Mazda is working on the Skyactiv-Z gas engine along with new hybrids and EVs

Mazda offered Thursday the first update to its next-generation powertrain plan since announcing a powertrain development partnership with Toyota and Subaru on May 5.

Mazda has been slow to adopt electric vehicles, and the only EV offering in the world is the 100-mile MX-30 crossover, which has already been dropped from U.S. sales, but the automaker plans to adopt the technology in the second half of the decade.

However, the development of internal combustion engines, including both conventional piston and rotary engines, will continue.

Mazda vehicles are mainly equipped with Skyactiv-G and Skyactiv-D brand gas or diesel engines. In a presentation on Thursday, Mazda unveiled the new Skyactiv-Z family of 4-cylinder engines that are being developed for launch in 2027. Mazda did not mention much about the Skyactiv-Z family, but said: "It is developed with combustion optimized for improved environmental performance and driving performance."

The automaker also said it revived the next generation rotary engine development team in May. Currently, Mazda offers the MX-30 rotary engine, where the engine acts as a generator to extend the range of electric crossovers. A similar setup could eventually make its way into a sports car, something Mazda previewed last year with its iconic SP concept.

As for future hybrids and EVs, Mazda says it is not borrowing technology from Toyota or Subaru, like the current CX-50 hybrid that uses the Toyota hybrid system, but developing the technology in-house with the help of battery partners like Panasonic and AESC. He said.

From 2025 to 2027, Mazda will add its own hybrid system to the next-generation CX-5. During this period, Mazda will also launch a dedicated EV.

Starting in 2027, Mazda is considering adding hybrid systems to larger vehicles. The company is also considering launching a plug-in hybrid version of its dedicated EV.