Mazda confirms ‘6’ engines for Australia

MAZDA has confirmed its Mazda6 engine line-up for Australia, saying the all-new mid-sizer will get the latest 2.5-litre SkyActiv-G petrol engine, alongside the alternative 2.2-litre SkyActiv-D diesel that debuted in the CX-5 SUV.

The Japanese company has also confirmed that all Mazda6 models will be equipped with its world-first i-Eloop regenerative braking system that uses a capacitor to store electricity instead of the battery used by most other manufacturers.

The i-Eloop system powers ancillary functions such as climate control and audio system, saving fuel by reducing drag from the alternator and cutting fuel consumption in stop-start driving by up to 10 per cent.

The system will be applied to both petrol and diesel powertrains in the new Mazda6 that broke cover at last week’s Moscow motor show and will be formally launched locally at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney on October 18 ahead of its showroom roll-out in early 2013.

As expected, Mazda Australia has skipped the 2.0-litre version of the petrol engine that will be offered in Europe and Japan (and in the current CX-5), instead continuing with the larger and more powerful petrol unit that will go head to head with similar-sized rivals from Toyota, Honda, Ford, Holden and Subaru.

From top: Mazda's SkyActiv-G engine Mazda6 wagon and sedan.

Part of its new SkyActiv fuel-saving engine family, the 2.5-litre petrol engine generates 138kW of power and 250Nm of torque – 10 per cent and 11 per cent more respectively than the current 125kW 2.5-litre petrol engine in the Mazda6.

According to figures released at the Moscow show, fuel consumption has been slashed by a huge 27 per cent, down from the current 8.8 litres per 100km for the current model with the old 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine to just 6.4L/100km for the new-generation engine of the same size.

The 2.2-litre diesel engine produces 129kW or power and 420Nm of torque in the CX-5, which is less power but more torque than the current Mazda6 diesel (136kW/400Nm).

However, it is unclear if it will be any more fuel-efficient. In the CX5, the diesel uses 5.7L/100km, compared with current Mazda6 diesel’s 5.9L/100km in sedan guise.

This time around, Mazda will offer only a sedan and wagon, dropping the five-door hatch variant that has been popular in Australia.

The innovative i-Eloop (Intelligent Energy Loop) regenerative system comprises a new 12-25-volt variable voltage alternator connected with a low-resistance electric double-layer capacitor.

When the driver lifts off the accelerator and the vehicle decelerates, the alternator goes into 25-volt mode to charge the capacitor with recaptured kinetic energy within seconds.

A DC/DC converter steps down the electricity from 25V to 12V before it is distributed directly to the vehicle's electrical components, while also charging the car’s 12-volt battery when necessary.

Mazda says the i-Eloop system will be applied to other new models as they come into production.