Autotechnician: October 2020 issue

Page 45

With its name referencing the MX-5, the MX-30 seeks to combine driving pleasure with eco-responsibility

Mazda MX-30 Mazda seeks to prove that size matters, with its 'anti-EV' electric SUV It is a brave stand to break from the technical establishment, a reason why Rob Marshall finds Mazda's new MX-30 to be a refreshing diversion from the EV ‘norm’

employing an expensive AGM (Advanced Glass Mat) battery for its regenerative braking i-ELOOP variable-voltage alternator, a less expensive 12v EFB (Enhanced Flooded Battery) is used, with a separate 25v capacitor that utilises no toxic heavy metals in its production.

It is hard not to respect a car manufacturer for its integrity, especially in the current climate. Since Ford sold its stake in Mazda, the staunchly independent Japanese manufacturer has continued its heritage, by ploughing a different technical furrow for the greater-good.

Instead of knee-jerking to electrify everything in sight, Mazda has studied the Electric Vehicle's whole lifetime environmental impact, before introducing its first EV. The corporation anticipates that combustion engines will power 95% of cars it produces by 2030, probably with hybrid-electric assistance,

As history shows, Mazda persevered with making the 'Wankel' engine dependable, a power unit that contributed significantly to the bankruptcy of CitroĂŤn and the takeover of NSU by Volkswagen in the 1960s and 1970s. Without major alterations, it made a productionised rotary engine run on hydrogen and its future is being investigated as a compact battery rangeextender. Mazda also produced the first Miller cycle engine in the 1990s, a decade that saw its MX-5 establish itself as an icon in its own right. More recently, the company has engineered its own emissions-saving hardware. For example, instead of

The choice behind the MX-30's battery pack's relatively small size optimises performance, range, charging times and weight against the car's whole life CO2 production.

NEW CAR FOCUS

Taking a different approach

45


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.