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Unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show last fall, the Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE hybrid is about to make its on-the-road debut in Japan. Mazda announced that the Japanese Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) has granted permission to test the hydrogen- and gas-powered minivan on public roads. The new rotary engine and hybrid powertrain in the Premacy Hydrogen RE gives the vehicle more power (40 percent more, compared to the old setup) and offers a range of 200 km (124 miles). All of this makes Mazda confident it can complete road trials and begin commercially leasing the vehicle during fiscal 2008. The hydrogen car uses a plant-based biofabric for some of the seat covers and door trim. G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit attendees can get a view of Mazda's hydrogen rotary vehicles (the Premacy and RX-8) during next months' event. More details after the break.

The cars from the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show aren't news to any of us at this point, but we can now gawk anew at the Pivo 2 and the CR-Z hybrid, the Lexus LF-Xh and the Subaru G4e (above) in screen-saver quality phots. Other vehicles our new gallery include the Toyota 1/X Concept, the Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid and the Audi metroproject quattro design study. You can click on any of the names highlighted above to see high-resolution photos or on one of the thumbnails below and scan your way through all 45 images.

I swear, Honda's soon-to-be-produced CR-Z looks better each time I look at it. You?


[Source: Newspress]

The Exhibition Model of the Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid is on display this week at the Tokyo Motor Show, and Mazda swears it's "a fresh approach to the future of Zoom-Zoom." Man, I like the whole "Zoom-Zoom" thing less each time I hear it.

The Premacy Hydrogen RE uses an updated version of the dual fuel rotary engine (it can use gasoline or hydrogen) that has been in use in the RX-8 Hydrogen RE. The Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid is still in development, but it does offer extended range, a larger carrying capacity than the RX-8 and a "Powerful fun-to-drive feeling."

Mazda is also bringing plant-based Biotechmaterial and news of new recycling methods to Tokyo. Read all about them after the jump.

[Source: Mazda]

The Mazda Taiki, bowing today at the Tokyo Motor Show, is not the greenest car on these pages, but it certainly is fun to look at. With the new Renesis 2 rotary engine under the Nagare hood, there is at least the potential to run this thing on hydrogen in some fashion. Mazda is also displaying the hybrid hydrogen/electric Premacy in Tokyo. We'll see if the Autoblog photogs will be willing to snap some shots of minivan, a minivan!, for us.

We've got the official images of the Taiki from Mazda in the gallery below, and you can see the high-res photos from the Autoblog team in Tokyo over on this page.



[Source: Mazda via Autoblog]

Mazda has been leasing a version of their RX8 in Japan with a hydrogen fueled rotary engine since '06. At this year's Tokyo Motor Show, Mazda will be showing a new version of their Hydrogen-RE Hybrid model, and instead of being housed in the RX8 shell, it will be featured in the Premacy. The rotary engine is capable of running for 124 miles, doubling the range of their last model, and charges a lithium ion battery pack the electric motor. Regenerative braking is also featured on this model. In case you were wondering, no - you cannot lease one in the U.S., only Japan. At $3,500 a month, we doubt that Mazda is planning on leasing very many of them anyway.

It's worth noting that hydrogen, although cleaner burning than gasoline, carries much less energy than petroleum fuels. That's why the range, though improved, is still far less then that of the gasoline rotary-powered vehicle.

Related:

• Mazda5 Hydrogen RE Hybrid Concept: Eco-friendly rotary power
• Mazda to show a revised RX8 with gas/hydrogen hybrid engine in Tokyo
• Some potential rotary news for you rotorheads
• Mazda hydrogen-powered RX-8 seen outside Japan for first time
• Mazda's 15-year quest for hydrogen vehicles