bron: Mazda-news.eu
SKYACTIV-D Part IV: A story of success
21. Feb, 2013
Mazda could go on and on about the SKYACTIV-D and how revolutionary it really is. But what ultimately matters is the response from the market. And, indeed, they’re shouting about it. In comparison tests of the newest diesel-powered Mazdas. At awards ceremonies. And, most importantly, in showrooms around the globe.
Car of the Year. Technology of the Year. Automotive Hall of Fame. SUV of the Year. Green SUV. Test winner. Innovation prize. The list goes on as Mazda cleans up with the SKYACTIV-D engine in the CX-5 compact crossover SUV and, more recently, its all-new Mazda6 flagship. In Japan, for example, the SKYACTIV-D’s market success has been as unmistakable as it is unusual . Four in five CX-5s sold in Japan (where it was crowned Japan’s “2012-13 Car of the Year” as jurors lauded its “revolutionary” clean diesel technology) are powered by a SKYACTIV-D 2.2 – remarkable in a country where diesel passenger cars hold a miniscule 0.4% market share. The CX-5 with SKYACTIV-D was also admitted to Japan’s Automotive Hall of Fame, finishing first in the “2012-13 Car Technology of the Year” category. Mazda researchers, meanwhile, received the Technological Development Award from Automotive Engineers of Japan (JSAE) for their achievements with Mazda’s single nanocatalyst technology, which broadens the capabilities of automotive catalytic converters while at the same time reducing the use of rare platinum metals by as much as 50%. This technology can be found in the SKYACTIV-D’s diesel particulate filter.
The reception in Europe has been enormous, too. In Germany in both the CX-5 and the new Mazda6, it’s beaten just about every other comparable engine. For example, a January 2013 comparison of six mid-sized diesel wagons by Germany’s Auto Bild saw the latter win clearly, delivering among other things the best performance and far better fuel economy than its rivals. The CX-5 has also attracted a great deal of attention, with the “unrivalled” SKYACTIV-D as its “masterpiece”. This combination has been named “Car of the Year” by media in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, best SUV in France and Spain, and best buy as well as best crossover in the UK.
There is no let-up in sight, either. A SKYACTIV-D 2.2 will contend for the 2013 International Engine of the Year awards to be handed out in June at Engine Expo in Stuttgart, Germany. The Mazda6, only launched very recently in Europe and Japan, still has many reviews in front of it and is slated to be offered with the SKYACTIV-D in North America, too, later this year. Mazda will then become the first Asian automaker to offer a clean diesel-powered passenger car in that market.
Indeed, one clear advantage of the SKYACTIV-D is the fact that it meets strict emissions regulations without requiring NOx aftertreatment in Japan and North America as well as Europe. This helps keep the price down since, unlike some competitors, Mazda does not need to offer special green versions of their diesel-powered models in any of these markets. Praised in Europe, the uncompromising characteristics of the SKYACTIV-D – class-beating output, fuel economy, emissions and smoothness – give it the potential to change the negative attitudes towards diesels that prevail in places like the U.S. as it already appears to be well on its way to doing in Japan. So it’s no wonder that Mazda has doubled / tripled?? annual SKYACTIV-D production to XXX,000 units, something possible thanks to the flexible manufacturing concept at Mazda’s ultra-efficient Hiroshima engine plant.
Here’s what they’re saying
Quotes about the SKYACTV-D
UK
“The engine is spectacular, thanks to its mix of perky power delivery, excellent refinement and super-low running costs.”
- What Car? “Mazda CX-5 Crossover 2.2D SKYACTIV-D 150 SE-L 5dr Review”
“If mpg and low CO2 is your priority then the front-wheel drive 150PS diesel emits just 119g/km and manages 61.4mpg on the combined cycle. Figures that easily beat the likes of the Audi Q3 and Ford Kuga, while matching up against the Skoda Yeti Greenline II.”
- roadtestreports.co.uk, “Mazda CX-5 Sport SKYACTIV-D road test report”
“…both variants of the SKYACTIV-D diesel engine are truly impressive…creamily smooth, surprisingly keen to rev to the redline and enthusiastically muscular in the mid-range…easily capable of giving its Nissan and Audi rivals a bit of bloody nose.”
- carmagazine.co.uk, “Mazda CX-5 2.2D (2012) UK CAR review”
GERMANY
“The hour of truth has come for the new Mazda6, which faces five qualified mid-sized wagons. And wins easily… the refined 150 PS 2.2-litre diesel is smooth and frugal. There is not a whole lot the other five candidates can do about it…if one thing is true for all of them, it’s that progress moves quickly. Especially at Mazda.”
- Auto Bild, #03/2013, “Five against the 6 – First comparison for the new Mazda6 wagon 2.2 SKYACTIV-D” (vs. Hyundai i40 1.7 CRDi, Toyota Avensis 2.2 D-4D, Renault Laguna dCi 150, Opel Insignia 2.0CDTi, Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi)
“The absolute masterstroke on the Mazda is its powertrain. Together with the crisp six-speed gearbox, the powerful, high-revving and clean 2.2-litre twin-turbodiesel propels the CX-5 as acceleration and fuel economy champion into fifth place.”
- Auto Zeitung, #17/2012, “SUV Comparison Test of 14 popular AWD diesel models” (from Audi and BMW to Range Rover and VW)
“…pleasingly smooth four cylinder delivers usable push starting just above idle and continues to roll beyond 5,000rpms without feeling strained, like it was on petrol…The crème de la crème is without doubt the Mazda diesel, which is among the best currently on the market.”
- Auto Zeitung, #23/2012, “Absolutely in” (SUV comparison test: Mitsubishi Outlander vs Volvo XC60 D3 vs Mazda CX-5, all FWD diesels)
“The Mazda torches its competitors at will…actually managing the 0-100km/h sprint more than 2 seconds faster than the other two.”
- SUV Magazin, #03/2012, “A fresh breeze” (Comparison test: Mazda CX-5 SKY-D 2.2 vs VW Tiguan 2.0 TDi vs Nissan Qashqai 1.6 dCi)
bron:
http://www.mazda-news.eu/2013/02/21/sky ... f-success/