Mazda MX-5 Quartet Completes Historic UK Drive On Sustainable Biofuel

Published: Tuesday, July 16, 2024, 17:09 [IST]

To mark 35 years of the Mazda MX-5, four models from different generations embarked on a journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats. Each car was powered by SUSTAIN 100 per cent biofuel, which contains no fossil fuels. This event highlighted Mazda’s commitment to sustainable motoring.

The Mazda UK Heritage Fleet has been using sustainable fuel from SUSTAIN since June 2023. The fleet includes a 1990 Mk1, a 10th Anniversary Mk2, a 25th Anniversary Mk3, and a 30th Anniversary Mk4. These cars completed the 1,000-mile trip without any modifications, showcasing the efficiency of SUSTAIN fuel.

Jeremy Thomson, Managing Director at Mazda Motors UK, stated: "The MX-5 is Mazda’s brand icon and it embodies all that is great about our products. Mazda’s unceasing commitment to refining the vehicle over its 35-year history has always focused on its core mission of delivering driver engagement and fun from behind the wheel."

SUSTAIN 100 RON E5 is a second-generation biofuel made from agricultural waste and by-products. It recycles carbon already in the atmosphere rather than releasing additional CO2 like fossil fuels do. This drop-in fuel requires no changes to existing engines.

David Richardson, Director at SUSTAIN, commented: "Achieving the first-ever drive from Land’s End to John O’ Groats on 100% sustainable biofuel is something we’re extremely proud of. It’s particularly poignant to be teaming up with Mazda on the MX-5s 35th birthday."

Milestones in Sustainable Motoring

The journey included stops at four pioneering organisations showcasing sustainable technologies. These stops were Motor Spirit in Oxfordshire, Translational Energy Research Centre in Sheffield, Windermere Boat Club in Lake District National Park, and Celtic Renewables in Grangemouth.

Since June 2023, the Mazda UK Heritage Fleet has been powered by SUSTAIN Classic 80 sustainable fuel. In 2022, the MX-5 became the first vehicle to drive across the UK and lap circuits in each home nation using sustainable fuel.

Future Prospects for Sustainable Fuels

Mazda aims to reduce CO2 emissions through various technologies including electrification and advanced internal combustion engines. Their SKYACTIV Multi-Solution Scalable Architecture will integrate these technologies for climate neutrality.

Richardson added: "Electric vehicles are increasing in numbers, but there are many millions of combustion engine cars on our roads – it surely makes sense to reduce the emissions from those vehicles if we can."

Upcoming Events

The four classic MX-5s will join six other models at CarFest 2024 as part of the event’s track show. They will again be powered by SUSTAIN fuel during this event.

Mazda continues to invest in renewable fuels globally through various projects and partnerships. In Japan, they are involved in research on biofuels from microalgae and used cooking oil. In Europe, they were the first OEM to join the eFuel Alliance.

This journey underscores Mazda's dedication to promoting sustainable motoring solutions while celebrating their iconic sports car's legacy.