Mazda Doubles Skyactiv Engine Capacity

by Bertel Schmitt

July 3rd, 2012 3:03 PM

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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.

#BertelSchmitt #Japan #Mazda #SKYACTIV

Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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8 of 23 comments

Orick on Jul 03, 2012

somehow this site keeps reminding me to go test drive that CX-5 when I know full well I shouldn't be.

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- Michael Karesh on Jul 03, 2012
  
  It's no Miata. Your lust isn't likely to get the better of you.
  
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Johnxyz on Jul 03, 2012

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

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- Smokingclutch on Jul 03, 2012
  
  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.
  
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- Redav on Jul 04, 2012
  
  @smokingclutch 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.
  
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Punkybrewstershubby aka Troy D. on Jul 03, 2012

By looking at this picture, which piston reaches top dead center first? And what the hell kind of firing order is this?

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- Felis Concolor on Jul 03, 2012
  
  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.
  
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Imag on Jul 06, 2012

I really hope this engine doesn't have major issues.

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