Following Up on the Mazda’s SKYACTIV-D Continuing Release Pushback

The much anticipated turbo diesel is delayed yet again. Possibly indefinitely? I hope not.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Jan. 9, 2014

Mazda’s 2.2L SKYACTIV-D

Anyone remember the conversation that Wxman brought up regarding the 2.2L SKYACTIV-D is meeting Euro VI but missing Tier II/Bin5 NOx emissions targets in late 2012? A little refresher as it was reveled in the UKs detailed automobile emissions profile that the Mazda6 with the 2.2L SLYACTIV-D was easily meeting Europe’s Euro VI regulations, it was still falling significantly short of our own Tier II/Bin5 hard targets.

In the Euro 6 Mazda CX-5 2.2 SKYACTIV-D (175PS) AWD, NOx emissions are certified at 68 mg/km (0.068 g/km). That would be about 0.11 g/mile, which would exceed the Bin 5 0.07 g/mile limit for NOx.

The caveat is that the test duty cycle (FTP) is not identical in the U.S./Canada.

Mazda this morning announced that it has again delayed the 2.2L SKYACTIV-D launch for North America which could be the death knell to its availability in the US. We have spoken with Mazda on numerous occasions and the first setback was the removal of any 6-speed MT availability last year. After that another delay was announced with the last release time table said to be summer of 2014 at the earliest.

In a short PR, Mazda announced that the launch of its SKYACTIV-D clean diesel engine in North America is being further delayed from its spring 2014 announced debut timing.

Mazda said the SKYACTIV-D can meet Tier II/Bin5 in detuned form without the use of a NOx after-treatment system – read SCR with DEF -- it was decided that further development is required to deliver the right balance of fuel economy and performance.

Fortunately they said it was not a close the door and batten down the hatches type situation

2014 Mazda6 with the 2.2L SKYACTIV-D in Europe

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Here are a few of the stories following Mazda’s 2.2L SKYACTIV-D progress from early discussion through today.

• Following Up on the Mazda’s SKYACTIV-D Continuing Release Pushback
  
• Mazda6 diesel postponed for emissions testing delays
  
• Mazda6 2.2L SKYATIV-D in Canada
  
• SKYACTIV-D Equipped Mazda6 Earns Its First Grand-Am Win at Road Atlanta
  
• Mazda6 SKYACTIV-Ds Prepped For This Afternoons Racing Action in Texas
  
• CleanMPG's First Drive Review of the 2014 Mazda6
  
• More on the Much Anticipated 2.2L Mazda6 SKYACTIV-D
  
• 2013 Green Car Technology Award' Goes To Mazda's SKYACTIV Tech
  
• Rolex 24 at Daytona -- Ladies and Gentleman Start Your Turbo Diesel Engines!
  
• Mazda’s 2.2L SKYACTIV-D Enters Japan Automotive Hall of Fame
  
• 2014 Mazda6 with i-Activsense
  
• Mazda’s 2014 Mazda6 And the 2.2L SKYACTIV-D
  
• Mazda’s 2.2L SKYACTIV-D – Still Waiting Word on US Availability
  
• 2014 Mazda6 Unwrapped – New Engine(s) and More Room
  
• Mazda Is Out Of the Automobile Manufacturing Business within the US
  
• The All-New Mazda6 Era Begins Today
  
• 2014 Mazda6 with SKYACTIV-G and i-ELOOP Set For Moscow Release
  
• 2014 Mazda6 Reveal...Ongoing
  
• Mazda Set to Double SKYACTIV-G and -D Engine Production
  
• Mazda Goes Racing With Its SKYATIV-D Turbo Diesel!
  
