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Mazda’s Skyactiv engines are hitting on all cylinders. The company will double production capacity at its engine plant in Hiroshima from 400,000 units to 800,000 units per year in October 2012. The capacity increase is “in response to increasing demand” for Skyactiv-equipped cars, the company said in an emailed statement.
In addition, Mazda confirmed reports that it will increase production volume of its CX-5 crossover. Capacity at its Ujina Plant will be expanded from 200,000 units to 240,000 units per year.
Mazda intends to sell 1,700,000 units globally in the fiscal year ending March 2016. Skyactiv models are expected to account for 80 percent of total sales.
23 Comments on “Mazda Doubles Skyactiv Engine Capacity...”
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Great news for Mazda. The CX-5 is a home run for sure.
I want the SkyActiv-D AWD CX-5 here in the US though!
Not to be confused with “Mazda doubles Skyactiv engine displacement”, which is how I initially parsed that headline.
That what I thought at first. Let’s hope there is a 2.5 4-cylinder SkyActiv in the works as the current 2 liter unit is not enough for the CX-5 nor the new Mazda6.
I was thinking WOOO V8… Wonder what kind of mileage they could wring out of one..
Me too!
Has Mazda ever built a V8?
4.0L SkyactiV8.
3.0 Skyacti I-6.
I wonder if the SkyActiv would make it to the Mazda5 in the states. That would surely give it an edge on the “fullsize” minivans. At the moment, there’s not nearly enough of a mpg benefit in the 5’s 4cyl vs the V6 found in the toyota, honda, dodge, etc.
My gut tells me the Mazda5 is too slow a seller to warrant that (only about 20K annually, i think). if you’re building all of the engines that you can, why divert one to the Mazda5 when the 3 & CX5 need em?! Too bad.
My guess is that the 5 will need a ground-up redesign like the 3 to get the full benefit.
However, for 2013, the base 3 will get a SkyActiv engine, so I think their strategy is to put the engines in every car they sell.
Not to coincide with 4-year low gasoline prices in the US where the election ends the following month. Gas prices are in the $2 range in different parts of the country. Sure makes it difficult to sell fuel economy.
Only for those stupid enough to check the gas pumps prior to making such a huge purchase. Sadly, a lot of people fall into that category and never do learn.
But the past few years have shown that a lot of people are starting to get the memo though.
Does Mazda have a plant in the US? If not, could they cut a deal with Ford or Chrysler? Thinking of former Ford/Mazda associations and future Chrysler/Fiat/Mazda associations.
Mazda *had/has* a joint venture plant with Ford – AutoAlliance International in Flat Rock, MI – where the 6 and Mustang are built. Mazda will back out of that completely in 2013, but is now building their own plant in Mexico to provide North American capacity. Allegedly, they’ve had some talks with FiatChrysler, but nothing definite.
Mazda did build quite a bit of product at the Ford Flat Rock facility over the years. If that went away with the velvet divorce from Ford, then they’ll just have to tough out the yen for a few years until the new Mexico plant comes on line.
AAI seems like an odd plant. The Mustang and Mazda6 share nothing. They both use the Ford designed 3.7 liter V6, but Mazda’s variant isn’t the same as the one now used in the Mustang, so they couldn’t share those.
The CX-5 is begging for a small turbocharged engine. The CX-7 with the turbo 4 didn’t get great gas mileage, but it was a hoot to drive. If Mazda could license the 1.6 liter EcoBoost design from Ford, or just buy engines to stick in the CX-5, it would be just the power upgrade the car needs to really make it top notch.
somehow this site keeps reminding me to go test drive that CX-5 when I know full well I shouldn’t be.
It’s no Miata. Your lust isn’t likely to get the better of you.
Has Mazda made any mention of when North America gets the full blown Skyactiv engine designs similar to Japan and Europe rather that the partial (stunted) Skyactiv tech that is available now? 2013? 2014? Ever? Is it an emissions control or safety issue on why the US does not get the full Skyactiv engineering in the 2012 models? Thanks
It’s my understanding that the only limitation on the US Skyactiv models is in the 3, where the current gen car can’t fit the 4-2-1 exhaust manifold, which is necessary for the highest compression ratio. This is the case in all markets, I believe.
The CX-5 has the manifold and the higher compression engine.
The 3 has a 12:1 compression ratio because of the exhaust. The US CX-5 has 13:1 compression ratio (and so will all other new US SkyActiv Mazdas). The rest of the world gets a 14:1 compression ratio gas engine, but the US won’t because of our lower octane standards.
By looking at this picture, which piston reaches top dead center first? And what the hell kind of firing order is this?
Looks like the standard 1-3-4-2 pattern used by most – if not all – 4-cylinder engines. Check the conrod angles: 2 and 3 are paired together while 1 and 4 share a similar arrangement. It’s just frozen at the point where both pairs are passing each other in the cycle.
I really hope this engine doesn’t have major issues.