Mazda’s Next CX-5 Hybrid Just Moved Closer To Production

Mazda’s Next Big Engine Project Shows Signs of LifeMazda is still on a mission to prove the internal combustion engine isn’t dead yet. While everyone else is sprinting toward full electrification, Mazda’s been stubbornly straddling the line – tinkering with gas engines, hybrids, and EVs all at once. Now, it looks like Mazda’s latest engine development is inching closer to hitting the streets.A recent trademark filing in Japan, courtesy of Trademark Watch, shows Mazda has locked down the name “SKYACTIV-Z HEV.” Sure, a trademark doesn’t mean you’ll see it in showrooms tomorrow, but it’s a pretty clear sign Mazda’s cooking up a hybrid version of its next SkyActiv-Z engine.That lines up with what Mazda’s already teased. The company has said SkyActiv-Z is the backbone of its next-gen hybrid setup, and the next CX-5 is first in line. Considering the CX-5 is Mazda’s bread and but …