Toyota To Receive SkyActiv Engines For Upcoming Subcompact

by Cameron Aubernon

Published: March 7th, 2014

toyota to receive skyactiv engines for upcoming subcompact

Toyota’s line of engine/body mashups continues, this time with their upcoming Mazda2-based subcompact powered by Mazda’s SkyActiv engine family.

Automotive News reports the subcompact, set to replace the current Yaris by 2016 at the latest, will be assembled alongside the new Mazda2 at Mazda’s newly opened Salamanca, Mexico factory. Approximately 50,000 of the factory’s total annual output of 230,000 units will be allocated to Toyota for the subcompact, with the SkyActiv transplant assembled on-site.

Though few details regarding either subcompact have been released, Mazda’s partnership with Toyota will allow the former to achieve greater economies of scale for the factory by supplying engines and possibly other SkyActiv-related components to Toyota.

Production for Toyota’s subcompact is set to begin next year, while Mazda2 production may begin as soon as the second half of 2014.

#Mazda #Mazda2 #Mexico #Salamanca #SKYACTIV #Subcompacts #Toyota #Yaris

Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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15 of 82 comments

Stephen7 on Mar 07, 2014

Toyota seems to have no problem building and *selling* B-segment cars elsewhere. I think that all this deal says is that the segment is not profitable enough in the US to design a model catered to the market nor import at a loss. Same reason why the next gen Honda Fit will come from Celaya.

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Brettc on Mar 07, 2014

One question I wonder about - Will the new Yaris (or whatever it will be called) rust out prematurely like a Mazda? Or will Toyota have them treat the body panels to their specs? I don't see a lot of rusty modern Toyotas but I still see a shocking amount of rusty Mazdas that aren't very old. Imagine if Mazda took over Sprinter production. It might crumble into a pile of rust while it's still on the lot.

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- Wheeljack on Mar 08, 2014
  
  Sprinters rust pretty well on their own. At least 1st gen ones sold under the freightliner brand did.
  
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84Cressida on Mar 07, 2014

BMW, Subaru, and now Mazda. They seem hell bent on partnering with every terrible automaker they can. Can't wait until Chrysler builds the next gen Corolla.

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- Npaladin2000 on Mar 07, 2014
  
  Well, gee, maybe if Toyota builds the Yaris it'll be a great car. Oh, wait, been there, did that, didn't work out so well.
  
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- Redav on Mar 08, 2014
  
  If BMW, Subaru, & Mazda are terrible, I wonder which ones are 'good'?
  
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Redav on Mar 08, 2014

I wonder if the new Yaris will get the "SkyActiv" badge on them. If so, that would be a major coup for Mazda. Not only could it prompt customers to give Mazda a look, but it also would legitimize the SkyActiv brand as something real and not just marketing jargon.

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- Npaladin2000 on Mar 08, 2014
  
  Highly doubt it. I do find myself wondering if the engine will have Mazda badging, a Toyota engine cover, or what they'll do with that whole setup. They'll probably have to replace the Mazda corporate face with a Toyota one, which might hurt the drag coefficient. On the other hand, if they get to KEEP the corporate Mazda face, even with a Toyota badge replacing the Mazda one, it's going to look like a Mazda. And I can see them doing that in order to not give up an MPG advantage to the actual Mazda2.
  
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- PrincipalDan on Mar 08, 2014
  
  @npaladin2000 Buick by Opel or Opel by Buick? How about an engine cover that says "Manufactured for Toyota by Mazda". :)
  
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- Brian P on Mar 09, 2014
  
  @PrincipalDan It's pretty likely that they'll rework the styling enough that the average consumer won't recognize that they are platform-mates.
  
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- Npaladin2000 on Mar 09, 2014
  
  @Brian P Honestly I'm not so sure about that. TO a certain degree the fuel economy is going to be dependent on drag coefficient, which will depend on the styling. Toyota is NOT going to put up with being second banana to Mazda on fuel economy, at least not willingly. That's not the way the global overlords of snore work.
  
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- Redav on Mar 09, 2014
  
  @npaladin2000 The Toyota will get unique sheet metal. The two cars will not look the same from the outside (besides proportions). Aerodynamics aren't great to start with for subcompacts. They are too short & tall, and they are often underpowered to hit their peak at freeway speeds. That's why they often don't have better hwy numbers than compacts and even some midsizes. I don't see the sheet metal or corporate face making much of a difference for the EPA figures. (And besides, we've already learned from Ford that if the drivetrains are the same, EPA rules permit directly carrying over mpg ratings. I expect that rule to be used here--the two variants will likely be given exactly the same numbers.)
  
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- Npaladin2000 on Mar 09, 2014
  
  @redav Does anyone know if that rule actually is allowed between companies rather than just within a company such as Ford? And yeah, aero sucks for subcompacts, but Toyota still has a marketing point to try and maintain. Can't do that if the company you contracted to build your subcompact is matching or beating your fuel economy with their own version. Maybe they wrote something into the contract about the EPA ratings they would each be allowed to claim.
  
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- 95_SC on Mar 09, 2014
  
  @PrincipalDan Powered by Mazda...like old school Ford valve covers.
  
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- 95_SC on Mar 09, 2014
  
  @redav Wasn't the 2 platform developed with Ford for the Fiesta...or is this the next gen car?
  
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