Thermal technology is not dead, proof with Mazda announcing a new gasoline engine

The first cars equipped with the Mazda Skyactiv-Z engine will arrive in 2027 and will first be sold in Europe and the United States.

At the moment, the news revolving around the automobile is a little gloomy. Between the financial difficulties of all and the social plans which are multiplying, it is difficult to see any improvement in a sector which is sinking increasingly in crisis.

Despite everything, there is still some good news, particularly from Mazda. The manufacturer is developing a new gasoline engine which aims to replace the Skyactiv-G and Skyactiv-X: them Skyactiv-Z.

A more efficient and even cleaner engine

The Skyactiv-Z will be a four-cylinder gasoline engine intended to take over from the widely used Skyactiv-G and Skyactiv-X, equipped with HCCI (Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition) technology, an engine which relies on the operation of a gasoline engine (homogeneous mixture of fuel inside the cylinder) and the operation of a diesel engine (compression ignition). This block has unfortunately never really enjoyed the expected success on the market, despite its undeniable qualities. Mazda is therefore planning the end of these two engines and is banking on this new engine to offer both efficiency and performance. The lessons learned from the development of Skyactiv-G and Skyactiv-X will also be used to perfect the brand’s six cylinders.
Mazda has, for the moment, remained discreet on the details, but we already know that the new Skyactiv-Z unit will use the lambda 1 combustion process. But what is it about? This technique is based on a perfectly balanced air-fuel ratio, which means that combustion consumes all of the injected fuel, thus reducing polluting emissions. This concept of “ultra-lean combustion” works efficiently over a wide range of revs, ensuring good performance.
The Greek letter lambda (λ) denotes the air-fuel equivalence ratio. When it is equal to 1, the quantity of air and fuel is perfectly balanced, optimizing engine efficiency and reducing polluting emissions. In other words, this means that all the fuel is burned, minimizing harmful pollutants.

A driving force for the European and American markets?

The Skyactiv-Z will initially be aimed at the European and North American markets, where emissions regulations are among the strictest. Mazda engineers are working hard to ensure the engine meets Euro 7 standards in Europe and Tier 4 standards from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States.
Mazda also announced its intention to simplify its engine offering to focus on a reduced number of powertrains, in the interests of rationalization. Furthermore, Mazda’s famous rotary engine, long put aside, has benefited from a dedicated team since Februarywith encouraging progress in developing its environmental compliance.
With this new engine coming to the fore, enthusiasts are obviously asking questions about the future MX-5.

Mazda has already confirmed that the next generation of the famous roadster will remain thermal, thus hinting at the possible arrival of the new Skyactiv-Z under the hood.