Mazda is actively involved in technology development projects to help achieve a sustainable society.
Founded on the Sustainable Zoom-Zoom long-term vision for technology development, SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY has been developed which is an umbrella name for a range of breakthrough, new-generation technologies that dramatically improve driving pleasure as well as outstanding environmental and safety performance. In 2011, SKYACTIV-G was implemented in the new Demio, and SKYACTIV-G and SKYACTIV-DRIVE was implemented in the new Axela/Mazda3.
Mazda launched the CX-5 in Japan in February 2012. It was the first vehicle to incorporate the full range of SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY including the gasoline/diesel engine, transmission, body, and chassis. Moving forward, Mazda will gradually launch the all-new Atenza/Mazda6 that incorporate the full range of SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY, globally starting in the second half of 2012. Mazda also plans to sequentially introduce more models featuring the full range of SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY.
This new-generation clean diesel engine achieves the world's lowest*1 compression ratio (14.0:1) for a diesel engine for a mass production vehicle and will comply with exhaust gas emissions regulations globally without the use of expensive NOx aftertreatment systems, such as urea SCR and NOx adsorption catalyst (LNT).
- 20% better fuel efficiency compared with previous model thanks to the low compression ratio of 14.0:1
- A new two-stage turbocharger realizes smooth and linear response at low and high engine speeds, and greatly increases low- and high-end torque (up to the 5,200 rpm rev limit)
- Complies with global exhaust gas emissions regulations (Euro6 in Europe, Tier2Bin5 in North America, and the Post New Long-Term Regulations in Japan), without using expensive NOx after treatment systems
- *1Mazda data as of November 2011
This new-generation, highly efficient direct-injection gasoline engine overcomes the problem of knocking (abnormal combustion) normally associated with high-compression ratios, to achieve a compression ratio of 14.0:1*2, the world's highest*3 for a mass produced gasoline automobile engine.
- World's first gasoline engine for mass production vehicles to achieve a high compression ratio of 14.0:1
- Significantly improved engine efficiency thanks to the high compression combustion, resulting in 15% increases in fuel efficiency and torque compared with previous models*1
- Improved everyday driving thanks to increased torque at low- and mid-engine speeds
- A 4-2-1 exhaust system, cavity pistons, multirole injectors and other innovations enable the high compression ratio
- *2Compression ratios and employed technologies vary with specifications for fuel and vehicle models.
- *31.3 L-class mass production vehicles fueled with regular gasoline (Mazda data as of May 2011)
Six-speed automatic transmission with a direct driving feel combines all advantages of a variety of transmission systems.
- Combines all the advantages of continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), dual-clutch transmissions and conventional automatic transmissions.
- A dramatically widened lock-up range improves torque transfer efficiency and realizes a direct driving feel that is equivalent to a manual transmission.
- Helps achieve a 4 - 7% improvement in fuel economy compared to current transmissions.
A new-generation manual transmission with a light shift feeling, compact size and significantly reduced weight
- A light and crisp shift feel like that of a sports car
- Reduced weight and compact size
The lightweight vehicle body achieves both high rigidity that enhances driving pleasure and the highest levels of crash safety performance.
- High rigidity and light weight (8 percent *4lighter, 30 percent *4more rigid)
- Crash safety performance that meets the top criteria for crash safety assessments in all markets (US-NCAP, Euro-NCAP, IIHS, JNCAP, etc.)
[Technology]
- Body construction
- Straightening: To make the basic frame design as straight a line as possible.
- Continuous Framework: Each section functions in a coordinated manner with the other sections of the framework (a ring structure) design.
- Multiple-load paths: To disperse the load of the impact during a crash, this construction absorb the load at the time of a crash by dispersing it in multiple directions.
- Engineering processes:
Adoption of weld-bonded joints and a significantly increased number of spot welding points contributes to the achievement of excellent body rigidity. - Materials:
Mazda has greatly increased its use of high-tensile steel, which has excellent strength and rigidity.
In pursuit of the oneness between car and driver achieved in the MX-5 (Roadster), the lightweight SKYACTIV-CHASSIS enables the driver to experience true driving pleasure while improving the driver's sense of comfort and security.
- The suspension and steering functions have been completely redesigned to attain the sense of driving pleasure of oneness between driver and vehicle.
- Driving quality has been raised to new levels through improvements to comfort and security.
- A newly developed front strut and rear multi-link suspension system and electric power steering have been adopted to achieve improved performance as well as a chassis 14% lighter*4 than previous models
- *4Figures are for CD-segment car (Atenza/Mazda6 class)
[Aims of SKYACTIV–CHASSIS]
- ① Combination of low- to mid-speed agility and high-speed stability
- Achievement of ideal vehicle movement according to vehicle speed (reexamination of rear suspension geometry and adoption of a higher steering gear ratio)
- Increases in caster angle and caster trail
- ② Balance between ride comfort and low- to mid-speed agility
- Reduction of rear suspension impact shock
- ③ Simultaneous achievement of weight reduction and excellent rigidity
- Lightweight cross member with high rigidity
A vehicle's weight affects its performance in many ways. Lighter vehicles not only perform better in terms of the basic functions of driving, turning and stopping, but also in terms of economic and environmental performance, as represented by fuel economy. Mazda is moving forward with a range of approaches to reduce the weight of its vehicles.
New models from 2011 onward achieve weight reductions of 100 kg or more through the incorporation of SKYACTIV-CHASSIS and SKYACTIV-BODY technologies.
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