Carmaker introduces its new Skyactiv engineering recently in a special Vancouver rollout. Marked by more efficient engines, lighter materials, and more compact designs, it looks to redefine the internal combustion engine with cleaner burning models averaging 40 MPG highway.
John Lewinski
Crave freelancer John Scott Lewinski covers tech, cars, and entertainment out of Los Angeles. As a journalist, he's traveled from Daytona Beach to Cape Town, writing for more than 30 national magazines. He's also a very amateur boxer known for his surprising lack of speed and ability to absorb punishment. E-mail John.
Mazda recently unveiled its new Skyactiv engineering in Vancouver, including a look at new and more fuel-efficient gasoline and diesel engines, lighter transmissions, and refined chassis forged from lighter materials, The end result will be 2012 Mazda models doing 40 mpg on highways.
Refined metallurgy and reclaimed materials help make this new Skyactiv frame and chassis lighter, while maintaining the rigidity necessary to guarantee driver safety. The result is higher mpg when paired with the Skyactiv engines.
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The Mazda Skyactiv suspension and steering
The same improved metallurgy that goes into the Mazda Skyactiv engines, transmission, and chassis helps to create tighter steering and a lighter suspension feel in the newly designed Mazda front end.
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Mazda's new Skyactiv rear suspension setup
To help the new Mazda Skyactiv engines pull down that 40 mpg highway, the rear suspension needed to be lighter and more compact with sport-tuned springs.
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The Mazda Skyactiv-Drive transmission
The Skyactiv-Drive is a redesigned transmission with a lighter shift feel, compact size, and significantly reduced weight.
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The new Mazda Skyactiv drive shaft
While a hands-on experience is the best way to prove it, take our word for it: the new metal formulas found in the Skyactiv drive trains make the essential car part significantly lighter than its 2011 version.
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The Mazda 2012 Skyactiv and 2011 cam and piston designs
Close inspection reveals subtle differences in the size, thickness, and composition of new Skyactiv engine components compared to 2011 versions. The end result is a lighter, more efficient engine capable of 40 mpg.
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The Mazda 2012 Skyactiv
The star of Mazda's Vancouver show was the Skyactiv-G, a high-efficiency, direct-injection gasoline engine with the world's highest compression ratio of 14.0:1.
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Clean burning
The Mazda Skyactiv-D is a clean-burning diesel engine with the a compression ratio of 14.0:1, providing 40 mpg highway in manual and automatic transmission set-ups.
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Mazda prototype 'mules' set to test Skyactiv
Mazda flew in several prototype test cars or "mules" specially equipped with the new 2012 Skyactiv engines. Journalists were allowed to test drive the high performance engines on Vancouver's mountain highways.