• CleanMPG Reviews the 2013 Mazda CX-5
  
• Mazda’s 2.2L SKYACTIV Diesel Now In Production
  
• CleanMPG Begins a Review of the 2012 Mazda 3i Touring 5-door with SKYACTIV Technology
  
• Mazda’s Capacitor Based Automotive Regenerative Braking System
  
• Mazda CX-5 SKYACTIV Diesel in Japan. We will receive them If We like It or Not
  
• 2012 May Be the End of Mankind But 2013 Will Be the Year of the Diesel
  
• Mazda’s SKYACTIV Promises…
  
• Mazda’s next-Generation Products to Use SKYACTIV Tech
  
• Mazda takes the Internal Combustion Engine Where It Has Never Gone Before
  
• Mazda i-stop Wins 2010 Technology of the Year Award
  
• Mazda3 with the Idle-Stop and Go system (formally SISS) premiers in Geneva

 

I'd be happy with a gasser with manual and wagon out back. That or the new Civic wagon. Pretty much those two are the only things that would bring me in to buy today. A diesel would be icing on the cake but I can make gas work.

 

I'm starting to think that we'll never see it.

 

Hi Mike:

With the new 2.0L EA288 TDI almost here, I do not think it will matter much even if it does arrive? Mazda has spent a lot of money to promote both the Mazda6 and the SKYACTIV-D in their racing and it sure would be a shame to see half of that effort go to waste.

Wayne

 

Amen, brother! Mazda, you have all the parts to do this, just make it happen already!

 

Hi All:

2014 Mazda SKYACTIV-D powered LMP2 Prototype


In action at Daytona.​

While nobody knows when or if we will ever see the SKYACTIV-D here in the US, Mazda's turbo diesel US racing program continues into its second year. With the GX-Class eliminated, Mazda moved to LMP2 prototype using a new vehicle design and layout while the engine is nearly identical to that used in last year’s Mazda6 race car.

[fflash=right]http://www.youtube.com/v/I4tUTLJBbzk?version=3[/fflash]Mazda’s 2014 SKYACTIV-D powered LMP2 Prototype in action at Daytona.

Everything from the flywheel to the wheels however is all new. Over the course of the 2013 season, the team broke more than a dozen racing driveline components, but no stock Mazda parts.

2014 Mazda Prototype Specifications

As part of its challenger frame of mind, Mazda is the only car company racing in the TUDOR Championship with a diesel engine. The SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel race engine is a true production-based engine and a carry-over from the development work done with the championship winning Mazda6 GX-class racing cars. The engine is 51 percent stock by parts count, and 63 percent stock by weight. Mazda chose this path as it is the most honest way to demonstrate the performance, quality, durability and reliability of Mazda powerplants.

Engine Displacement: 2.2L
Bore x Stroke: 86.0 mm x 94.3 mm (3.39 in x 3.71 in)
Engine Weight: 315 lbs
Horsepower: 450 bhp
Torque: 580 lb-ft
Max. Engine Speed: 5,200 rpm
Engine Block: Production Mazda SKYACTIV (Aluminum)
Camshaft: Dual Overhead
Valves: Four Valves per Cylinder
Cylinder Head: Production Mazda SKYACTIV (Aluminum)
Valve Train Components: Production Mazda SKYACTIV

Transmission: Xtrac 6-speed sequential with paddle shifters

Chassis: Carbon-fiber monocoque coupe

Weight: 1984 lbs – Without driver or fuel

Length: 182.4 in
Width: 78.3 in
Wheelbase: 113.8 in
Top speed: Approximately 186 mph in Daytona aero trim
Fuel: Dynamic Fuels Renewable Diesel
Fuel Capacity: 18.5 gallons

At this year’s 52nd running of the Daytona Rolex 24, Mazda’s Clean Diesel-powered racing Prototype went wheel-to-wheel with some of the world’s fastest sports cars.

The two Mazda SKYACTIV Prototypes started the 2014 running of the endurance classic and over the course of the race, they covered 2,826 miles. The No. 07 car came within an hour of the finish before an oil-pump belt failure caused a loss of oil pressure. The No. 70 car covered over 1,300 miles before it was retired due to overheating caused by a clogged radiator.

