Mazda's new diesel engine with ultra-low consumption and emissions

Mazda's history is full of important technological challenges that the brand has been proudly incorporating into its complete automotive baggage.

Oliver Thansan
Oliver Thansan
13 March 2023 Monday 23:00
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Mazda's new diesel engine with ultra-low consumption and emissions

Mazda's history is full of important technological challenges that the brand has been proudly incorporating into its complete automotive baggage. Since 1931, the Japanese brand has made technology its main reason for being, as demonstrated by the 1960 R360, the world's first car with a rotary engine.

The obsession with quality and technology, hand in hand with the evolution of the car, has led Mazda to manufacture the new CX-60, an advanced SUV that becomes the flagship of the brand. A leap into the Premium universe that marks an exciting turning point in the cars of the Hiroshima firm. With the CX-60, Mazda rethinks human-focused technology to refine the driving experience and meet the needs of every driver more than ever.

With electrification very present throughout the range, especially in the European market due to the demanding regulations on CO₂ emissions, Mazda now surprises with a new six-cylinder diesel engine for its flagship, the CX-60. In other words, in addition to the e-Skyactiv PHEV versions, with plug-in hybrid technology, Mazda incorporates a totally new e-Skyactiv D 3.3-liter six-cylinder diesel engine into the CX-60 range. Later will come a gasoline engine (e-Skyactiv X 3.0) also six-cylinder.

Be that as it may, the fact that the brand offers a diesel version of the CX-60 responds to the "multi-solution" strategy which, in this case, meets the needs of customers looking for an efficient car to cover long distances and with a large towing capacity. (up to 2,500 kg).

It is also evidence, whatever they say in Brussels, that diesel is still a perfectly valid technology for cars of a certain weight and size.

This six-cylinder format diesel engine offers, among other virtues, a perfect balance by reducing vibrations, while emitting a clean and pleasant sound. If you have ever driven a car with a six-cylinder engine, you will understand this appreciation better.

Mazda's e-Skyactiv-D engine is available in two power variants, 200 and 254PS, and ultra-low emissions thanks to DCPCI (Partial Premix Distribution Controlled Compression Ignition) Clean Combustion technology. This means, when it comes to driving and in terms of practicality, DCPCI technology allows a more agile response from the engine and a thermal efficiency greater than 40%. Thus, this advanced six-cylinder diesel engine incorporates other innovations to make it truly efficient. For example, the engine can work for a long time with a lean mixture so that combustion is as efficient as possible and thus drastically reduce consumption.

Mazda completes this diesel technology with the 48V M Hybrid Boost light hybrid system that incorporates a small electric motor that helps reduce fuel consumption and emissions. In addition, this technology allows the CX-60 e-Skyactiv D to benefit from the advantages of the DGT ECO label in our market.

Pleasant and quiet to drive, the 200 hp e-Skyactiv D version has a maximum torque of 450 Nm between 1,400 and 3,000 rpm. This version has rear-wheel drive, an eight-speed automatic transmission and a consumption of only 5 liters with emissions of 128 g/km of CO₂.

For its part, the 254-hp e-Skyactiv D incorporates Mazda i-Activ AWD all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic gearbox. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 7.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 219 km/h. And consumption remains at an austere 5.2-5.3 liters on average, depending on equipment.

Another advantage of mild hybridization combined with a refined diesel engine is that it improves the car's environmental performance. In other words, the CX-60 e-Skyactiv D, whether it is 200 or 254 hp, takes advantage of the energy that is produced during braking or deceleration to help the combustion engine at less efficient moments.

Thus, in certain circumstances, the diesel engine can come to a stop and facilitate what is called "sailing". In other words, a way to save fuel and contribute to highly ecological driving.