Japanese Students craft a Dodge Ram Truck out of a Mazda MPV

We received some e-mails asking us if the green-colored Ram truck hiding behind the Chrysler-ized Prius 300C we showed you earlier today was a tricked out Dodge, or if, like many other project cars shown at the Tokyo Auto Salon, this too was a replica. The answer is it's a Ram Truck clone based on the Mazda Bongo Friendee, which is a Japanese domestic market MPV with seating for eight, offered between 1995 and 2005. Like the Prius 300C, the Ram Truck Friendee was built by a team of students from the Saitama Institute of Automotive Technology.

Photos: Phil Alex / Carscoop

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Mazda to Lease All-Electric Mazda2 in Japan

Mazda today announced that it's developing an electric vehicle based on the Demio subcompact – known as the Mazda2 in Europe and North America –, which will be available for lease in Japan starting from spring 2012.

Details about the upcoming zero-emissions model are limited right now, with the official press release only stating that the car's driving range is expected to be around 200 km (124 miles) and that it will be leased mainly to local government bodies and fleet customers.

Mazda’s foray into the EV segment focuses on developing electric cars suitable for customers with short city commutes. Through the aforementioned lease program, the Japanese maker hopes to gain valuable information about usage requirements and electric drive technologies.

The acquired experience will also be used to improve the base technologies of the brand, as announced in the Building Block Strategy. Certain systems sourced from EVs such as regenerative braking tech, will make their way into conventional models, which will also benefit from the firm's SKYACTIV technologies, announced at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show.

For now, the company’s core values are going to be centered around the internal combustion engine, but in the long run, customers can expect to find an increasing number of eco-friendly technologies fitted to Mazda models.

By Csaba Daradics

*Note: Standard Mazda2 / Demio featured in photos

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Mazda Minagi Compact SUV Concept Officially Revealed

While it has been reported by several sources as a “leak”, we eventually found the official release and photos of the new Mazda Minagi Concept. Planned teaser or not, it’s certain that the design study will make its world debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show in March, providing us a preview of the firm's upcoming compact SUV model, rumored to carry the CX-5 moniker.

The Minagi Concept will also showcase Mazda's next-generation of fuel-efficient powertrain and chassis technologies, branded under the [new] SKYACTIV name.

The Japanese firm didn’t reveal any details on the concept's specifications, simply stating that the Minagi "is equipped with a SKYACTIV engine and SKYACTIV transmission fitted to a SKYACTIV-Body and chassis that merge comprehensive weight reduction with the assurance of ample safety features."

Aside from the Minagi, the Japanese automaker’s stand will also feature separate technology exhibits as well as the Mazda Shinari sports saloon study.

By Csaba Daradics

Main Exhibits at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show

Reference exhibits

Mazda MINAGI (world premiere)

Mazda SHINARI (European premiere)

Technology exhibits

New Mazda SKYACTIV-G direct injection gasoline engine

New Mazda SKYACTIV-D clean diesel engine

New Mazda SKYACTIV-Drive automatic transmission

New Mazda SKYACTIV-MT manual transmission

Vehicles currently on sale

Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda5, Mazda6, Mazda MX-5, Mazda CX-7, Mazda BT-50

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Mazda5 MPV gets New 115HP 1.6-liter Turbo Diesel in Europe, Returns 5.2lt/100km - 45 MPG

Targeting better fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions, Mazda has announced that the European market Mazda5 minivan is now available with a new 1.6-liter 4-cylinder diesel engine, which replaces the previous 2.0-liter unit.

“For the engine line-up of the new Mazda5, we placed emphasis on environmental performance and fuel economy. This aim led us to use Mazda’s 2.0-liter direct-injection petrol engine with i-stop, and to replace the 2.0-liter diesel engine with a newly developed 1.6-liter turbo diesel unit that leads the class in low CO2 emission levels”, said Hideki Matsuoka, Program Manager Mazda5.

Thanks to its smaller displacement and aluminum alloy block, the new powerplant is a whopping 120 kg (265 lbs) lighter than the 2.0-liter diesel it replaces, without sacrificing performance. In fact, with 115HP and 270 Nm (199 lb-ft) of torque, the turbocharged four-pot produces +5HP, while using 14.8% less fuel in the combined cycle (5.2 lt/100 km or 45 US mpg) and emitting 13.2 percent less CO2 (138 g/km).

The new engine is also Euro5 compliant. It does this by using a low compression ratio (16:1) and an efficient exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler and bypass system. Other features of the MZ-CD 1.6 unit are the piezo injectors, variable-geometry turbocharger and maintenance-free diesel particulate filter (DPF) system.

The Mazda5 MZ-CD 1.6 accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 13.7 seconds and can reach a top speed of 180 km/h (112 mph).

All Mazda5s come as standard with power-adjustable side mirrors, manual air conditioning, driver seat height adjustment, power windows, power door locks and four-speaker radio. The safety equipment list includes six airbags, ABS, dynamic stability control (DSC), electric brake-force distribution (EBD), brake assist and traction control (TCS).

By Csaba Daradics

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