Usually, you have to choose between fuel efficiency and performance. However, Mazda breaks the rule with its engineering approach called Mazda SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY. Since 2011, this strategy has focused on improving both power and efficiency by rethinking not just the engine but also the transmission, body, and chassis. A lot of folks think SKYACTIV is just about the engine, but it’s really about the entire package coming together.
Understanding Mazda SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY: Efficiency and Performance
Transmissions
Mazda offers two SKYACTIV gearboxes: the SKYACTIV-DRIVE 6-speed automatic and the SKYACTIV-MT 6-speed manual. The automatic combines the best features of conventional automatics, continuously variable transmissions, and dual-clutch systems, resulting in improved torque efficiency and a driving feel close to a manual gearbox.
Mazda reports that their first SKYACTIV automatic boosted fuel economy by four to seven percent. On the manual side, the SKYACTIV-MT, found in the MX-5 Miata and Mazda3 Hatchback, features a short throw, which makes it deliver quicker, precise shifts.
Platform
One of the easiest ways to get better fuel economy is by trimming weight, and that’s exactly what Mazda set out to do with its SKYACTIV platform. The body is 8% lighter than before but also 30% more rigid, thanks to high-tensile steel and a frame design that keeps things as straight as possible. That same thinking went into the chassis as well, which dropped about 14% in weight.
Engines
SKYACTIV-G
Mazda’s SKYACTIV-G engine improves efficiency by running a 13:1 compression ratio. For reference, most gas engines don’t go much higher than 10:1. That’s no easy feat, but the automaker pulled it off by giving the engine a 4-2-1 exhaust system, specially shaped pistons, and multi-hole fuel injectors.
SKYACTIV-D
Mazda took a different approach with their diesel engines. Instead of upping the pressure like most diesel engine makers, they lowered the compression ratio to 14:1, one of the lowest in the world. That little trick keeps things cooler inside the engine, which means fewer emissions and smoother fuel mixing. And with less friction to fight against, Mazda says you’ll see a nice little bump in fuel economy (around 4 to 5%).
SKYACTIV-X
SKYACTIV-X combines the best parts of diesel and gasoline engines with none of the downsides. It cranks up the compression with a super-lean fuel-air mix, then uses a spark to ignite just a small, dense portion. That jumpstarts the rest of the mixture to burn under pressure (kind of like a diesel), making the combustion faster and cleaner. According to Mazda, SKYACTIV-X improves efficiency by nearly 30% compared to their already very effective SKYACTIV-G engine.
To know more about the technologies Mazda has packed into their latest models, stop by SouthWest Mazda in Lawton, OK. We’re certain you’ll be impressed.
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