Photo: CarPix
As the automotive industry embraces mild hybridization and full-on electrification as a way to meet future corporate average fuel economy targets, Mazda pushes the envelope in the internal combustion department. The revolutionary Spark Controlled Compression Engine is the highlight, and as you can tell from the decals of the pictured test mules, Mazda means business.
Spied in Germany, the 2019 Mazda3 prototypes are labeled “4” and “5” and pride themselves on dual exhaust tips. The matte black camouflage doesn’t hide anything new in terms of exterior design, nor the interior appears to be that of the next-generation model. For all intents and purposes, the two cars have been created with the purpose to trial SkyActiv-X on public roads.
Even the finer details, including the length of the wheelbase and choice of brake rotors and calipers, don’t reveal anything about what’s actually hiding under the skin. On a closer look, though, you’ll notice that the underbody up front and at the rear isn’t standard.
The business end of SkyActiv-X models comes in the form of a 2.0-liter engine fueled by gasoline. But in comparison to SkyActiv-G and any other existing gasoline engine, this baby needs both spark plugs and diesel-like compression to ignite the fuel-air mixture in the cylinders. Neat stuff, isn’t it?
Combining the best of both worlds, SkyActiv-X technology promises super lean burning. The innate efficiency translates to two results. First of all, an increase in torque of 10 to 30 percent compared to the SkyActiv-G. Then there’s gas mileage, with the 2019 Mazda3 SkyActiv-X said to be 35 to 45 percent more frugal than the equivalent 2018 model with SkyActiv-G 2.0.
In stark comparison to the naturally aspirated plant at the heart of Mazda's current lineup, the SkyActiv-X will benefit from a supercharger, fitted to “improve fuel economy together deliver unprecedented engine response.” Scheduled to go into production in 2019 probably for the 2020 model year, the all-new Mazda3 will soon start testing with the production-ready bodies.
Expect the first pre-production cars to show up in the following months.
Even the finer details, including the length of the wheelbase and choice of brake rotors and calipers, don’t reveal anything about what’s actually hiding under the skin. On a closer look, though, you’ll notice that the underbody up front and at the rear isn’t standard.
The business end of SkyActiv-X models comes in the form of a 2.0-liter engine fueled by gasoline. But in comparison to SkyActiv-G and any other existing gasoline engine, this baby needs both spark plugs and diesel-like compression to ignite the fuel-air mixture in the cylinders. Neat stuff, isn’t it?
Combining the best of both worlds, SkyActiv-X technology promises super lean burning. The innate efficiency translates to two results. First of all, an increase in torque of 10 to 30 percent compared to the SkyActiv-G. Then there’s gas mileage, with the 2019 Mazda3 SkyActiv-X said to be 35 to 45 percent more frugal than the equivalent 2018 model with SkyActiv-G 2.0.
In stark comparison to the naturally aspirated plant at the heart of Mazda's current lineup, the SkyActiv-X will benefit from a supercharger, fitted to “improve fuel economy together deliver unprecedented engine response.” Scheduled to go into production in 2019 probably for the 2020 model year, the all-new Mazda3 will soon start testing with the production-ready bodies.
Expect the first pre-production cars to show up in the following months.
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