Radical new future for Mazda  30 | 08 | 2010

JAPANESE GIANT Mazda is poised to launch a series of new developments, including a pair of uniquely engineered ‘Sky’ petrol and diesel engines which should be among the most fuel-efficient engines on sale.

The reinvention of the manufacturer — which it believes will allow it to become an independent global car maker selling 1.2 million cars per year — will also see the introduction of a new multi-purpose platform, a new chassis and suspension set-up and an advanced six-speed automatic gearbox.

According to Mazda officials, the new 2.2-litre Sky diesel — currently being tested in Europe in a Mazda6 — will produce just 105g/km of CO2, while the 2.0-litre petrol engine should manage 130g/km. It's believed the new four-cylinder engines will form the basis of Mazda’s global powertrain strategy and both feature highly unusual engineering solutions.

The new multi-purpose platform is understood to comprise simple box sections which fit together to produce a steel spaceframe, and because it can then be chopped it will be capable of supporting everything from the next Mazda 3 to the next CX-7. The reality is it could be used for 800,000 vehicles a year.