Comments on: In Flip-Flop, Mazda Commits to Hybrids

By: highspotter

highspotter — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 13:11:41 +0000

In my personal opinion, far from being "a fleeting mood of a brand society", the hybrid is more of a solid base dressed up in a industrial and technological fresh start. I for one support that. Don`t you wonder if you`ll actually see the hybrids on sale over some Mazda dealers Philadelphia in a couple of years. I bet it`ll get plenty of thumbs-up.

By: karosszeria javitas

karosszeria javitas — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 13:01:53 +0000

I tend to believe that special effect clear coats may come in fashion soon – unlike the hybrid cars which would be more beneficial for our environment. I like Mazda’s movement though – they should keep up the good work and do a lot more on research.

By: Jon L

Jon L — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:34:48 +0000

Don’t count Mazda out of innovation. I flogged my ’80 rx7 for about 70000 miles with only brakes, tire and fluids for normal maintenance an could still pull 20+ mpg on daily driving with the rotary engine. Throw a flat battery pack in the floor of the CX-9 and you would have one sweet crossover hybrid.

By: qqRockyBeans

qqRockyBeans — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 03:57:21 +0000

I agree with 5 hybrid idea that FamilyGuy proposed

I hope they sell the 6 wagon here again!
a 6 hybrid wagon would be cool, too
or at least offer four-cylinder this time!!!!!

By: Ross Nicholson

Ross Nicholson — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 06:11:34 +0000

I’m the greatest scientific genius in world history. Hybrid cars need not have separate motors. There are plenty of shafts and pistons that can have electric impetus added within the internal combustion engine.
Take pistons. Electric pistons would be easy enough to construct. Unroll the motor like a mag-lev train propulsion. It’s how our muscles work (OK, charge lev), and there is nothing in an engine that prevents electric fields from operating. (Of course the polar particles of water would align with the field and oscillate out and back into alignment much like blood exposed to the electric field of the QRS aligns, oscillates out and back again (T wave) in the human heart, but the effects would be slight.) Granted temperatures might require more robust materials, but the spaces inside and around the existing mechanicals could bear small electrical devices of commensal anti-parasitic benefit that could in the aggregate contribute to higher fuel milage.

By: Collin Burnell

Collin Burnell — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:19:39 +0000

Oh and the batteries (like most electronics) are getting cheaper, and who's to say that I can't replace my Nickel based battery with a Lithiom based battery in the future and get an additional 30% or more boost in fuel economy?

I agree with Butterfly Mage, why is Mazda doing any Hybrid research on their own? They should be in the 'labs' with Ford and make a Mazda version of the Fusion Hybrid or simply license the technology.

Yea! Still no hybrid minivans? Toyota has had one in Japan for many years now. Odd.

By: Collin Burnell

Collin Burnell — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:12:49 +0000

Hey ash,

Hybrids have been well over 1% for some time now...

Running about 2.4% so far this year.

By: RKRB

RKRB — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 02:39:51 +0000

Hey, howz about a Miata (MX-5) hybrid???? This could be a first -- a hybrid 2-seater sports car!

-Flip- flop, or "welcome to the family??" Failure to flip-flop is an evolutionary dead end. Rather than a "flip-flop" this is instead a changing one's mind for the better, given the presence of new information. Mazda has never abused anyone's trust on this issue, which would be a classic case of "flip-flop." Maybe they could add some "zoomzoom" to the concept.

-Sorry to hear Ford reduced its stake in Mazda -- the two companies seemed to have a decent synergy going.

By: Fred LaBar

Fred LaBar — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:46:35 +0000

YES. Closest thing right now is minivans(22-24 mph) or new chevy traverse(and look a-likes)
When is a hybrid minivan coming on market? seems OBVIOUS.... soccer moms are major stop n go.
large vehicles have space for batteries... whats with these automakers?
-Fred

By: Shines

Shines — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:00:56 +0000

If in this slow economy the hybrid Ford Fusion doesn’t sell too well Mazda could very well use the technology and sell a hybrid Mazda 6 along with the Hybrid Tribute(Ford Escape Hybrid).
As far as hydrogen power goes I doubt it will ever be a serious contender compared to electric. Hydrogen needs to be stored under pressure, it leaks very easily (which is especially challenging because it is so volatile) and is expensive to produce.