Photo: Toyota
Partnerships in the automotive industry are not very unusual these days. Whether it's Daimler and Renault signing an agreement to share engine tech and car-making know-how or Mazda and Toyota uniting forces to boost the Japanese offensive, everybody is doing it. And the fruits are starting to grow.
When Daimler entered a partnership with Renault a couple of years ago, the results were two cars that shared over 60% of their underpinnings. We're talking about the smart fortwo / forfour and the Renault Twingo, of course.
Last month, Toyota and Mazda reached an agreement that will allow the two companies to share technologies (engines, most likely) and reduce costs, but bigger things are already happening.
According to Motoring, Toyota is working on a new Prius-based SUV that will use Mazda's 1.5-litre SKYACTIV diesel to take passengers from A to B, will being able to offer "well over 800km from a tank, comparable mileage to the Toyota hybrid and a far better driving experience."
What Mazda misses at this moment is an electric car or a plug-in hybrid to round up their range, but that's also in the making. According to the same source, Mazda will use Toyota's electric expertise in an attempt to come up with a BMW i3-sized EV destined to reach US and Japan markets.
It's not too hard to look between the lines and see there are already signs telling us Toyota and Mazda are working together. Just think about the new Scion iA sedan, basically a rebadged Mazda2. In any case, we're still far from seeing a vehicle built by the two giants but we're hoping Toyota will let Mazda influence the visual side more and maybe learn a thing or two about design in the process.
Last month, Toyota and Mazda reached an agreement that will allow the two companies to share technologies (engines, most likely) and reduce costs, but bigger things are already happening.
According to Motoring, Toyota is working on a new Prius-based SUV that will use Mazda's 1.5-litre SKYACTIV diesel to take passengers from A to B, will being able to offer "well over 800km from a tank, comparable mileage to the Toyota hybrid and a far better driving experience."
What Mazda misses at this moment is an electric car or a plug-in hybrid to round up their range, but that's also in the making. According to the same source, Mazda will use Toyota's electric expertise in an attempt to come up with a BMW i3-sized EV destined to reach US and Japan markets.
It's not too hard to look between the lines and see there are already signs telling us Toyota and Mazda are working together. Just think about the new Scion iA sedan, basically a rebadged Mazda2. In any case, we're still far from seeing a vehicle built by the two giants but we're hoping Toyota will let Mazda influence the visual side more and maybe learn a thing or two about design in the process.
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