Car Journal’s 2018 Green SUV of the Year

Kia Niro wins Green Car Journal's 2018 Green SUV of the Year

Kia Niro wins Green Car Journal's 2018 Green SUV of the Year

Recognizing environmental achievement in the auto industry, the Kia Niro has been named Green Car Journal’s 2018 Green SUV of the Year™. Since the Niro went on sale early last year, it has been a popular choice for consumers seeking a hybrid offering crossover utility and great looks. The Niro beat out crossover/SUV finalists from Chevrolet, Mini, Mazda, and Volvo for the coveted award.

“We’re thrilled to have received this special distinction from Green Car Journal,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, planning & strategy, Kia Motors America. “The Niro represents years of hard work by Kia to provide a hybrid that is fun, versatile, economical and a pleasure to look at and drive. It’s immensely gratifying to all of us that the Niro is recognized by Green Car Journal as the 2018 Green SUV of the Year.”

“The Kia Niro impresses on many levels with its appealing style, functionality and features,” said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and GreenCarJournal.com. “What’s equally important is its hybrid powertrain and affordable price point, a combination that makes the Niro accessible to a great many buyers who wish to drive with a smaller environmental footprint.”

courtesy: www.kianewscenter.com

Mazda Announces Long-Term Vision for Technology Development, ‘Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030’

Mazda Announces Long-Term Vision for Technology Development, 'Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030'

Mazda Announces Long-Term Vision for Technology Development, 'Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030'

Mazda Motor Corporation announced “Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030,” a new long-term vision for technology development that looks ahead to the year 2030. As part of the new technology to achieve this vision, the company disclosed plans to introduce a next-generation engine called SKYACTIV-X in 2019. SKYACTIV-X will be the world’s first commercial gasoline engine to use compression ignition.*1

Under the original “Sustainable Zoom-Zoom” vision announced in 2007, the company has striven to offer both driving pleasure and outstanding environmental and safety performance. In light of the rapid changes taking place in the automotive industry, the new vision takes a longer-term perspective and sets out how Mazda will use driving pleasure, the fundamental appeal of the automobile, to help solve issues facing people, the earth and society.

The following is an overview of “Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030” and the next-generation SKYACTIV-X engine.

1. Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030
Mazda believes its mission is to bring about a beautiful earth and to enrich people’s lives as well as society. The company will continue to seek ways to inspire people through the value found in cars.

Earth
Through conservation initiatives, create a sustainable future in which people and cars coexist with a bountiful, beautiful earth

Mazda’s approach

  • Expand measures for carbon dioxide reduction from a “well-to-wheel” perspective, considering emissions over the vehicle’s entire life cycle
  • Aim to reduce corporate average “well-to-wheel” carbon dioxide emissions to 50 percent of 2010 levels by 2030, and achieve a 90-percent reduction by 2050
  • Achieve this with a policy prioritizing efficiency improvements and measures for cleaner emissions that apply in the real world
  • In line with this policy, continue efforts to perfect the internal combustion engine, which will help power the majority of cars worldwide for many years to come and can therefore make the greatest contribution to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, and combine the results with effective electrification technologies
  • From 2019, start introducing electric vehicles and other electric drive technologies in regions that use a high ratio of clean energy for power generation or restrict certain vehicles to reduce air pollution

Society
Through cars and a society that provide safety and peace of mind, create a system that enriches people’s lives by offering unrestricted mobility to people everwhere

Mazda’s approach

  • Develop more advanced safety technologies under the Mazda Proactive Safety philosophy, working toward the goal of eliminating traffic accidents
  • Further enhance safety fundamentals, such as correct driving position, pedal layout and good visibility, and standardize them across all models
  • Promote further standardization of i-ACTIVSENSE advanced safety features, which help drivers recognize and assess potential hazards; in addition to Japan, where they are already becoming standard, gradually make these technologies standard in other markets starting in 2018
  • Begin testing of autonomous driving technologies currently being developed in line with Mazda’s human-centered Mazda Co-Pilot Concept*2 in 2020, aiming to make the system standard on all models by 2025
  • Using connectivity technologies, create a new business model that enables car owners to support the needs of people in depopulated areas and those who have difficulty getting around

People
Enhance customers’ mental well-being with the satisfaction that comes from protecting the earth and contributing to society with a car that offers true driving pleasure

Mazda’s approach

  • Pursue an enhanced Jinba-ittai driving feel that will unlock people’s potential and revitalize them mentally and physically
  • Based on the philosophy of “breathing life into the car,” further develop KODO design to raise vehicle design to the level of art that enriches the emotional lives of all who see it

2. SKYACTIV-X next-generation engine

Technological innovations

  • SKYACTIV-X is the world’s first commercial gasoline engine to use compression ignition, in which the fuel-air mixture ignites spontaneously when compressed by the piston
  • A proprietary combustion method called Spark Controlled Compression Ignition overcomes two issues that had impeded commercialization of compression ignition gasoline engines: maximizing the zone in which compression ignition is possible and achieving a seamless transition between compression ignition and spark ignition.

Features

  • This new proprietary combustion engine combines the advantages of gasoline and diesel engines to achieve outstanding environmental performance, power and acceleration performance.
  • Compression ignition and a supercharger fitted to improve fuel economy together deliver unprecedented engine response and increase torque 10-30 percent over the current SKYACTIV-G gasoline engine.*3
  • Compression ignition makes possible a super lean burn*4 that improves engine efficiency up to 20-30 percent over the current SKYACTIV-G, and from 35-45 percent over Mazda’s 2008 gasoline engine of the same displacement. SKYACTIV-X even equals or exceeds the latest SKYACTIV-D diesel engine in fuel efficiency.
  • With high efficiency across a wide range of rpms and engine loads, the engine allows much more latitude in the selection of gear ratios, providing both superior fuel economy and driving performance.

