Mazda’s future is looking greener

Like many other automakers, Mazda is shifting towards producing greener vehicles. However, being a smaller company, it can’t do it alone and has enlisted the help of Toyota. Recently, the two companies made a deal that will give Mazda access to Toyota’s vehicle electrification expertise. What’s more, in November 2018, the two automakers invested $1.6 billion to begin building a massive car plant (it measures 3.3 million square feet) in Huntsville, Alabama.

The first order of business for the jointly owned car plant, which is scheduled to open in 2021 and will employ 4,000 people, is to make a redesigned Toyota Corolla. It will also produce a crossover Mazda, the details around which remain a mystery. The project is a 50-50 partnership, with the two companies contributing equally to the operation.

Shifting to the present, 2019 sees the arrival of a new generation of Mazda3s. More luxurious than its predecessors, the 2019 Mazda3 has the latest SKYACTIV chassis, which gives the car a more robust structure. Under the hood, the carmaker made a fantastic choice by opting for the latest generation SKYACTIV-G 2.0 with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, which is the cream of the crop when it comes to basic gasoline engines.

Alternatively, drivers can choose to purchase their 2019 Mazda3 with a SKYACTIV-X engine. This small 2-liter engine with a high compression ratio delivers 176 horsepower and is assisted by the new M Hybrid system, which optimizes fuel efficiency. The standard models feature either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. You can also opt for the 4-wheel drive model, a first for the Mazda3. The Mazda3 with the SKYACTIV-X engine should be available near the end of the year as a 2020 model.