Mazda CX-60 diesel to be among the world’s cleanest

Mazda has revealed efficiency details for the “powerful, clean and efficient” new mild-hybrid 3.3-litre straight-six turbo-diesel engine that will power its new-generation models beginning with the upcoming Mazda CX-60 from 2023.

Confirmed for Australian release later this year, the five-seat 2023 Mazda CX-60 will be the first of a range of all-new Large Product group models based on an all-new rear/all-wheel drive platform, making it the Japanese brand’s first ever rear-wheel drive SUV and its first six-cylinder model in about 20 years.

We already know much about what will power the CX-60, including Mazda’s first plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) powertrain (a 2.5-litre four-cylinder unit offering 223kW) and the outputs of the new diesel six that will join it next year, followed by a new 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that should also filter across to other big new Mazda SUVs like the CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90 by the end of 2023.

And Mazda has made much of its holistic approach to real-world emissions reductions in recent years, investing heavily in electrification technology while also continuing its development on combustion engines and the fuels that power them.

The new 3.3-litre in-line six-cylinder diesel is said to be another demonstration of Mazda’s ‘Multi-Solution Approach’, “designed to meet the needs of customers who want an efficient, long distance driving car with great towing capacity”.

Branded as Mazda’s e-Skyactiv D engine, the 3283cc longitudinally-installed common-rail electric direct-injection six-cylinder turbo-diesel features Distribution-Controlled Partially Premixed Compression Ignition (DCPCI) technology – a process which optimises displacement to improve both fuel and power efficiency.

Efficiency is further augmented by a 48-volt M Hybrid Boost system – a mild-hybrid set-up similar to the one in the CX-60’s PHEV powertrain and also utilised by multiple European marques.

According to Mazda, it helps make the e-Skyactiv D unit “one of the cleanest diesel engines in the world, achieving a thermal efficiency of over 40 per cent”.

At least in Europe, the 3.3-litre diesel will be available in two different power outputs in the CX-60: 147kW in rear-wheel drive form and 187kW in all-wheel drive guise, which will also offer 550Nm of torque.

Mazda claims the 187kW AWD version can deliver a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 7.3 seconds, average WLTP fuel consumption of 5.3L/100 km and CO2 emissions of only 137g/km.

The 147kW rear-drive model is more efficient again, with a WLTP-verified fuel average of just 4.9L/100km and CO2 emissions of 127g/km.

At the same time, Mazda, says the engine’s high torque delivery gives the CX-60 diesel a 2500kg braked capacity, while lightweight construction gives it a similar weight to the company’s 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel (which makes 140kW/450Nm in the CX-5 and CX-8), “which helps handling balance”.

“The company’s multi-solution strategy offers different products and technologies – including more efficient internal combustion engines and a wide range of electrified powertrains, that best suit the local market and society’s demand for sustainability,” Mazda said in a statement.

“The in-line six-cylinder configuration produces less vibration due to its characteristic ‘perfect balance’, for a smooth and quiet engine tone, whilst delivering a clean and engaging sound.

“An in-line straight-six 3.0-litre e-Skyactiv petrol engine will join the e-Skyactiv D and e-Skyactiv PHEV to complete the Mazda CX-60 power plant line-up at a later date, offering customers the wide choice of technologically advanced, highly efficient powertrains appropriate to the outstanding levels of craftsmanship and on-board technology offered by the CX-60 model range.”

The diesel development comes as Mazda continues to invest in EV technology as part of the plan for its new-model fleet to be carbon-neutral by 2050.

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