Mazda SKYACTIV Technology

Automakers have always strived to improve fuel economy and enhance overall vehicle efficiency. 

Typically, conventional internal combustion engines can only use around 30% of the potential energy from their fuel. Mazda's SKYACTIV technology changes the status quo by squeezing out way more energy to enhance efficiency.   

Read on to discover more about Mazda SKYACTIV Technology. 

What is Mazda SKYACTIV Technology?

Mazda's SKYACTIV Technology is the brand name for the series of technologies developed to increase fuel efficiency and engine outputs. 

This Mazda SKYACTIV Technology is not only applied to engines but also transmissions, vehicle bodies, suspension and chassis components on vehicles manufactured from 2011 onwards to make their cars all-around efficient machines.

SKYACTIV Engines

Known as SKYACTIV-G (Gasoline), Mazda's engine technology allows the use of a higher compression ratio of 14:1 in its engines. These engines compress air and fuel in the cylinder to a much higher degree before ignition, thus generating more power from the given amount of fuel.

Typically, high-compression engines combust uncontrolled, which leads to spark knock, threatening the engine's efficiency and serviceable life. Mazda SKYACTIV Technology has found a way around this problem by using a small combustion well on top of domed pistons to control pre-detonation. Reworked cylinder heads also have an indentation in the top, allowing for a richer mixture to harness more energy from the fuel.

Injecting the fuel in precise, fast bursts and ensuring the most effective scavenging of exhaust gasses with a 4-2-1 header system also enhance outputs and efficiency. 

SKYACTIV Technology is also seen in the design of Mazda’s diesel engines with SKYACTIV-D (Diesel). Diesel engines have always used high compression to ignite the fuel-air mixture spontaneously, with no spark plug. Mazda has lowered that ratio to give the precise squirt of diesel fuel more time to mix with air before detonation, resulting in a cleaner, more thorough combustion process.

The lower compression allows the use of lighter parts and slightly looser tolerances to reduce energy-sapping friction and weight in diesel engines. 

SKYACTIV Transmissions

SKYACTIV Automatic and manual transmissions improve fuel economy and engine response. Reworked gear ratios and lighter transmission design have improved fuel economy substantially. 

The SKYACTIV-DRIVE automatic transmission gives drivers the benefits of an automatic transmission, dual-clutch transmission, and continuously variable transmission all in one. This technology offers a widened lock-up range for faster torque response, resulting in a 7% increase in fuel economy.

Fans of sporty manual transmissions benefit from Mazda SKYACTIV-MT. With an increased lever ratio, it gives a crisp, light shift feel along with weight and size reduction of the transmission.

SKYACTIV Body and Chassis

Mazda SKYACTIV Technology extends a focus on driving pleasure with lightweight structures, boosting fuel economy and improving performance. Using lightweight materials and high-tensile steel in rigid body designs not only enhances the fun-to-drive feeling but also increases crash safety performance.

Revised suspension and steering mean improved comfort and driving pleasure; the newly developed suspension and electric power steering systems have resulted in a 14% reduction in weight over previous Mazda models.

Find Your Next Mazda at Autex Mazda of Keene

Visit us at the Autex Mazda Dealership to view the full Mazda lineup and book yourself a test drive to experience Mazda SKYACTIV Technology first-hand.