Skyactiv-D Turbodiesel Mazda6 Emissions Certification Delayed, Additional Gas Models Allocated to U.S on Strong Sales

TTAC Staff
by TTAC Staff

Citing what they say is a need “to accommodate final emissions testing and certification,” Mazda confirmed to Automotive News that the U.S. launch of the diesel powered Mazda6 will be delayed from the end of this year until late April 2014.

Earlier, Robert Davis, senior vice president of U.S. operations for Mazda North American Operations, had sent a letter to Mazda employees about the delay Skyactiv-D 2.2-liter turbodiesel’s availability in the Mazda6. Certification testing is apparently taking longer than the company had hoped or expected. “I know we had discussed it being in showrooms before the end of the year, and everyone involved in the program is disappointed it will not be, but final certification testing — the results of which are looking encouraging — is taking longer than we had initially expected,” Davis wrote. Mazda has eschewed hybrids and electric power in favor of diesel engines as a path forward to better fuel economy.

Even without the diesel, the new Mazda6 is doing well, with June-August sales this year doubling last year’s figures and the Automotive News reports that the car is in short supply. To make up for not having the diesel, Mazda will be allocating U.S. dealers an additional 4,000 gasoline powered Mazda6 cars in the first quarter of 2014.


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  • Kyree Kyree on Sep 13, 2013

    The Passat TDI breathes a sigh of relief....

    • Brettc Brettc on Sep 13, 2013

      My local dealer actually sells VW and Mazda (along with Audi and Porsche). It'll be interesting to see the gas/diesel mix for Passats and 6s on the lot when the 6 diesel does show up.

  • Thegamper Thegamper on Sep 13, 2013

    I suspect that Mazda does not have high sales projections for the Diesel version of the 6. Mazda is just not on too many buyers radars. Maybe its a different story with this crowd, but what do they have like 2% market share? I am considering a 6 with an MT as my next car so hopefully they get significantly more inventory on the ground. Tough to deal on a car when it only has 2 week supply on dealer lots.

    • See 7 previous
    • Redav Redav on Sep 14, 2013

      @Scoutdude This engine is the replacement for the V6. People buy upgrade V6s even though they get worse mpg. The improved mpg on this engine is just a bonus.

  • Pagani Baguette Pagani Baguette on Sep 13, 2013

    Interesting video .... at about 0:40 it starts showing the cycles in the engine. Stellar animation, very well done, just funny how the intake stroke (shown with blue-ish fog in the intakes) occurs when the piston is going up :)

  • Big Al from Oz Big Al from Oz on Sep 13, 2013

    I mentioned on this site months ago about the Skyactive design issues. US diesel is different, different scar, cetane, 50% more sulphur, etc.

    • See 2 previous
    • Pch101 Pch101 on Sep 14, 2013

      The US allows sulfur levels of 15 ppm, vs 10 ppm in Europe. In practice, US diesel that consumers buy at their local service stations has sulfur levels that are below 10 ppm. The US also exports refined ULSD diesel to Europe, as the Europeans can't refine the stuff fast enough to satisfy local demand. Developing countries typically have much higher sulfur levels than the US. I hate to break it to you, but there is no US vs. the rest of the world fuel standard.

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