1
NEWS
Mazda reveals downsized diesel
New 1.5-litre SKYACTIV-D turbo-diesel confirmed for new Mazda2; will also power Mazda3Mazda has revealed an all-new downsized turbo-diesel engine that will power the redesigned Mazda2 due on sale here in late October.
As we've reported, the new 2 is unlikely to be available in Australia with diesel power, but Mazda's new 1.5-litre SKYACTIV-D four-cylinder diesel engine will eventually be available here in the Mazda3.
In this application, it would provide Mazda with a mainstream diesel-powered version of Australia's most popular car, priced from under $30,000 and positioned beneath the new Mazda3 XD Astina 2.2-litre diesel sports hatch, which will be released in September priced from about $40,000.
Motoring.com.au revealed Mazda's plan to offer a smaller 1.5-litre SKYACTIV diesel engine last year. It will join the 129kW/420Nm 2.2-litre SKYACTIV-D four-cylinder diesel engine already seen in the CX-5, Mazda6 and, soon, the Mazda3.
Key performance figures of the new 1.497-litre direct-injection engine, which has long-stroke cylinder dimensions with a 76.0mm bore and 82.5mm stroke, include 77kW of power at 4000rpm and 250Nm of torque between 1500 and 2500rpm.
Mazda says the engine therefore offers "outstanding dynamic performance", including peak torque that matches a 2.5-litre petrol engine and "linear acceleration all the way up the RPM range".
Designed primarily to meet new emissions regulations in Japan and Europe, the new SKYACTIV-D 1.5 inline four-cylinder engine supplements 1.3-, 1.5-, 2.0- and 2.5-litre versions of Mazda's SKYACTIV-G four-cylinder petrol engine range.
The downsized "clean diesel" engine incorporates many of the advances already seen in the larger 2.2-litre SKYACTIV-D engine, including a relatively low compression ratio – in this case 14.8:1, which Mazda claims is the lowest of any small-displacement diesel engine.
Also present are Mazda's fuel-saving i-stop idle-stop and i-ELOOP brake regeneration systems, and the new small-bore oil-burner will be matched with (six-speed) SKYACTIV-DRIVE automatic and SKYACTIV-MT manual transmissions.
However, new technologies include an expanded homogenous lean-burn range, further reduction in mechanical resistance and a reduction in cooling losses associated with smaller engine capacity.
In detail, the advances include a variable-geometry turbocharger with rotation sensor, which "delivers plentiful boost pressure from low through to high engine speeds", and an intake manifold-integrated liquid-cooled intercooler to improve acceleration response and turbocharger efficiency.
Also present is combustion mode transition control and "stepped egg-shaped pistons", which Mazda says limit cooling losses by reducing contact between the flame and combustion chamber wall, as well as cooling water control valves (CCV) and water jacket spacers for improved combustion efficiency and reduced mechanical resistance.
"The range of homogeneous lean burn is extended through the adoption of high-pressure EGR and low-pressure EGR systems, resulting in improved fuel economy, environmental performance and performance feel," says Mazda.
Mazda says the result is environmental performance that meets both Japan's Post New Long-term regulations and Euro6 CO2 emission standards without an expensive NOx after-treatment system.
"The SKYACTIV-D 1.5 will ensure the all-new Mazda2 achieves among the highest level test mode fuel economy figures for a vehicle powered solely by combustion engine in registered vehicles excluding hybrid and micro-mini vehicles in Japan, as well as drastically improved practical fuel economy," says Mazda.
Share this article
Written byMarton Pettendy
See all articlesOur team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Stay up to dateBecome a carsales member and get the latest news, reviews and advice straight to your inbox.
Subscribe todayRelated articles
Disclaimer
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
Contact
Advertise with us
International marketplaces
Scan to download the carsales app
Want more info? Here’s our app landing page
App Store and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo
are trademarks of Google LLC.