Study Mazda Concept Study Extracts CO2 from the Air

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Mazda showcases the most beautiful study among all exhibitors at the Japan Mobility Show. That's not all: beneath the concept car lies technology that captures CO₂ from the air.

That Mazda is one of the Japanese car brands that has been offering vehicles with distinctive yet stylish designs for over a decade is well-known in the industry. This applies not only to various concept cars but also to regular models on the road. Notable examples include the crossover vehicle CX-30 or the bestselling SUV CX-5. The latter has sold over 4.5 million units worldwide and will be launched in spring 2026 in its new, now third generation.

Whether the over five-meter-long and very elegant coupe, as well as its technology, will go into series production, the manufacturer has so far left unanswered. However, at least in terms of design, it is said that future production models will feature several elements of it.

The same applies to the drivetrain. Under the hood of the cross-coupé lies a twin-rotor Wankel engine with turbocharging, designed as a plug-in hybrid. The system output is 503 hp, and the battery provides an electric range of around 100 miles. Overall, the X-Coupé achieves a travel range of 500 miles. Mazda is working on making the Wankel engine future-proof, particularly with regard to strict emission regulations such as Euro 7 in Europe and LEV4 in the United States.

Mazda Captures CO2

However, as far as CO₂ capture—called "Mazda Mobile Carbon Capture"—is concerned, the concept is likely still in the realm of "visionary character." This is because it requires an entirely new infrastructure and logistics. Nonetheless, it is positive to note that a car manufacturer is considering environmental concerns beyond the usual scope.

The principle: driving should not only be climate-neutral but even extract CO₂ from our breathable air. Driving against global warming. To achieve this, the developers have installed two parallel lines, each with a compressor and a CO₂ separator, in the rear of the car. A portion of the previously dehumidified exhaust gases is routed through these. Once full, the separators channel the CO₂ into a storage cartridge. Storage is achieved chemically using zeolite pellets (aluminum silicates). When the cartridge is full, it can simply be replaced with an empty one.

20 percent, Mazda's engineers promise, is at least the CO₂ capture rate in the first development stage. Since the X-Coupe simultaneously runs on sustainably produced biofuel—derived from marine algae—and this is 90 percent climate-neutral, the result is a ten percent negative CO₂ balance overall.

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Intended As An Industry Standard

That may sound promising in theory, but it leaves many questions unanswered. How will drivers handle the whole thing later? How far can they drive before the CO₂ tank is full? And when the tank is full, where can they exchange it for an empty one? "We are still in a very early phase," says Toshihide Yamamoto, head of Mazda's research center in Hiroshima, "it will not later be the matter of a single car manufacturer. Something like this can only be developed and scaled together." This includes, for example, a standardized cartridge.

At least it is already known how the captured CO₂ can be meaningfully reused. For example, in the production of biofuels, fertilizers, or plastics. The latter can already be seen in the form of the lower front and rear bumpers on the Vision-X Coupe.

Mini By Mazda

Right next door, Mazda's second concept car also captivated the audience. A glance at the 12.5 feet short Vision X-Compact with its charmingly cool design instantly sparks the wish for it to hit production as soon as possible: "Mini made by Mazda." This is not entirely out of the question. Mazda is currently lacking an emotional entry-level model that excites young people and strengthens their loyalty to the brand. The current Mazda 2, after all, is merely a slightly modified Toyota Yaris.

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