Driving Sports

Thanks to bad memories of the good 'ol Peugeot 504 (note: my Grandfather had a fleet of barely-running 504's, though there were several other diesels of the era worth loathing), oil burners have been facing an uphill PR battle here in the United States. Meanwhile, diesel powertrains have literally taken over the hearts and minds of our European cousins. If you were one of the few that understood the benefits of modern diesel, and desperately wanted a car powered by such a motor here in the US, you choices were pretty much limited to something German or, something German.

Finally, in 2012 there will be a Japanese alternative. At the 2010 New York Auto show Mazda just announced they are going to bring their new SKY-D powertrain lineup to a Global audience (yes, even the USA) starting in 2012. This includes the highly-efficient direct-injection gas motor with 15-percent fuel economy improvements (2011), a diesel motor that has a claimed 20-percent improvement over existing designs (2012) and a "next generation" SKY-Drive 6-speed automatic transmission (2011) to put all that eco-goodness to work.

Full Release:

Mazda is synonymous with powertrain innovation. And now, the company that has engineered the world's only mass produced rotary engine is at it once again. The Mazda SKY Concept is a development strategy behind a series of next-generation powertrains with global roll-out starting in 2011. The word "sky" reflects Mazda's desire to deliver driving pleasure while helping to ensure blue skies and clean air for future generations. To achieve this, Mazda engineers have adopted a "sky's the limit" approach, and are embracing unconventional thinking in their pursuit of ultimate powertrain efficiency.

"Improving fuel efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions is not just a goal at Mazda, it's part of our business plan; we will make vehicles that are safer for our environment," said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations. "We will increase our fuel economy globally by 30 percent by 2015 and offer affordable eco-friendly vehicles to all Mazda customers, not to just a limited segment of the market. The SKY Concept powertrains will play a big part in making this happen."

The all-new next-generation SKY Concept powertrains are the product of Mazda's ongoing Sustainable Zoom-Zoom strategy. These technologies are about a year away from launch, and are being developed using unique innovative Mazda engineering spirit. The SKY-G (gasoline-based) and SKY-D (diesel-based) concept engines will deliver the sporty driving experience that Mazda is known for, coupled to superior eco-friendliness. Fuel economy will improve 15 percent on the SKY-G and 20 percent on the SKY-D, with a simultaneous increase in torque.

Another key element of the SKY Concept is the all new SKY-Drive automatic transmission. SKY-Drive is a unique six-speed automatic transmission that offers driving feel comparable to a dual clutch transmission, while also improving fuel economy by five percent compared to Mazda's current automatic six-speed transmission.

These new eco-friendly products - combined with weight reductions of 100 kg (220 lbs.) on next-generation vehicles, improved aerodynamic design to reduce drag, and the introduction of electric devices like the fuel-saving stop/start system called i-stop (currently available in Japan and Europe) - will help Mazda meet its stated goal of improving the average fuel economy of its global line-up by 30 percent, with a drop in CO2 emissions of 23 percent (compared to 2008) by the year 2015. And because the combination of these developments improves the basic performance of all products in the Mazda line-up, it will make eco-friendliness available to all Mazda customers, not just a select few who buy a niche product.

Celebrating its 40th Anniversary in the United States in 2010, Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif. and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario; and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.