Mazda's SKYACTIV®-G Gasoline Engine Named to Ward's 10 Best Engines List

IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- SKYACTIV®[1] TECHNOLOGY, Mazda's all-new fuel-efficient and performance-oriented engineering technology, has been available in the North American market  for less than two months but already the awards are piling up.  Today, WardsAuto World named the SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter gasoline engine a winner of its 2012 Ward's 10 Best Engines award.  The SKYACTIV-G engine is part of the overall SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY umbrella, which includes innovative new engines and transmissions as well as stronger and lighter body and chassis systems.  These advanced technologies focus on increasing overall vehicle efficiency through lightweight materials and improved design while also increasing responsiveness.

"With SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY, Mazda has again pushed the boundaries of convention in order to offer consumers world-class vehicle efficiency, best-in-class fuel economy and unprecedented driving dynamics in the form of Zoom-Zoom," said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO).  ""Mazda is a passionate brand, focused on engineering, performance, design and improving on everything in between, and it is an honor to be recognized for these efforts."

The SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter gasoline engine features the world's highest compression ratio for a mass-produced vehicle at 14:1, which is on par with the world's highest-performance racecars.  Tuned for the North American market, the 2012 Mazda3 features a SKYACTIV-G engine with a 12:1 compression ratio tuned to run on 87-octane regular unleaded gasoline.  EPA-estimated fuel economy is rated at 28 city/40 highway/33 combined.

"There are a lot of fine new affordable four-cylinder engines available in the market today, but the SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter engine in the Mazda3 compact car is the best of the lot," added Tom Murphy, executive editor, WardsAuto World.  "On their score sheets, the WardsAuto editors described this sophisticated engine as 'smooth,' 'quick,' 'frisky' and 'fascinating,' with an unusually high compression ratio.  That's a sign of high thermal efficiency, and we confirmed that by getting more than 34 mpg during our overall test drive."

Other highlights of the SKYACTIV-G engine include a 4-2-1 exhaust system, cavity pistons, multi-hole injectors and other redesigned innovations, all contributing to overall reductions in weight and engine friction.  A dual sequential valve timing (S-VT) intake assists in minimizing pumping losses.  When compared to the company's MZR 2.0-liter gasoline engine, Mazda's engineering modifications led to a five percent increase in horsepower, 10 percent increase in high-end torque and a 21 percent increase in fuel economy in the Mazda3.

In its 18th year, the Ward's 10 Best Engines competition focuses on all-new or significantly improved engines.  Thirty-five individual powertrain nominees were comprehensively tested over a two-month period by WardsAuto editors.  The 2012 competitors included electric vehicles as well as all the winners from the previous awards year, and no vehicle's base price was more than $55,000. 

This is the 10th Ward's 10 Best Engines distinction awarded to Mazda.  Mazda's last win was in 2008 with the MZR 2.3-liter Direct-Injection Spark Ignition (DISI) turbocharged engine, which is currently available on the high-performance MAZDASPEED3 compact five-door and CX-7 mid-size SUV.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers.  Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario; and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.

For more information on Mazda vehicles, visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com.  Product B-roll may be ordered online by visiting The News Market at www.thenewsmarket.com/mazda. 

[1] SKYACTIV is a registered trademark of Mazda Motor Corporation.

SOURCE Mazda North American Operations