Mazda's SKYACTIV-G Gasoline Engine Named To Ward's 10 Best Engines ListDec 9, 2011-The All-New Gasoline Engine Wins Mazda's 10th Engine Award From WardsAuto World-
IRVINE,
Calif. (December 9, 2011) - SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY, Mazda's all-new
fuel-efficient and performance-oriented engineering technology, has been
available in the North American market for less than two months but
already the awards are piling up. Today,
WardsAuto World named the SKYACTIV-G 2.0- liter gasoline engine a winner of its 2012
Ward's 10 Best Engines
award. The SKYACTIV-G engine is part of the overall SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY
umbrella, which includes innovation new engines and transmissions as
well as stronger and lighter body and chassis systems. These advanced
technologies focus on increasing overall vehicle efficiency through
lightweight materials and improved design while also increasing
responsiveness.
"With
SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY, Mazda has again pushed the boundaries of
convention in order to offer consumers world-class vehicle efficiency,
best-in-class fuel economy and unprecedented driving dynamics in the
form of Zoom-Zoom," said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North
American Operations (MNAO). "Mazda is a passionate brand, focused on
engineering, performance, design and improving on everything in between,
and it is an honor to be recognized for these efforts."
The
SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter gasoline engine features the world's highest
compression ratio for a mass-produced vehicle at 14:1, which is on par
with the world's highest-performance race cars. Tuned for the North
American market, the 2012 Mazda3 features a SKYACTIV-G engine with a
12:1 compression ratio tuned to run on 87-octane regular unleaded
gasoline. EPA-estimated fuel economy is rated at 28 city/40 highway/33
combined.
"There
are a lot of fine new affordable four-cylinder engines available in the
market today, but the SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter engine in the Mazda3 compact
car is the best of the lot," added Tom Murphy, executive editor, WardsAuto World.
"On their score sheets, the WardsAuto editors described this
sophisticated engine as 'smooth,' 'frisky' and 'fascination,' with an
unusually high compression ratio. That's a sign of high thermal
efficiency, and we confirmed that by getting more than 34 mpg during our
overall test drive."
Other
highlights of the SKYACTIV-G engine include a 4-2-1 exhaust system,
cavity pistons, multi-hole injectors and other redesigned innovations,
all contributing to overall reductions in weight and engine friction. A
dual sequential valve timing (S-VT) intake assists in minimizing pumping
losses. When compared to the company's MZR 2.0-liter gasoline engine,
Mazda's engineering modifications led to a five percent increase in
horsepower, 10 percent increase in high-end torque and a 21 percent
increase in fuel economy in the Mazda3.
In its 18th year, the Ward's 10 Best Engines
competition focuses on all-new or significantly improved engines.
Thirty-five individual powertrain nominees were comprehensively tested
over a two-month period by WardsAuto
editors. The 2012 competitors included electric vehicles as well as all
the winners from the previous awards year, and no vehicle's base price
was more than $55,000.
This is the 10th Ward's 10 Best Engines
distinction awarded to Mazda. Mazda's last win was in 2008 with the MZR
2.3-liter Direct-Injection Spark Ignition (DISI) turbocharged engine,
which is currently available on the high-performance MAZDASPEED3 compact
five-door and CX-7 mid-size SUV.
Mazda
North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and
oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of
Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly
900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc.,
located in Ontario; and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico
City.
SKYACTIV is a registered trademark of Mazda Motor Corporation.