Moving forward Mazda hopes to help create a future in which people, the earth and society can coexist with cars, to enrich people’s lives through a car ownership experience that celebrates driving, and to become a brand with which customers feel a strong emotional connection.

courtesy: www2.mazda.com

Mazda Reveals Exterior of New Mazda CX-8 Crossover SUV

Mazda Reveals Exterior of New Mazda CX-8 Crossover SUV

Mazda Reveals Exterior of New Mazda CX-8 Crossover SUV

Mazda Motor Corporation has revealed the exterior of its upcoming crossover SUV, Mazda CX-8. The company’s first new-generation model in Japan to feature three rows of seating is scheduled to go on sale before the end of the year.

Mazda’s latest new-generation model, the CX-8 will serve as the flagship of the brand’s SUV lineup in Japan. It’s a new kind of crossover SUV for people who both appreciate quality and need to seat more than five. It has the looks, performance and high-end feel customers expect from a Mazda, yet even adults can sit comfortably in the third row. Mazda designers worked to add a new dimension of maturity to the KODO-Soul of Motion design theme, aiming for an enduring edgy look that will continue to excite customers for many years to come. As the flagship SUV in the Japanese market, the focus was on creating a look of class and quality, and every interior part was chosen in careful consideration of color and material.

Aiming to become a brand with which customers feel a strong emotional connection, Mazda will continue advancing its lineup to offer all customers both driving pleasure and outstanding environmental and safety performance.

courtesy: www2.mazda.com

 

Every Mazda Tested for 2017 Earns IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Rating

Every Mazda Tested for 2017 Earns IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Rating

Every Mazda Tested for 2017 Earns IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Rating

Mazda Motor Corporation has announced that all U.S.-specification 2017 Mazda models tested by the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), including the all-new Mazda CX-5, have been awarded the nonprofit organization’s highest safety rating, Top Safety Pick+, when equipped with optional front crash prevention and adaptive LED headlights.

IIHS evaluates crashworthiness with five tests: moderate and small overlap frontal crashes, a side crash, a roof strength test and a head restraint and seat test that simulates a rear impact. In addition, headlight performance and frontal crash prevention by means of auto-braking and forward collision warning systems are evaluated.

Mazda models tested for 2017 were the Mazda CX-9, Mazda CX-3, Mazda3, Mazda6 and most recently, the all-new Mazda CX-5. Each received the Institute’s highest Top Safety Pick+ rating when equipped with optional front crash prevention and adaptive LED headlights.

According to IIHS, Mazda is the only automaker out of 16 OEMs to receive Top Safety Pick+ ratings for all 2017 models tested so far this year. The results were possible because all models performed well in the newly added headlight performance category, as well as existing crashworthiness evaluation categories.

Mazda’s overarching safety philosophy, Mazda Proactive Safety, is grounded in understanding, respecting and believing in the abilities of the human driver. Based on this concept, and in the belief that enabling the driver to correctly recognize hazards, make judgments and operate the vehicle is essential for safety and peace of mind, the company revised its designs from a vehicle-total perspective. As a result, all new-generation models share a number of features that have proven popular with a wide range of customers. These include a natural driving position and pedal layout that makes driving easier and less tiring, forward visibility that makes it easier to spot hazards at intersections, and responsive and predicable handling in any driving situation.

In addition, the i-ACTIVSENSE range of advanced safety features takes a human-centered approach to helping the driver recognize hazards in many of the driving situations they encounter on a daily basis. These technologies include auto-braking to prevent or mitigate collisions and adaptive headlights that enhance visibility at night by automatically adjusting the area and range of illumination – technologies proven to offer good preventative safety performance in the latest round of testing by IIHS. The SKYACTIV-Body, part of the SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY range, is lightweight for fun driving, yet provides excellent collision safety performance, as IIHS test results show. In developing it, Mazda engineers returned to the first principles of body design and reviewed structures, materials and construction methods in pursuit of the ultimate vehicle body.

Mazda aims to enrich people’s lives with cars that are fun to drive and offer outstanding environmental and safety performance, and thereby become a brand with which customers feel a strong emotional connection. The company will continue research into and development of safety technologies that put people first.

courtesy: www2.mazda.com

Mazda to Launch New CX-8 Crossover SUV in Japan

Mazda to Launch New CX-8 Crossover SUV in Japan

Mazda to Launch New CX-8 Crossover SUV in Japan

First new-generation model in Japan to seat more than five on sale this year

Mazda Motor Corporation today announced plans to launch the Mazda CX-8 crossover SUV in Japan. The new model, the first in the new-generation lineup in Japan to feature three rows of seating, will go on sale before the end of the year.

The latest new-generation model featuring the full suite of SKYACTIV technologies and KODO-Soul of Motion design, the CX-8 will be the flagship of Mazda’s SUV lineup in Japan.

“Our latest offering, the CX-8 is a new crossover SUV for people who appreciate quality and need a car that seats more than five,” said Masamichi Kogai, Mazda’s Representative Director, President and CEO. “It has the looks, performance and high-end feel customers expect from a Mazda, and even adults can sit comfortably in the third row. Mazda aims to create a strong emotional connection with customers, and we will achieve this by continually advancing our lineup to offer all customers our unique combination of driving pleasure and outstanding environmental and safety performance.”

Key specifications for Mazda CX-8

External dimensions
(Overall length x width x height)
4,900mm x 1,840mm x 1,730mm
Wheelbase 2,930mm
Engine SKYACTIV-D 2.2 new-generation clean diesel engine
Transmission SKYACTIV-DRIVE 6-speed automatic transmission
Seating capacity 6 / 7

Note: External dimensions and wheelbase were measured in-house and are subject to change.

courtesy: www2.mazda.com