Electric Mazda MX-30 gets mild hybrid option
Friday, 14 August 2020
Mazda has pulled an interesting move with its electric MX-30 SUV. The Japanese market will be able to get it with a conventional engine plus mild hybrid assistance.
Full details for the MX-30 e-SkyActiv G are yet to be confirmed but it is expected the SUV will use Mazda's 2.0-litre petrol engine alongside its M Hybrid technology.
This is the same set-up as seen in overseas versions of the Mazda3 hatchback and combines an integrated starter generator with a small lithium-ion battery to generate an extra 6kW under acceleration. It can recover energy under braking and helps ease loads in the stop/start and cylinder shutdown systems.
Power output is expected to be around the 110kW mark, which would make it slightly more powerful than the 105kW generated by the single electric motor in the MX-30. The all-electric version has a 35.5kWh battery which might sound small but it falls into Mazda’s 'every gram counts' approach to delivering a car that is great to drive, regardless of its motivating power.
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It also means the emissions of the car, including manufacturing are comparable to a diesel-powered Mazda3 hatchback based on a life-cycle assessment of total CO2 emissions.
Nonetheless, a projected range of 209km isn’t massive and could put some buyers off, despite that being plenty for urban driving.
As well as the mild hybrid MX, Mazda is believed to be working on a version with a rotary-powered range extender. This would help bring back those buyers wanting a green Mazda SUV that also drive down the country occasionally.
Stuff reached out to Mazda NZ to see if we’re in line for the mild hybrid MX-30 and was told the model is still under study for other markets. The all-electric MX-30 should still be on its way here, although timings may have changed as a result of Covid-19.