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Mazda Motor Corp said it would become the world's first automaker to commercialize a much more efficient petrol engine using technology that deep-pocketed rivals have been trying to engineer for decades, a twist in an industry increasingly going electric.
The new compression ignition engine is 20 percent to 30 percent more fuel efficient than the Japanese automaker's current engines and uses a technology that has eluded the likes of Daimler AG and General Motors Co.
Mazda, with a research and development (R&D) budget a fraction of those of major peers, said it plans to sell cars with the new engine from 2019.
"It's a major breakthrough," said Ryoji Miyashita, chairman of automotive engineering company AEMSS Inc.
[...] A homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine ignites petrol through compression, eliminating spark plugs. Its fuel economy potentially matches that of a diesel engine without high emissions of nitrogen oxides or sooty particulates.
[...] AEMSS' Miyashita said a key issue would be how smooth and responsive the engine is.
"Is it jerky? If so, that would pose a big question when it comes to commercializing this technology." he said. "Hopefully Mazda has an answer to that question."
Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mazda-strategy-idUSKBN1AO0E7
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 09 2017, @11:30PM (2 children)
Or they had absolutely no desire to actually improve anything until electrics actually brought the competition. Corporate efficiency at its best :P
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Wednesday August 09 2017, @11:39PM (1 child)
It really depends on the amount of re-engineering required.
If they can get these HCCI engines made on existing engine assembly lines, and they fit existing engine bays, then the re-tooling is minimal, and the cost savings are massive.
Re-engineering for electric or hybrid power has to be many multiple-times more expensive.
For Indonesia, India, and even China, a "better" ICE will sell if it is similarly priced to existing ICE vehicles. (ie, cheap)
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 10 2017, @12:48AM
Thanks for highlighting my point, corporations won't do things that result in less profit and will actively suppress advancements if it results in higher profit.