Mazda to launch efficient engines for 2011
August 21, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Mazda has announced today that it has developed a new range of engines that will exceed the strict new CAFE regulations looming on the horizon.
The engines, both four-cylinder and rotary, will hit the market by 2011 and will be the Japanese brand’s first major step towards it goal of achieving a 30 per cent improvement in fleet fuel economy by 2015.
The new four-cylinder powerplant will be based on the company’s existing 2.0-litre engine but will feature better technology – including a new six-speed automatic transmission – to drive down fuel consumption figures to an average in the low 6.0 litre per 100km mark (average).
“We want to provide this technology to all owners, not just through a few eco-friendly vehicles,” said Mazda’s R&D boss, Seita Kanai.
Mazda didn’t say which model would be first to receive the new engine, but did say it would not be able to be retrofitted to any of the brand’s current line-up, ruling out a Mazda3 make-over. That does however leave the powertrain available to the next generation MX-5.
On the rotary front, Mazda is also readying a new 1.6-litre unit for use in its next generation RX-8.
The new rotary engine will be lighter than the existing 1.3-litre unit and will also develop more power and torque while achieving fuel economy gains of around one-third. If those figures are accurate expect a combined average fuel consumption figure of 7.8L/100km.
Mazda also said it it has no plans to improve its V6 engines, which are currently sourced from Ford.
Print it: 
That’s a bit weird.
A new range of econo engines that cannot be fitted to any current vehicle in their range????
Do they need steel wheels or something to get low rolling resistance?
Good job Mazda. How many sales do you think you will loose because people will want to wait not only for the new engine. But also to see what you are going to put it in?
The Salesman, most people won’t know about the new cars. Us Carsguide fans are a priveleged few, most people I know would have no idea till three months after the new stuff was released.
I think its fair enough, they want to do a good job on these and they want returns. Retrofitting engines doesn’t give them the publicity they want for the technology, especially to the average joe.
I just wish they’d shave 200-300kg off the MX-5 (its getting terribly fat) and shove a 1.6 twincharged/1.6 supercharged/1.3 rotary engine in it! Oh the wonders.
And I know its not about power and all, but as far as ive heard, not much else can be improved. Besides, have a few extra guts every gone astray? (p.s. besides Mercedes and the SL65)
Course, thats impossible, but we can always dream.
I must be the only person in the world that actually wishes cars would get SMALLER with each passing generation. Im sick of the nice ones getting bigger, with cheap budget crap being inserted underneath them, which only leaves premium-pay-it-up-bigtime brands to buy small quality.
Did you know a 1998 Mazda 323 weighs considerably less than the current MX-5 at about 1100kg? The new one’s around 1400kg, my 1988 Fairlane isn’t much more than that!
(dont call me on those figures… they could very easily be wrong)
Cant they give us new efficient engine-tech AND smaller existing cars.
Nope, because the average consumer wants MOREEEEE. Silly chickens.
TomR, are you sure thats the MX-5 you’re talking about being 1400kgs? IIRC it is around 1100kgs..
About time. The Mazda3 uses around 20% more fuel than the Corolla in the real world ~
I agree TomR :)
Cars should be getting lighter not heavier (and fatter). I would have considered the RX-8 but the weight and subsequent performance scared me off.
Also, I am keen to see what Mazda do with the Rotary in the future…
Tom, I agree that popular models keep getting fatter and bigger.
But, your 1998 Mazda had no airbags and no aircon. The same car today, even if it were the same outside dimensions, would be 150-250kg heavier just from the airbag canisters and the aircon unit.
I still wonder why the new engine could not be retrofitted – the picture shows a completely usual east-west engine layout, it has a normal flywheel, it will presumably run on petrol. Sounds like it may be some bluff for some unknown reason.
About time mazda!!! Its a pity you won’t be touching the V6 engine though, because its a gem! Would like to see a direct injected and forced inducted version of it!!
There were a rumour spread by the designer of the Mazda 2 that the possible 2MPS would have a 1.3 turbo. So where is it?
maybe they will direct-inject all 3 and 5 engines? the DI hardware already exists and is in use on the MPS 2.3 litre engine (along with a turbo).
The 6-speed auto trans. must be the unit they’re developing to also be used with the diesel and turbo petrol engines.
People do and probably will critisize Mazda for taking that much time to get it into the marketplace, but Mazda will do it properly like they always do and not rush it. And, like all their products it will have bulletproof reliability and quality.
@ reckless1: A 1998 Mazda protege came standard with drivers airbag and a/c, and if you stepped up to the astina you got dual front airbags (depending on model grade). Also the picture is of the current MZR engine.
@ AAA: 20% better real world fuel economy! Really! Maybe if you compare a Corolla Ascent to an SP25, but then that would give the Mazda a more than 20% power advantage!
If you compare similar models the official fuel consumption figures show a difference of only 0.2-0.5 litres. In the real world i would bet the Mazda would equal or even beat the Corolla as that 1.8 engine has to be revved quite hard to get the car motivated.
In the end the difference would be negligible, but power advantage goes to Mazda. Toyota really need to upgrade the Corolla’s engine, they’ve fallen behind the rest of the group.