A few months after the reveal of the fourth-generation Mazda 3, details of the available SkyActiv-X engine have been revealed for the European market. The info comes from Mazda’s Slovakian website, which also includes a number of drivelines.
As a recap, the SkyActiv-X petrol powerplant uses the company’s Spark Controlled Compression Ignition (SPCCI), whereby compression pressure ignites the fuel/air mixture to produce power, with a spark plug to control ignition timing at specific periods.
Improvements include better torque and fuel efficiency when compared to the current crop of SkyActiv-G petrol engines, with gains of up to 30% being claimed at the time. Looking at the source document, the compression ignition engine serves up 178 hp and 222 Nm of torque, but there’s no mention of the engine’s displacement.
Previous prototypes, including those sampled by our sister site paultan.org/BM, featured a 2.0 litre unit, and we expect this to remain true here. There’s also no mention of the M Hybrid system attached to the engine, which is a mild hybrid system that utilises an e-motor generator to recover energy when braking to make the stop-start system operate more smoothly.
The document also lists a more conventional SkyActiv-G engine option that makes 120 hp and 213 Nm for models bearing ‘SkyActiv-G122’. Referring to other European press releases, this is a 2.0 litre unit, although it makes a lot less power than the engine found in our current Mazda 3 (162 hp and 210 Nm). This follows the same structure set for the previous Mazda 3, with markets in Asia and the United States receiving a higher engine tune.
Rounding up the list of available engines offered for the Slovakian market are models with the ‘SkyActiv-D116’ designation, which points at the Mazda’s new 1.8 litre turbodiesel. The oil burner was first introduced with the facelifted CX-3, and replaces the previous 1.5 litre unit, making 114 hp and 270 Nm on the latest Mazda 3.
Depending on the engine selected, transmission options include both a six-speed manual and six-speed automatic, with Mazda’s i-Activ all-wheel drive system available as well.
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