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The new RX-8 Hydrogen RE aims to target environmentally-conscious motorists, according to Mazda's chief executive.
Claiming to be the world's first passenger car with a dual-fuel hydrogen and petrol rotary-engine, the Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE has been exhibited in Norway to celebrate the opening of the country's first hydrogen filling station.
When running on the hydrogen rotary-engine, water is the vehicle's main by-product, emitting no carbon dioxide and near-zero quantities of nitrogen oxide.
However, should the model be run in locations without accessible hydrogen filling stations, the engine can run on petrol at the flick of a switch.
Akihiro Kashiwagi, hydrogen programme manager at Mazda, argues that dual-fuel systems - such as that of the RX-8 Hydrogen RE - provide a practical solution for energy-conscious drivers.
"Compared to fuel cells, hydrogen engines with dual-fuel systems are more likely to play a significant role in the initial phase of the hydrogen energy society in the future," he said.
"That is why Mazda is currently focused on developing dual-fuel system hydrogen engines."
The RX-8 Hydrogen RE is not currently in mass-production, with Mazda planning to lease ten vehicles to Japanese companies before the close of 2006.
It is widely-agreed that the first mass-produced hybrid automobile was the Toyota Prius, which first went on sale to the global marketplace in 2001.
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