Mazda Tribute

The Mazda Tribute was the first SUV model of the Japanese car manufacturer Mazda. In January 2000 the Tribute at the Los Angeles Auto Show was presented and was released in September of the same year on the German market. It was developed in close cooperation with the former parent company Ford, obtaining not only the technical basis, but also the essential parts of the body with the Ford Escape / Mercury Mariner informed. The engine range was identical in the models. In 2006, the sale was set in Europe. In Asia, the car will continue to be offered with a slightly different body. The Mazda Tribute was much more successful in Europe than in the U.S., which is why there in 2007 a ​​completely new model came on the market. This second generation is divided again with the Ford Escape, the technique and soil group.

• 2.1 Tribute HEV

First generation (2000-2008)

Mazda Tribute (2000-2004)

Features and prices

Available was the Tribute in versions Comfort and Exclusive, where last variant was offered only for the larger 3.0 -liter V6 engine. Entry-level version after the facelift was the 2.3 liter Comfort for € 23,490, which cost at least 29,999 euros V6.

Facelift

In summer 2004 the Tribute experienced a slight facelift, have been revised in the headlights, tail lights, bumpers, front and rear aprons as well as the interior. New were among other standard 16-inch alloy wheels, body-color door mirrors, fender flares, and an upgraded interior center console and gear lever.

Safety features two-stage airbags for driver and front passenger and head - shoulder airbags now included front and rear. Protection for the rear passengers now offered three headrests and automatic seat belts on all seats. In addition to front and rear disc brakes were standard ABS with electronic brake- force distribution and brake assist mechanical. In addition, all models were now exclusively with all-wheel drive, the electromagnetically zuschaltete the power when needed to the rear axle, available.

In early 2008, production was ended.

Motors

Since the Mazda Tribute was developed primarily for the U.S., he is driven exclusively by gasoline engines, as they find more popularity in America:

• 2.0 liter inline four cylinder with 91 kW ( 124 hp ), 5 -speed manual
• 3.0 lV six-cylinder with 145 kW ( 197 hp ), 4- speed automatic transmission

The 2.0 -liter engine produced in the United States four kilowatts more power.

With the facelift in the summer of 2004, the engines were revised. So the 2.0 l was replaced by 2.3 liter of V6 and strengthened by four kilowatts. Also, now the smaller engine meets Euro 4 emission standard

• 2.3 -liter inline four- cylinder with 110 kW ( 150 hp ), 5 -speed manual
• 3.0 lV six-cylinder with 149 kW ( 203 hp ), 4- speed automatic transmission

Second generation (since 2008)

Second generation of the Mazda Tribute

Tribute HEV

Since 2007, the Mazda Tribute HEV ( Hybrid Electric Vehicle) was based on the second generation of the tributes offered. The SUV with a hybrid drive is a sister model, the Ford Escape Hybrid and reach to the common energy of gasoline engine and electric motor system output of 114 kW (155 hp). The 2.3 -liter four -cylinder petrol engine of MZR series generates 98 kW ( 133 hp ) at 6000 rpm.

The technique is based on the first model of the Prius. The DOHC 16-valve engine uses the Atkinson cycle - a valve control, in which the inlet valves close very late and thus a portion of the mixture is transported back into the intake tract. This method improves the efficiency, but has the disadvantage of relatively low torque in the lower speed range. However, as part of a hybrid drive this handicap can be compensated for the 70 kW ( 94 hp) electric drive again. If a strong acceleration maneuvers he makes for the desired additional thrust and also takes over the function of the starter and generator.

The car accelerates from 0 to 100 km / h in about as fast as a conventional SUV with a V6 engine and 147 kW ( 200 hp ), but at the same time consumed in the urban cycle up to 75 percent less fuel. An introduction to Europe is not currently scheduled.