Mazda’s new Skyactiv technology will not become a sub-brand like Bluemotion or Econetic, the car maker’s European chief operating officer Phil Waring confirms, as the new low emission solutions begin to roll-out.
"What BMW has done with Efficient Dynamics and what Mazda will do with SKkyactiv seems a more logical way to go," he said, speaking to headlineauto at the launch of the upgraded Mazda3.
Mazda is too small to treat Skyactiv as a sub-brand as well. "We can’t afford it," he said. “An eco sub-brand means that, by definition, those cars will be in showrooms alongside ‘non eco cars’ further adding to buyer confusion.
"Buyers understand the benefits of fuel economy," he said and that will be the message the company wants to get across as it prepares to launch the technology early next year on the new CX-5 compact crossover.
"Our priority is Skyactiv and between now and 2015 every Mazda will have it" said Waring, adding that it’s not very often a company gets to launch an all-new model with no carry over parts from previous vehicles.
The launch of CX-5 will be supported by television advertising. Waring believes that a good TV commercial "should entertain, not sell" and promises that Mazda will build on its theme of defying convention. He points to how both Apple and Dyson have done things differently and been very successful, noting that "having a Japanese car company with character is unusual."
New Mazda6 will follow CX-5 as another all-new Skyactiv model and promises CO2 emissions of 105g/km, Waring says. It will make its thinly-disguised debut as the Takeri concept at the Tokyo motor show at the end of this month.
