June 12, 2019 02:59 AM

Mazda opens orders for Mazda3 with fuel-saving Skyactiv-X tech

The first deliveries in Europe for Mazda3 cars with Skyactiv-X are scheduled for September.

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.

Mild hybrid

The Skyactiv-X powertrain is equipped with a 24-volt mild-hybrid system as standard. The mild-hybrid technology aims at increasing fuel economy and lowering emissions by recycling energy recovered during deceleration that powers an electric motor that assists the engine.

The Skyactiv-X engine is available on the hatchback and sedan Mazda 3 versions, with a choice of six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions.

The Skyactiv-X engine will also be available on the CX-30 crossover unveiled at the Geneva auto show in March. CX-3 deliveries will start in Europe in the summer.

Running on regular gasoline, SPCCI works by compressing the fuel-air mix at a much higher compression ratio, with a very lean mix, Mazda says. The Skyactiv-X engine uses a spark to ignite only a small, dense amount of the fuel-air mix in the cylinder.