Joining the likes of Mitsubishi, Toyota, Subaru and Nissan, Mazda is set to launch an electric version of the tiny Mazda2 in Japan.

In development right now, the new electrified Mazda2 – known in Japan as the Demio – is expected to make its homeland debut sometime in 2012. Like the Subaru Stella EV in Japan and Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV, the all-electric version of the Mazda2 will only be available to government and corporate fleets participating in the car’s trial program.

Mazda has yet to release all of the 2 EV’s technical details, although it has confirmed a driving range target of around 200 km, surpassing the roughly 160 km range that many EVs boast.

While a South African launch for the Mazda2 EV is highly unlikely in the near future, the Japanese brand is expected to introduce its new SKYACTIV technology into the local market, starting with the Mazda2 and Mazda3.

SKYACTIV engine technology focuses on cleaner running and improved fuel consumption figures – and the improvements are impressive. In Japan, the Mazda2 will be offered with both 1.3 and 1.5 litre versions of the Skyactiv-G engine. While the smaller engine lists fuel consumption figures of 3.3 l/100km, Mazda has yet to confirm an exact figure for the larger engine’s fuel use. The Mazda2′s current 1.3 litre engine uses around 6.5 l/100km, while the current 1.5 litre engine uses around 7.0 l/100km in manual guise.