The new, facelifted Mazda3 will be the first Mazda vehicle in
Australia to debut the company's new SKYACTIV technology.
Showcasing a more refined exterior and interior design the new
Mazda3 range also introduces a model with the new-generation
SKYACTIV-G petrol engine and SKYACTIV-Drive automatic
transmission.
Given Mazda3's position as the company's best-selling model both
in Australia and overseas, it's the perfect candidate to introduce
SKYACTIV technology that offers the combination of dynamic
performance and high fuel efficiency.
Mazda3, SKYACTIV Reach New Heights
In addition to the Mazda3's current MZR 2.0-litre
dual-overhead-cam 16-valve four-cylinder engine, the all-new
high-efficiency direct-injection SKYACTIV-G 2.0-litre petrol engine
will be available in Australia for the first time. Mated to the
all-new SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission, SKYACTIV
will be available in either sedan or hatchback models. The MZR
2.0-litre engine will continue to be available with the current
six-speed manual as standard equipment or the current five-speed
automatic as an option.
Approximately 2 kilograms lighter than the current MZR 2.0-liter
engine, the SKYACTIV-G 2.0-litre adopts multi-hole injectors to
enhance fuel spray characteristics, along with specially developed
piston cavity shapes that ensure a shorter combustion time and
suppresses the impact on power and torque from engine knocking.
Pumping loss is also decreased by employing dual sequential valve
timing (S-VT).
Using regular unleaded fuel, the new Mazda3 SKYACTIV achieves a
high compression ratio of 12.0:1 and delivers 113kW at 6,000 rpm
and 194Nm of torque at 4,100 rpm.
Compared to the current Mazda3 MZR 2.0-litre engine, the maximum
power of the new SKYACTIV-equipped Mazda3 is increased by
approximately five percent (from 108 kW at 6,500 rpm) and torque is
increased by almost seven percent (182Nm at 4,500 rpm). With
improved torque, coupled with a drive control system that utilises
coordinated controls of the engine and transmission, Mazda3s with
SKYACTIV technology excel in dynamic response, further maintaining
the Zoom-Zoom idea of oneness between car and driver.
Class-leading fuel economy
Fuel economy also gets a boost from the combination of a
SKYACTIV engine and transmission. When equipped with the SKYACTIV-G
2.0 litre petrol engine and SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic
transmission, the new Mazda3 will be Australia's most fuel
efficient, petrol-powered, automatic small car.
The improved fuel efficiency of the new Mazda3 equipped with
SKYACTIV can be partially attributed to combining all the best
features of the technology available in today's transmissions. For
SKYACTIV-Drive, the key advantages of a conventional automatic
transmission, Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) and Dual
Clutch Transmission (DCT) were integrated. In addition, a torque
converter with a lock-up clutch was enhanced to ensure improvement
in fuel efficiency and an increase in direct drive feel.
In addition, the new SKYACTIV-equipped Mazda3 will be the first
Mazda model in Australia to feature i-stop, the company's
award-winning idling stop system. The i-stop system reduces fuel
consumption by automatically shutting down the engine when the
vehicle comes to a standstill. Mazda's i-stop system has been
designed for use with direct injection engines and uses combustion
energy to restart the engine in just 0.35 seconds, about half the
time of most other idling stop systems.
Mazda SKYACTIV-G 2.0 litre 4-cylinder direct injection
petrol engine
This engine, featured on the new SKYACTIV-equipped Mazda3,
achieves a breakthrough in petrol engine performance.
To achieve this breakthrough, Mazda engineers intensively
researched the process of combustion. In particular, a number of
areas were studied in great detail allowing engineers to clarify
the variables that needed to be optimised to achieve ideal
combustion:
Four key factors that boost thermal
efficiency
Based on this continual research effort, particular emphasis was
placed on improving the following four factors in the development
of the new-generation SKYACTIV-G 2.0 litre engine.
