Mazda releases 2008 Tribute HEV






PS: Maybe we need to rename this forum section to add in the Tribute?

 

Another source...

Detroit Auto Show: 2008 Mazda Tribute Hybrid




(Interesting that the ICE cover has the Mazda badge because the MMH retains the Ford badge)

 

Saves money. Opening a Mercury hood and seeing a Ford badge isn't that jarring because it was probably bought at a Ford-Mercury dealer (there are very few purely Mercury dealers left)... so you can save money on a badge thats ONLY seen when someone opens the hood.

On the other hand opening a Mazda hood and seeing a Ford badge would probably shock the heck out of alot of car buyers because I don't think the average car buyer is aware of the Ford-Mazda relationship.

 

Nice to see the instantaneous mpg and the drive Diagram at the same time, I wish I had that on my '07. Assume that it'll be on all the 08's.

Larger view here:

http://www.autoinsidernews.com/wp-co...09&idg=1&idi=8

 

You'd think for a promo picture they'd arrange for the Average MPG to be something higher than a MISERABLE 17.9.

 

It would be nice, too, if the rear wheels were outlined in yellow when the AWD was active.

 

I took several pics of it at NAIAS, which I'm still going through (Serves me right for taking close to 1000 pics), but I don't care much for their hybrid logo.

Other than that, it pretty much looks the same, save for the the Mazda logo in place of the Ford one.

 

Here's a link to a picture of the Tribute Hybrid from February 2006's Chicago auto show.
Somewhere I have a pic of me actually sitting in it as well.

 

I wish they would do away with the instant graph and do a numerical instant display instead.

 

Is that what the Message Center shows? The Nav system, I am sure, needs (as defined by Ford) to be different even if that doesn't mean better.