Mazda rumoured to be developing more hybrid options
Mazda is planning to offer a hybrid version of the Mazda 2 hatch when the new model is revealed in 2021, according to Japanese website BestCarWeb.
The report suggests the next-generation Mazda 2 will be offered with a hybrid 1.5-litre turbo petrol three-cylinder – similar to the Toyota Yaris Hybrid’s specification, but with the added benefit of a turbocharger.
But while sales of the Mazda 2 and Toyota Yaris tend to be neck-and-neck, Mazda’s CX-5 has been losing ground against the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid – currently Australia’s best-selling car.
Rumours out of Japan suggest the CX-5 could get a new six-cylinder 48-volt mild-hybrid powertrain, which the company is developing for the next Mazda 6
A spokesperson for Mazda Australia declined to comment on the reports. However, in December 2019, Mazda President Akira Marumoto suggested to Automotive News the company was planning a 48-volt six-cylinder powertrain for CX-5 models and above.
Mazda new-car sales are down 4 per cent year-to-date when compared to the national average.