Mazda’s new Skyactiv-X engine is set to be the first compression ignition petrol unit to be put into mass production.
It is due to be launched in 2019, in conjunction with a new vehicle platform that the Japanese manufacturer says will underpin its future models.
According to Mazda, the Skyactiv-X engine, which uses Spark Controlled Compression Ignition (SCCI), will combine the economy and torque of a diesel engine with the performance and lower emissions of a petrol unit. Our test of an early development engine certainly hinted at a unit combining diesel and petrol characteristics.
Our rundown of Mazda's Skyactiv-X technology
Our test involved driving development cars with both manual and automatic drivetrains, featuring the 2.0-litre Skyactiv-X engine. The cars were based on Mazda’s new platform, and housed in a current Mazda 3 shell. The engines we tried were fresh from Japan and performance data wasn’t available (Mazda engineers said it hadn’t been properly dyno-tested yet) with speed limited to 100mph.
Mazda has yet to confirm which models will be the first to be launched with the new engine and platform, although as one of Mazda’s key models in both the US and Europe, the 3 family hatchback would be a natural choice.
The test route was based on Mazda’s European technical centre in Oberursel, near Frankfurt in Germany. It encompassed country roads and city streets, along with a short stretch of autobahn – enough to get a good impression of the Skyactiv-X engine in a range of environments.
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A34
Good but not a revolution
Looking at the Honest John public mpg figures we see 38-43 mpg for Mazda 3 2.0 petrols vs 46-49 mpg for diesel. Petrol + 14% means say 43-48mpg for petrol... but likely they will improve the diesel a tad too. Vs a Golf say where the GTE is reported at 57 mpg, or 1.4TSi at 43 - 48 mpg... hmmm similar numbers!
Einarbb
Why not produce a downsized turbocharged version of this engine?
Perhaps it's possible to repeat the trick with this new style of petrol engines - to downsize 'em and turbocharge -- maybe receicing + 14% mileage in comparison with 1.4Tsi.
xxxx
Not a revolution. Ask Honda
"first compression ignition petrol unit " actually no, Honda did it with the CRM motorcycle, raced it in the Paris-Dakar and produced it and put it into general sale with the CRM 250 AR.
It was a 2 stoke but used the same prinicpal as the Skyactive-X in that it used auto-ignition in certain circumstances and the spark plug at other times.
Want some history,well there's some of these Compression Ignition Bikes on Ebay.
typos1 - Just can’t respect opinion
LP in Brighton
If it's compression ignition, then surely it's a diesel?
Surely this is a Diesel engine by definition, albeit one running on petrol. I am sure the attraction is to use a very high compression ratio to achieve thermal efficiency closer to a traditional diesel, but I doubt if it is possible to replicate diesel mpg figures, since petrol has a lower density and much lower calorific value.
One problem that Mazda must solve is how to control NOx, which is usually a bi product of high temperatures and rapid combustion in the most efficient engines.
Peter Cavellini
Hmmm!
My 2017 BMW 320i sport over 3000 miles averaged 46mpg, that's 180bhp mind, for Mazda to make a bold claim i would have expected something in the high 60's...?
Peter Cavellini.
xxxx
Claim of 14% improvement, on it's own it's not good enough
My father in laws A3 COD (140bhp) gets 52 mpg + loads of torque when compared to a NA ICE. Does this mead COD + a turbo is more useful than compression ignition, yes.
The question is does it work with small Turbo engines? If not it'll remain of limited use.
typos1 - Just can’t respect opinion
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