New Fuel-Efficient Mazda CX-5 Gets New Diesel Engine – On Sale Spring 2012
The new Mazda CX-5 will go on sale Spring 2012 in Japan, with a line up including a new, enviromentally-friendly diesel engine with fuel economy of 18.6 KM / liter (43.75 MPG) under the JC08 testing cycle, putting at the top of the league for the SUV class.
The CX-5 is the first to use the firm’s Skyactiv technology across the range, and will be unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in December. The new 2.2 liter diesel engine boasts two different types of forced induction as well as an idling reduction system, as well as a high compression ratio of 14.1 improving the fuel burn efficiency, a gain of about 20% over what would be expected from a standard diesel of this capacity.
Proprietary technology reduces NOx emissions, meeting the latest and most strict regulations. Takashi Yamauchi, the President of Mazda stated: “We are able to offer this diesel for a lower price than typical ‘clean diesels’. We are going to aim at having half the Japan domestic CX-5 sales be of the diesel model.”
This is an incredibly bold target: Anyone who is familiar with the Japan domestic market scene knows that diesels have been in a steady and precipitous decline since the early 2000s due to increasingly strict regulations aimed at improving air quality in cities through reduced particulate emissions.
In fact, at present only 1% of car sales are for diesels. Mazda will not only need to win consumers over to the car itself, but also create a complete reversal in public perceptions that diesel means ‘dirty’. On the other hand, success would give Mazda a leadership role in this market, as well as the strength to go out and tackle other markets such as the EU, where the green credentials of modern diesels are already widely accepted.
As Yamauchi observes: “Currently, there is no market for diesels for historical reasons. At present there are only two Japanese-produced diesel models, and 2 foreign-made models on the market. However, these are specific brands in specific areas. So by launching this car, we are opening up a new area of possibilities.”
