Mazda 2 doubles itself, or rather, “it does it in three”, to use the words of the Japanese house. Which in addition to unveiling the Model Year 2022 confirmed the imminent arrival at the dealership of the full hybrid version developed on the mechanical basis of the Yaris, already announced a few months ago.
The Japanese company has in fact decided to expand the electrified offer in the B segment through a rebadging operation that is part of the collaboration started with Toyota in 2015 for the development in the electric field and autonomous driving. The first step of this partnership was, in 2018, the launch in the United States of a Toyota Yaris developed on the basis of the Mazda 2, and 4 years later the Japanese company “returns the favor”.
However, the Mazda 2 Hybrid will not replace the mild hybrid version, but will join it, which means that the range includes the 75 horsepower SkyActive G petrol engine (from 18,300 euros), the 90 horsepower e-SkyActive GM mild hybrid. (from 18,700) and, from March, the full hybrid version with 116 horsepower. Which will always be called Mazda 2, but will have both the technology and the body of the Yaris Hybrid and will have a starting price of 20,300 euros.
Returning to the Mazda 2 Model Year, the road test along the south coast of Barcelona allowed to test the main novelty, namely Diagonal Vortex Combustion technology, a system designed to increase the efficiency of traditional petrol engines that will equip everyone. traditional Mazda petrol models in the near future. The system is an evolution of the recent Skyactiv-X engines, works in combination with the injectors to create a diagonal vortex of air and fuel, mixed evenly inside the combustion chamber to obtain the best performance. Mazda assures that with the use of this technology it is possible to improve consumption by about 6.8%, also reducing CO2 emissions by a percentage between 9 and 12%.
Mazda has already identified the target audience for the three models: the 75 HP petrol, is designed for those who are more budget conscious, and is also suitable for novice drivers; the mild hybrid instead aims at those who prefer a more dynamic drive and want to take advantage of the advantages guaranteed by the hybrid, while the Hybrid is “intended for the customer more interested in engine technology and the convenience of automatic transmission, sensitive to environmental issues – confirm from the Japanese house – For this consumer, the ecological transition is a clear path to be undertaken with awareness and Mazda2 Hybrid is the ideal choice because thanks to the solutions adopted it allows maximum efficiency in urban commuting ”.
