Alongside the new Mazda3 MPS the company will also premiere at this year's Geneva Motor Show the 2009 Mazda3 i-stop - the first application of the company's fuel-saving start-stop system. The 2009 Mazda3 i-stop is powered by the MZR 2.0 DISI (Direct Injection Spark Ignition) engine and is able to get a fuel economy which is around 12 percent lower than the current European Mazda3.
With the new 2009 Mazda3 i-stop the company wishes to offer a different kind of eco-vehicle, that's both fun to drive and fuel efficient.
from the Mazda press release:
Mazda3 i-stop
The Mazda3 is one of Mazda’s core products, with more than two million units of the first generation produced. The design of the new model has a bolder and more dynamic stance; it is agile and confidence-inspiring, enhancing the sense of oneness between the driver and car. It also has
high environmental and safety performance levels, exemplifying Mazda’s Sustainable Zoom-Zoom long-term vision to provide cars that are eco-friendly and safe while still being fun to drive.
The Mazda3 with i-stop embodies Sustainable Zoom-Zoom and adds a new eco-friendly option to the lineup. It features the i-stop system in combination with the MZR 2.0 DISI (Direct Injection Spark Ignition) engine. Together, these two Mazda proprietary technologies help the new model achieve approximately 12 percent lower fuel consumption (urban cycle) than the current
European Mazda3. By providing great driving performance as well as top-class fuel economy, the Mazda3 with i-stop is a different type of eco-car that will exceed customer expectations.
