Photo: Mazda
While most carmakers are busy denouncing the evil diesel engines they've been working on for so long and announcing their plans to go full electric in the future, Mazda is doing none of that.
Just a little over a week ago, the Hiroshima-based manufacturer let the world know it has developed the first ever compression-ignited gasoline engine, a breakthrough that would bring fuel efficiency and dynamic performances unheard of before.
Now, a new piece of information has surfaced, and even though this one isn't as innovative as the HCCI engine (called SkyActiv-X) technology we mentioned before, it's still exciting enough. That's because it could point toward a new performance-oriented model in Mazda's lineup.
The patent applications show a four-cylinder engine that uses two turbochargers (nothing special so far) as well as one electrically-driven supercharger. This setup allows the triple-charged mill to reach high levels of power across the entire rpm range by using the electric unit at low revs (thus eliminating any trace of turbo lag) and the two air-spooled units at higher revs.
As we've said, the idea isn't entirely new as Volvo had a similar design almost three years ago. The Swedes managed to squeeze 450 hp out of two liters of displacement, which is promising.
The best bit is that, based on the technical drawings, the engine is designed to be used in a rear-wheel-drive car. The only one in Mazda's arsenal at the moment is the MX-5 roadster, but we doubt the Japanese would ever put so much power under the hood of a Miata.
Plus, there are also the size and complexity aspects, the latter of which also raises the costs. The MX-5 is an accessible, fun car, and Mazda would be crazy to change that.
No, if this engine were to ever see the light of day, it would do so in a different model. A long overdue RX-8 successor would make the most sense, but then again everybody would expect the RX-9 to use a Wankle engine. This new unit would provide a competitive alternative regarding the power to weight ratio, but the die-hard fans might disagree.
Now, a new piece of information has surfaced, and even though this one isn't as innovative as the HCCI engine (called SkyActiv-X) technology we mentioned before, it's still exciting enough. That's because it could point toward a new performance-oriented model in Mazda's lineup.
The patent applications show a four-cylinder engine that uses two turbochargers (nothing special so far) as well as one electrically-driven supercharger. This setup allows the triple-charged mill to reach high levels of power across the entire rpm range by using the electric unit at low revs (thus eliminating any trace of turbo lag) and the two air-spooled units at higher revs.
As we've said, the idea isn't entirely new as Volvo had a similar design almost three years ago. The Swedes managed to squeeze 450 hp out of two liters of displacement, which is promising.
The best bit is that, based on the technical drawings, the engine is designed to be used in a rear-wheel-drive car. The only one in Mazda's arsenal at the moment is the MX-5 roadster, but we doubt the Japanese would ever put so much power under the hood of a Miata.
Plus, there are also the size and complexity aspects, the latter of which also raises the costs. The MX-5 is an accessible, fun car, and Mazda would be crazy to change that.
No, if this engine were to ever see the light of day, it would do so in a different model. A long overdue RX-8 successor would make the most sense, but then again everybody would expect the RX-9 to use a Wankle engine. This new unit would provide a competitive alternative regarding the power to weight ratio, but the die-hard fans might disagree.
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