While the racing SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel engine itself was a carry-over from the championship-winning 2013 Grand-Am GX Mazda6 racing program, the greatly increased performance demands of this year’s TUDOR United SportsCar Championship Prototype Class, the top class in the series, meant that it was an entirely new program in terms of testing and development.

The car was within 10 percent of the leaders on pace and has a 35-percent advantage in range due to the efficiency of the SKYACTIV-D engine. The car also has a high “clean factor,” using a renewable synthetic diesel fuel supplied by Dynamic Fuels. Mazda Motorsports engineers will now address the radiator and belt issues that sidelined their cars this weekend, and turn their attention to dialing in even more speed as the season progresses.

#07 started 17th and finished 13th in its class, During the race, it suffered cracks in the intercooler resulting in several lengthy pit stops. The death throe arrived when it threw an oil pump belt. With oil pressure lost, the engine was done. It completed 445 laps for a total of 1,584 miles.

#70 started 16th and finished 14th in its class. It was retired due to overheating due to a clogged radiator from track debris. It completed 369 laps for a total of 1,314 miles.

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If Mazda is continuing to push SKYACTIV-D here in the US under its racing program, surely we will eventually see it in consumer form sometime in the near future?

Wayne

 

Hi All:

While we wait for word of a 2.2L SKYACTIV-D in a 2015 6 or 2015 CX-5, Mazda is releasing a 1.5L SKYACTIV-D in Europe. The much anticipated 1.5L will probably go into the new 2 out of Mexico for European consumption. I am guessing on the last part.

Maybe someday we will get to see one too?

Wayne

 

If they would even offer us a Sky-G wagon with a stick, I would buy it tomorrow. I wouldn't wait for the diesel. I would replace the Fit with that. My driveway has two "wagon" style vehicles. As long as they keep it sedan-only, it's a second tier option to me.

 

Hi All:

Not that this means anything to us here but…

2014 Mazda6 diesels chase speed records

At Mazda’s ATP test oval in Papenburg, Germany, the company bested 20 FIA speed records (subject to FIA homologation). Three of the carmaker’s Mazda6 flagships powered by 173 hp 2.2L SKYACTIV-D turbo diesels completed a 24-hour run on the high-speed track this past Sunday. The lead car had an overall average speed of 137 mph with the others close behind. The current record for diesel-powered production cars (2.0-2.5L displacement) is 130.1 mph. Each of the three Mazdas also set several other average speed records over a variety of distances (subject to FIA homologation).

2014 Mazda6 Turbo Diesels at speed

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The cars, which covered more than 3,286 miles in the 24-hour period, were driven by 23 drivers from seven EU countries. They included professionals as well as journalists and car enthusiasts, who could apply to take part as part of a campaign started by Mazda last May. During their 1.5-hour stints behind the wheel, they were not allowed to follow in the slipstream of a preceding car and needed to be exceptionally careful in the steeply banked curves at each end of the oval to avoid losing speed. Nevertheless, only .5 mph separated the three Mazda6s after 24 hours.

And the wait continues...

Wayne

 

Hi James:

I am of the opinion that the Tier II regs are a benefit to the American consumer. Tier III regs are overkill. Considering Jet planes have no exhaust treatment (no way to include them), ramping up ever more stringent emissions beyond what makes sense even locally - Southern California comes to mind, the EPA may be getting out of hand.

That said, SKYACTIV-D has to meet Tier II-Bin5 and without SCR, it cannot with any kind of reasonable performance. Mazda's chiefs are to proud to add SCR for the U.S. at this point.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

Bringing this one back... Along with what we heard in LA and Detroit, I was told in Chicago an even more modern 2.2L SKYACTIV-D with SCR is coming to the US and is scheduled for the CX-5 very soon.

There will be some new tech in the piston wrist pin - maybe it was the connecting rod sleeve bearing - if I overheard the conversation correctly which will surely make other OEM engineers say, "Why didn't I think of that?"

Wayne