In celebration of the Mazda MX-5’s 35th anniversary, four generations of this iconic sports car undertook a remarkable journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats. Powered entirely by SUSTAIN’s 100 percent biofuel, devoid of any fossil fuel content, these cars marked a significant milestone in automotive history.
Since June 2023, the Mazda UK Heritage Fleet has been running on SUSTAIN’s sustainable fuel. The 1,000-mile route across the UK saw a 1990 1.6-litre Mk1, a 10th Anniversary Mk2, a 25th Anniversary Mk3, and a 30th Anniversary Mk4 – each representing a pivotal chapter in the MX-5’s storied legacy – travel on this eco-friendly fuel.
The journey utilized SUSTAIN 100 RON E5, a second-generation biofuel produced from agricultural waste and by-products. This fuel, requiring no modifications to the vehicles, recycles atmospheric carbon absorbed by plants during their growth, thus avoiding the additional CO2 emissions associated with fossil fuels.
Launched at the 1989 Chicago Motor Show, the Mazda MX-5 has epitomized the essence of lightweight, driver-focused sports cars. Over 1.2 million units have been produced at Mazda’s Ujina plant in Hiroshima, with more than 135,000 sold in the UK alone. This 1,000-mile drive underscored Mazda’s dedication to sustainable motoring and the enduring appeal of the MX-5.
During their journey, the MX-5s visited four pioneering organizations that are at the forefront of sustainable technology (details in Editor’s notes). Although the 100 percent biofuel used isn’t yet available for public purchase, other SUSTAIN fuels are, showcasing the potential for sustainable fuels to decarbonize both modern and classic cars and aligning with Mazda’s Multi-Solution approach to climate neutrality.
This historic drive is just one example of Mazda’s commitment to sustainable fuel solutions. Since June 2023, the Mazda UK Heritage Fleet has been using SUSTAIN Classic 80, a commercially available sustainable fuel. Notably, in 2022, the Mazda MX-5 became the first vehicle to complete a 1,000-mile journey across the UK and lap circuits in each home nation powered by sustainable fuel.
Jeremy Thomson, Managing Director at Mazda Motors UK, remarked, “The MX-5 is Mazda’s brand icon, embodying the best of our engineering and design. Our commitment to refining this vehicle over 35 years has always focused on driver engagement and fun. It’s fitting that the MX-5 was the first to complete this journey on sustainable fuel, highlighting the role such fuels can play in reducing the environmental impact of motoring.”
Thomson continued, “Mazda is dedicated to reducing CO2 emissions from every car. We believe in leveraging all available technologies to achieve climate neutrality. Mazda’s SKYACTIV Multi-Solution Scalable Architecture will integrate advanced internal combustion engines with electrification. Our current range, including the Mazda MX-30, Mazda MX-30 R-EV, Mazda2 Hybrid, and Mazda CX-60 PHEV, already reflects this multi-solution approach.”
David Richardson, Director at SUSTAIN, expressed pride in the achievement, saying, “Driving from Land’s End to John O’Groats on 100% sustainable biofuel is a significant milestone. Partnering with Mazda on the MX-5’s 35th birthday underscores the potential of sustainable fuels to keep classic cars on the road while reducing their environmental footprint. On this trip alone, we saved approximately 981kg of CO2 by using SUSTAIN fuel.”
Richardson added, “While electric vehicles are on the rise, millions of combustion engine cars remain. Reducing emissions from these vehicles is crucial. Many are unaware of the option of sustainable fuels and how they work. Support from policymakers is essential to scale up sustainable fuel production. A multifaceted approach using all available technologies is vital to significantly impact the automotive sector’s environmental footprint.”
The four classic Mazda MX-5s will join six other MX-5s at CarFest 2024 as part of the track show, continuing to demonstrate the capabilities of sustainable fuel from SUSTAIN.
