Fuel efficiency and alternative fuels are becoming more and more important to car manufacturers, and Mazda hopes to improve their line-up with a bold goal: putting their line-up on a strict diet.

Last week, Mazda announced a plan to cut a minimum of 220 pounds with every vehicle model redesign. This is not an easy task for the company’s engineers who have to fulfill certain safety requirements as well as keep customers happy with newer technology and more comfortable interiors. Still, Mazda is dedicate to the lofty goal, even as the cars will eventually run out of weight to cut. Vehicle development engineer Dave Coleman commented, “Obvious that’s going to get harder and harder. We focused so much on the low-hanging fruit that we still have a lot of room.”

How does a car company go about lightening a car’s load? New lightweight materials play a big role, and frame redesigns require less steel, automatically cutting back the car’s weight. Of course, the problem with some of these new materials is availability and price. While they might be cheaper in the long run with higher fuel efficiency, consumers might end up paying a little more now for these lighter cars.

What do you think about Mazda’s weight goals? Would you be more or less likely to buy a Mazda after they drop some pounds? Leave a comment below, and tell us what you think!

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