Alternative fuel systems dominate the Mazda stand.

While there were a number of new and advanced vehicles on the Mazda stand at the Tokyo Show, the obvious star was the new Senku concept. Described as a "four-seater rotary sports car for adults", the sleek-bodied car looks fast standing still. Wheels are positioned at the corners, and one large electric-powered door on each side slides back providing easy access to the interior.
The interior design is just as simple and clean as the exterior. All instruments are located in the middle of the steering wheel, and rear seats are almost not existent. The press materials point out that "personal space was designed to give priority to the people seated in the front seats."

Not only does the Senku look futuristic, its powertrain is quite advanced as well. The concept features a hybrid system that teams a direct-injection rotary engine with an electric motor. Solar panels provide additional electric power.

Also of importance was the introduction of the all-new MPV for the European and Asian markets. Providing all the utility and roominess expected from a minivan, the new MPV still keeps with Mazda's "Zoom-Zoom" brand personality. With the introduction of this new minivan, Mazda's new-generation model lineup in Japan is complete. There are currently no plans to bring this version of the MPV to North America.

Mazda also showed the first production hybrid model to wear the company's brand. The Tribute SUV—a twin to the Ford Escape—will feature a hybrid powertrain in North America. More mass-produced hybrid vehicles are expected in the future.

The automaker also featured two other alternatives to the standard internal combustion engine. Next spring, the RX-8 RE powered by a hydrogen-fueled rotary engine will be available for lease. This is six months sooner than originally planned. The Premacy RE, which is a bit further away from production, incorporates a hydrogen rotary engine, offering dual fuel driving with hydrogen and gasoline, in tandem with an electric motor.

http://autos.msn.com/as/minishow/art...o2005&src=News

 

Looks ugly, IMO. Retarded silver bullet or something... ugh.

 

Looks like a big silver *****.

 

yeah you'll just get a ticket right before you pull out of your garage for speeding cause thats how fast it looks like its going

 

IMO it some what looks like the Infitity FX just alot slopped and curvy..

 

hmm neat idea that body for it is hideous but oh well. alot of cars are going that overly curved sculpted scalloped style. odd. lol

 

haha

 

if your topic says hydrogen rotary then find somin on that more lol, this topic should of been mazda's hydrogen vehicles not rotary lol, ether way being a second gen owner I hate rx-8s haha but they could fix it in the near future who knows

 

Well, I know for a fact that Mazda is improving the RENESIS and giving it direct injection. That should make for an increase in power output, slightly better gas mileage, and lower emissions. No final word yet, of course but the 2007 or 2008 RX-8 will certainly get this engine.

The other word is some magazine in Austrailia reports that they are indeed working on a higher displacement RENESIS. By widening the rotors slightly (I think like 5mm), they'll kick the displacement up to around 1.5l. If they do this and add direct injection, they should be able to get significantly more power out of the engine with lower emissions and probably about the same gas mileage.

I love the idea of them using direct injection, but I'm kinda skeptical how much better fuel economy they'll get with it. One of the primary ways that direct injection improves milage in engines is by allowing precise late cycle injection, which allows the car to run a bit leaner. As you may know, running lean on a rotary is bad business. So we'll see about that, but they'll certainly make better power and lower emissions.