Mazda has opened orders in Europe for its new-generation Mazda3 compact car equipped with its fuel-saving Skyactiv-X powertrain.
The Skyactiv-X has a gasoline engine with spark plug controlled compression Ignition (SPCCI) technology. Mazda says this is the first commercial gasoline unit to combine the spark ignition of a gasoline engine with the compression ignition of a diesel.
The 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine delivers 180 hp and 224 Newton meters of torque, with CO2 emissions of 122 to 157 grams per km under Europe's new WLTP vehicle testing regime.
This is a reduction of between 5 and 10 percent compared with the Mazda3's regular gasoline engine depending on the body style, gearbox and wheel diameter.
According to Mazda, the Skyactiv-X engine provides drivers with the free-revving performance of a gasoline engine and the superior response of a diesel, plus a reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
The Mazda3 with Skyactiv-X technology is being sold at a higher price than other Mazda3 models. Prices for the Mazda 3 with Skyactiv-X start at 26,790 euros in Germany. Prices for the 2.0-liter gasoline versions start at 23,290 euros.
The fourth-generation Mazda3 is currently being rolled out in Europe with the choice of a 122-hp, 2.0-liter gasoline engine with a 24-volt mild-hybrid system and or a 116-hp, 1.8-liter diesel engine.
The first deliveries in Europe for Mazda3 cars with Skyactiv-X are scheduled for September.
