Mazda to bring diesel cars to Canada in 2012

[seftonm]

Mazda will launch its new Sky family of gasoline and diesel engines, with a focus on stripping out weight to improve fuel economy and lower emissions

Jeremy Cato - THEGLOBEANDMAIL - Sep 18, 2010

Will they make it, or will they change their minds like so many other manufacturers have? --Ed.

North of Germany's vibrant capital city, inside what was once a key piece of the East German propaganda machine, we are huddled inside a sprawling sound stage.

We need the space because with us is the entire research and development staff at Mazda Motor Corp.

Well, not exactly all of them, but the room is stuffed with engineers, product planners and executive types.

They outnumber the journalists at least five to one, so it seems certain that something big is about to happen, that we're about to be told a massively important story.

Now back in the days when devoted, committed, fanatical Communist Erich Honecker ran East Germany with an intolerant fist (1971-1989), this sound stage was part of a larger television and movie studio complex whose primary role was to do Goebbels-like work in support of the former German Democratic Republic.

I, of course, am wondering if the Mazda people see the irony in bringing a handful of journalists to a former propaganda factory to tell us details about what can only be described as the reinvented and reinvigorated Mazda? This is on my mind as the conversation turns to the Sky program at Mazda – as in “the sky is the limit.”

Mazda officials say they picked Berlin for the briefing and test drive for a short list of compelling reasons. Berlin is a city fast turning into the most vibrant urban centre on the Continent. Mazda types see Berlin as a kind of metaphor for Mazda – the car company now freed (since 2008) of Ford's influence is now turning into the most vibrant mainstream car maker in the world. That's the idea, at least. ... [Read More]

[WriConsult]

I'll get excited when these start rolling off the boats. Until then I'll view these as concept cars.

Same old s*** from the automakers: Promises, promises ... then the promised green cars never show up. Either the plans get quietly canceled, or we get the same old line about marketing studies showing they won't sell in the North American market. Blah-dee-blah-blah-blah. I've been fooled enough times.

[xcel]

Hi Mike:

I have to agree with Dan. While we have repotted on the Sky-D program for well over a year, until we actually get to drive a 2.2L Diesel in a Mazda 3 in North America, I will keep wishing … And waiting. Which is what you, I and Dan have been doing a lot of over the past five years

Wayne

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Well, I hope that the lack of their own hybrid technology does push them to diesels.

If anything's going to change I'd expect it'd be Mazda diesels not being sold in the USA. Mazda very obviously have a good market in Canada.