Mazda began as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd, founded in Japan in 1920 manufacturing machine tools. In 1927 it was renamed Toyo Kogyo Co., Ltd. and shortly after started manufacturing vehicles, the first being a three-wheel truck, the Mazdago, in 1931.

 

 

Mazda’s first car, the Mazda R360 Coupe two-door passenger vehicle, came out in 1960, with the four-door Mazda Carol appearing in 1962. The next year, Mazda’s car production topped one million. During the 1970s, Mazda successfully entered the North American market, and financial difficulties during the 1990s saw Ford take a controlling interest in Mazda in 1999.

 

 

Mazda cars have a reputation for looking and feeling different from the mainstream, thanks in part to their use of Wankel – or rotary – engines in certain models. During the 1960s, Mazda cooperated with NSU’s Felix Wankel – who gave his name to the engine – in Germany to introduce rotary-powered vehicles and this continues to the present day with the RX-8.

 

 

The company claims that: “Everything we do is daring, ingenious and fun. Our cars all have that extra-special ‘Zoom-Zoom’ factor: sports-inspired design and motoring in their soul,”. This is reflected through the full range of current cars from the all-new Mazda2 supermini to the Mazda BT-50 pick-up.

 

 

DID YOU KNOW?



Mazda’s factory at Hiroshima is one of the largest single-site automobile plants in the world, with an annual production capacity of about 480,000 cars.

Mazda is the only manufacturer in the world that makes petrol, diesel and rotary internal combustion engines.

The Mazda 787B won the Le Mans 24-Hour race in 1991. This was the first and only time a rotary engine has ever won the race, also marking the first victory for a Japanese car manufacturer.

The name Mazda stems from Ahura Mazda, the highest Zoroastrian God of reason who granted wisdom and united man, nature and the other gods.



 

 

 

MAZDA FACTS



Type: Public; partial subsidiary of Ford Motor Company

Founded: 1920

Headquarters: Fuchu, Aki, Hiroshima, Japan

Key People: Jujiro Matsuda (founder) Kazuhide Watanabe (Chairman) Hisakazu Imaki (CEO)

Industry: Automotive



 

 



By: Luke Scott

About the Author:

Create a video blog

To prove its commitment to the environment, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) announces its newest pride which comes in the form of the Mazda Tribute Hybrid-Electric Vehicle (HEV). The vehicle wowed the crowd in the recently held 2007 North American International Auto Show.

The Mazda Tribute is scheduled to make its debut in the middle part of 2007 as a 2008 model. As opposed to other hybrids, the Mazda Tribute HEV is deemed to be a “full” hybrid which can run on 100 percent electric power up to approximately 25 mph, maximizing in-city fuel economy and making it one of the least-polluting vehicles ever sold. The hybrid has been engineered with the environment concerns and the Zoom-Zoom performance and feel in mind. Aside from the intention to satisfy the needs of Mazda enthusiasts, the automaker also focused on minimizing air pollution by reducing greenhouse gases emissions.

“With virtually all new Mazda vehicles sold in the U.S. earning either Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) or Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) status, protecting the global environment is a long-standing concern of ours,” said Robert Davis who works as the senior vice president of the MNAO Quality, Research and Development team. “The Tribute HEV is the next step towards strengthening Mazda’s environmental efforts.”

The 2008 version of the vehicle bears the go green trend of the automotive realm. In fact, it is greener than other hybrids available in the market these days. With a hydrogen-powered version of the RX-8 and a hydrogen-powered hybrid version of the MAZDA5 undergoing broad testing in Japan, the Mazda Tribute HEV is the latest environmental-friendly vehicle to join the automaker’s lineup.

The Mazda Tribute delivers plenty of power without compromising California’s strict Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) requirements. As a fact, the vehicle achieved the Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle II (SULEVII) standards plus zero evaporative emissions standards. So far, they are the strictest emission regulations a gasoline-fueled automobile can meet.

The HEV technology in the Mazda Tribute boasts sophisticated Mazda auto parts recycled. These parts are products of extensive studies and testing initiated by Mazda pool of experts. Some of the cutting-edge features of the vehicle include the special 2.3-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine that features Atkinson-cycle combustion for enhanced efficiency and power. It generates 133 horsepower at 6,000 rpm.

The 2008 Mazda Tribute is also equipped with a 70-kWatt electric traction motor that delivers an extra boost to the drive wheels when maximum acceleration is required. Also, a 330-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery pack which is located at the rear load floor supplies electrical energy. The generator-motor starts the engine, recharges the batteries and aids in regulating propulsion channels in the transaxle. The special electronically controlled, continuously variable transmission (eCVT), on the one hand, connects internal combustion and electric power sources to run the vehicle. Finally, there is the electronic vehicle system controller that manages drive assist, charging and engine-starting functions. In times of coasting, the feature shuts the engine to save fuel. Another essential function of the feature is the conversion of traction motor into a generator during braking. This is done to help recharge the batteries.

Mazda will release the Tribute’s pricing, distribution, sales volume and other information before its launch date.



By: Correy Putton

About the Author:

Create a video blog…instantly.