Mazda has just entered a partnership with Toyota that will ultimately bring Toyota’s popular hybrid drivetrain to Mazda vehicles.
As one of the few automakers without a hybrid vehicle on the road, Mazda is looking to leverage Toyota’s prowess in hybrid technology to produce a hybrid vehicle for the Japanese market by 2013. Mazda is also using this new partnership with Toyota to help it achieve its goal of reducing the global lineup’s overall fuel economy 30 percent by 2015.
“Leveraging this agreement, Mazda plans to combine the hybrid system with its next-generation SKY engine that is currently under development, and develop and manufacture a hybrid vehicle in Japan,” Mazda said in a joint statement with Toyota.
According to Car Repair Hartford, Toyota’s hybrid system will become mated Mazda’s next-generation SKY engine for a dedicated hybrid vehicle that is reportedly already under development.
Although the Toyota Prius remains the highest selling, most popular hybrid vehicle on the market globally, scrutiny of its hybrid drivetrain has recently raised concerns by consumers and regulators alike. Luckily, in light of Toyota’s string of quality issues, Mazda has already announced that brake override systems will become a standard feature of all new vehicles, which will hopefully alleviate any concern that may arise from this agreement.
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