Mazda has adopted a long-term vision for technology development called "Sustainable Zoom-Zoom" and is working to help achieve a sustainable future.
In March 2007, Mazda adopted the Sustainable Zoom-Zoom long-term vision for technology development to help achieve an exciting, sustainable future for vehicles, people and the Earth. This vision commits Mazda to making vehicles that always excite and that embody a "Zoom-Zoom" feeling, meaning they look inviting to drive, are fun to drive and make you want to drive them again.
"The Zoom-Zoom tree," shown on the right,embodies the Zoom-Zoom concept and its spread throughout society. The tree absorbs the One Mazda* corporate culture as nutrientsthrough firmly planted roots. As it continues to grow, the left branch represents the environment, the right branch represents safety, and the treetop embodies the Zoom-Zoon concept.
As vehicle ownership continues to expand around the world, Mazda must redouble its efforts to achieve cleaner exhaust emissions, cut CO2 emissions through improved fuel economy, and help reduce the world's dependence on increasingly scarce fossil fuels. Mazda considers it necessary to develop an approach to automobile-related environmental issues using multiple solutions, taking into account various factors such as regional characteristics, vehicle characteristics and types of fuel.
Even in 2020, Mazda expects that the world's key energy sources will continue to be mainly petroleum-based and that most vehicles will still be powered by internal combustion engines. With this outlook, Mazda is undertaking the following activities to meet its goal of raising the average fuel economy of the Mazda vehicles sold worldwide by 30% by 2015 compared with 2008 levels.
Comprehensive Improvement of Base Technologies
Through the introduction of its new-generation SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY into vehicle models from 2011 onward, Mazda is making comprehensive improvements of base technologies. These technologies enhance the efficiency of powertrain components — engines and transmissions — reduce vehicle body weight, improve aerodynamics, etc.
Development of the Building-Block Strategy
In addition, Mazda is gradually adding electric devices to its base technologies. Mazda calls this development approach the Building-Block Strategy.
Step1: Battery Management Technology (Idling Stop System "i-stop")
The i-stop system automatically shuts the engine off temporarily when the vehicle is stopped. The use of i-stop alone can improve fuel economy by 7% to 10% (as measured in Japanese models). Mazda installed i-stop in the Mazda Axela/Mazda3 in 2009 and has been steadily expanding it to other models. The facelifted Demio, which was introduced in Japan in 2011, was equipped with Mazda's advanced i-stop system in combination with the SKYACTIV-G engine.
- Major Progress
- Reduced fuel consumption when restarting the engine
- Increased operating frequency
- Increased energy recovery during deceleration
Step2: Regenerative Braking
As the vehicle decelerates, this technology converts kinetic energy into electricity, which can be used later as needed. The effects of the system differ depending on what the regenerated electricity is used for, but the improvement in fuel economy is expected to range from a few percent to 10% or more.
Step3: Electric Motor Drive Technology (Hybrid System)
This type of system improves overall energy efficiency using an electric motor to assist gasoline engines at times when energy efficiency is low, such as when a vehicle is running at low engine speeds or during low-load operation. The combination of this hybrid system with the systems mentioned in steps 1 and 2 can produce a substantial boost in overall efficiency.
Mazda is aiming to begin sales of hybrid vehicles by 2013, starting in Japan first. (The hybrid system will be licensed from Toyota Motor Corporation.)
Mazda regards that the improvement of safety performance is one of the bases of vehicle development and is as important as that of environmental performance. Mazda's aim is to achieve a safe, accident-free automotive society from the three perspectives of vehicles, people,and roads and infrastructure. To this end, the Company has formulated the Mazda Safety Policy and is working to deliver a steady stream of technologies and solutions based on it.
Based on the awareness that striving for safe vehicles is one of the foundations of a worry-free life, Mazda is committed to the following:
- Researching the ways in which customers use Mazda vehicles and the traffic environment in which they are being used
- Deepening research into safety technology and reflecting the results of this research in Mazda's products in a way that offers customers the best available and appropriate technology
- Contributing to the creation of safe societies through safety communication (products, technologies and safety education)