- compression ratio
- combustion duration
- intake volume control (pumping loss)
- load and coefficient of friction (mechanical resistance
loss)
For example, if the compression ratio is raised, fuel economy
improves. But if the compression ratio is increased to get a higher
expansion ratio, a limit is reached where knocking and other
abnormal combustion effects rapidly increase. This was accepted in
the past and the opportunity was missed to realise significant fuel
economy improvements.
The new SKYACTIV-G engine has broken through this limit with
expansion ratios close to the ideal level. This has been achieved
by fully employing the freedom of spray formation given by the
direct injection system, and matching air flow and combustion
chamber shape with CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) to enable
control over flame propagation.
Main technology advances of the new Mazda SKYACTIV-G 2.0
litre engine
Newly designed engine body structure
- Reduced mechanical resistance
- Optimum air-fuel mixture formation
New generation direct injection system
- Fuel atomisation
- Optimum air-fuel mixture formation
Highly functional variable intake valve timing system
- Optimal control of air intake volume
Mazda SKYACTIV-Drive
Newly developed six-speed automatic transmission delivers a
significant fuel economy improvement along with a more direct shift
feel.
With the new-generation SKYACTIV-Drive automatic transmission,
our goals were to contribute significantly to fuel economy and
improve the direct feel. As with the new generation SKYACTIV-G
engine, development was approached by pinpointing the control
factors for achieving our targets and concentrating on how they
could be improved.
Because the new-generation SKYACTIV-Drive automatic transmission
is a completely new design, Mazda engineers aimed to make
improvements in the control factors, focussing particularly on
factors that extend the range of the lock-up mechanism and improve
the direct shift feel.
Extending lock-up range and enhancing precision and
response of hydraulic control
Of particular importance for extending the lock-up range is
managing vibration of the clutch that couples the input and output
shafts. The mechanisms of high-frequency clutch vibration were
analysed to ascertain the desired properties for the clutch surface
and its heat resistance, the rigidity of the supporting structure,
and control factors such as hydraulic fluid volume and hydraulic
pressure that influence vibration.
Armed with this information, CAE was conducted and quality
engineering for efficiency applied in development, optimising the
design including the reciprocal influences of the control factors.
The lock-up range was able to be substantially extended as a
result. Also, by ascertaining the least required volume of
hydraulic fluid for each part of the transmission, a more direct
shift feel was achieved due to faster clutch movement.
Improved ride
The Mazda3 has earned a solid reputation for its sporty and
exciting handling that delivers an equally pleasurable driving feel
which emphasizes consistency between the driver's expectations and
the car's response. Inheriting this pedigree, the new Mazda3 not
only improves upon this sense of oneness between driver and vehicle
but also offers a comfortable driving experience that all
passengers can feel and enjoy in various driving scenarios.
The front MacPherson strut and rear multi-link suspension layout
of its predecessor has been optimised for the new Mazda3. Changes
to the front and rear dampers further improves the nimble
responsiveness of steering operations and the flat, comfortable
ride for which the current model is known.
The body of the new Mazda3 has also been further reinforced for
greater rigidity, improving upon the current model's already
stellar agility and handling stability. This was partly achieved by
increasing the number of spot welds used to join the suspension
crossmembers (to which the front and rear suspensions are mounted)
to the reinforced body areas (model dependant). Use of stronger
materials for reinforcements made it possible to more effectively
disperse input from the suspension crossmember mounts to the body,
thereby greatly improving overall body rigidity. In addition, the
two reinforcement bars located under the centre of the floor panel
of the current Mazda3 were replaced by a single new brace that is
both stronger and more rigid. Employing this sheet of reinforcing
material suppresses fore-aft body deformation and improves NVH
performance (model dependant).
Engaging, Efficient Exterior
This mid-generation evolution of the Mazda3 also extends to its
exterior design. The current model's rich expression and bold
stance has been updated to deliver a well-toned look that conveys
even higher quality and visual appeal. Increased aerodynamics and
stylised features give the new Mazda3 a more sophisticated look,
blending seamlessly with functionality.
The new Mazda3's exterior appearance ultimately features a more
taut impression with a new front fascia and updated five-point
grille opening for both sedan and hatchback styles. New design
characteristics include more delicately sculpted forms around the
openings on the outside edge of the front bumper and a rounded fog
lamp shape (changed from the horizontally-wide version of the
current model).
