2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata

2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Mazda has been kind of lurking in the background when it comes to announcing new technology for their engines. That said, at The New York Auto Show last month Mazda’s CEO, Takashi Yamanouchi, said the first diesel powered vehicle in the U.S. would be similar in size to the popular Mazda6. The actual vehicle hasn’t been disclosed, but other information that caught are interest was the indication from Yamanouchi that the Sky-G motor would arrive stateside next year. Coincidentally, the Miata (MX-5) is due for a refresh in 2011 as well.

2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata

2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata

So if we were to put the Sky-G together with one of the best selling sports car of the modern era, that would seem to be pretty logical—completely speculative, but logical none-the-less. The Sky-G motor is expected to bring a boost in fuel economy by some 15 percent while at the same time giving extra horsepower. Moreover, the engine format will be the standard or core powertrain for Mazda in the future. How does the Sky-G achieve this? Most of the gains can be pointed to the direct-injection, but as for the actual details we are still on the hunt for those.

Bottom line—If Mazda puts a higher power engine in the Miata with better fuel economy we can only see it increasing its popularity among the sports car population. I mean, who can resist a Miata anyway?

 

[Source: Autoweek]