Mazda3 sedan and hatchback models equipped with SKYACTIV-G
engines will be further distinguished with exclusive elements, such
as an all-new engine cover featuring a deep blue metallic paint
finish with black sections along either side; headlamp units
outfitted with a transparent blue ring around the centre lens to
emphasize the vehicle's distinctive character; and a badge
featuring a "SKYACTIV" logo against a clear-blue background.
Aerodynamics play heavily to a vehicle's carbon footprint.
Improved aerodynamic performance yields greater fuel economy and
further reduces CO2 emissions while also contributing to handling
stability. With this in mind, the front bumper design was
optimised, as were underbody parts, to more effectively streamline
the flow of air travelling beneath the floor. The shape of the
lower sections of the front bumper's sides were redesigned to
protrude forward and the fins beneath were made larger. This
adjustment effectively distributes the flow of air hitting the
engine compartment and the front tyre deflector, suppressing
turbulence in cooling the engine as well as along the sides of the
body.
Other aerodynamic aids that further streamline airflow
throughout and around the vehicle include enlarging and flattening
the engine cover (on models equipped with the SKYACTIV-G engine);
increasing the floor under-covers by approximately 10 percent and
eliminating vertical grooves for a smoother design; increasing the
rigidity of the front tyre deflectors to prevent deformation and
establish a good balance between brake cooling, aerodynamic
performance and handling stability; and an added clamshell silencer
shaped to sit on angle with the road surface. (SKYACTIV-equipped
model only)
The devil truly is in the details, and Mazda's engineers didn't
miss a single one. The end result is a 0.27 Cd for the sedan
(SKYACTIV-equipped model only), an approximately 13 percent
improvement over the 0.31 Cd of current models. The hatchback
version has a 0.29 Cd (SKYACTIV-equipped model only), an
approximately 12 percent increase over the 0.33 Cd of current
models.
The refreshed exterior look is completed with all-new 16- and
17-inch aluminium wheel designs. The 16-inch wheel now features 10
twisted-surface spokes, increased from the current model's
seven-spoke design, and the 17-inch wheel is characterised by
enlarged openings between each spoke, creating a look that adds to
a lighter yet more dynamic feel.
High Quality, Intuitive Interior
The interior design has also been updated and was developed with
the end goals of a more inviting cabin and higher quality feel.
Beginning with the instrument panel – the largest landscape
within the cabin – black is now used throughout the centre
stack and shift gate to provide an even bolder look.
Silver-coloured, satin-polished details were added to areas
frequently operated by consumers, such as the outer rings of the
three climate-control dial switches and the audio control panel, as
well as the ventilation louvers on the centre panel. In addition to
creating a feeling of higher refinement, the silver-on-black colour
scheme further accentuates the location of these common controls
and switches, which increases legibility and lessens the amount of
time drivers take their eyes off the road, consequently reducing
operating errors.
The Multi Information Display (MID) and liquid crystal display
(LCD) also received colour adjustments, changing from the red text
and graphics of the current model to an easier-to-read white.
The sporty twin-meter design of the instrument cluster itself
remains unchanged but is highlighted with new, continuous-lit white
graphic meters, which provide better readability, even in bright
daylight hours. Backlight colours also differ depending on the
model: dynamic grey for non-SKYACTIV models while SKYACTIV-equipped
models will feature a blue gradation backlight as well as
white-graphic meter panels.
Proving that even on a mid-cycle refresh, engineers truly sweat
the details, the forward projection of the shift knob on
SKYACTIV-Drive equipped models has been increased by nearly 4mm
over the current AT shift knob, resulting in a better grip feel and
smoother shifts in both front-aft and left-right directions.
For more information contact:
Steve Maciver
Public Relations Manager
(03) 8540 1961
0437 125 589
smaciver@mazda.com.au
Heidi Storey
Media Communications Specialist
03 8540 1962
0439 347 658
hstorey@mazda.com.au