Mazda premieres at Geneva Motor Show 2011

At this year’s 2011 Geneva Motor Show, Mazda Motor Corporation is presenting the world premiere of its MINAGI concept car. The Mazda MINAGI compact crossover SUV concept is the precursor to the launch of Mazda’s coming generation of products and fully embraces its all-new SKYACTIV powertrains, chassis, body, and safety technologies.

Mazda SKYACTIV technologies
Next-generation powertrains, transmissions, body and chassis

Mazda is displaying its core SKYACTIV technologies at Geneva, all part of the next generation of upcoming products. The SKYACTIV-G direct-injection petrol and SKYACTIV-D diesel engines signifiacantly reduce fuel consumption and lower emissions, while Mazda SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission and SKYACTIV-MT manual transmission improve performance, fuel consumption and driving feel.

KODO – Soul of Motion
The new Mazda design language

At its heart, Mazda’s new design language ‘KODO-Soul of Motion’ is based around the image of a predator as it strikes at its prey. With the keywords – Speed, Tension, and Allure-this design language aims to express a faster and more forceful movement, and brings a more soulful new element to Mazda vehicle design.

World premiere Mazda MINAGI Concept
The Mazda MINAGI concept car embodies Mazda’s new SKYACTIV technologies and new KODO design language, signaling the way for the new generation of Mazda cars to come.

The new Mazda MINAGI concept is a compact crossover SUV that embodies Mazda’s all-new, next-generation products, adopting the full range of Mazda’s SKYACTIV technologies – from powertrains to chassis and body – and KODO, the new Mazda design theme.

Mazda SKYACTIV technologies

New powertrains, transmissions, body and chassisMazda’s new SKYACTIV technologies combine breakthrough innovation and state-of-the-art technology. These next-generation technologies include petrol and diesel engines with record compression ratios, all-new manual and automatic transmissions and body and chassis systems are lighter and more responsive. The introduction of these technologies will result in major reductions in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions for all Mazda models. In line with Mazda’s Sustainable Zoom- Zoom strategy, these technologies will improve the average fuel economy of Mazda vehicles sold globally by 30 percent* by 2015 (compared to 2008).

An overview of Mazda’s SKYACTIV technologies

SKYACTIV-G petrol engine
Mazda’s next-generation direct-injection petrol engine

Achieves the world’s highest petrol engine compression ratio for mass production vehicles of 14.0:1 (more than a Formula One race car engine!) without abnormal combustion (knocking)
Significantly improved engine efficiency resulting in 15 percent increase in torque and 15 percent less fuel consumption in comparison to the current 2.2-litre diesel∙ Improved everyday driving thanks to increased torque at low- to midengine speeds
A 4-2-1 exhaust system, cavity pistons, multi-hole injectors and other innovations enable the high compression ratio
Weight reduction: Overall engine weight reduced by 10 percent
Overall engine friction reduction of 30 percent∙ Dual S-VT intake with electric sequential valve timing (S-VT) to minimize pumping losses

SKYACTIV-D diesel engine
Mazda’s next-generation clean diesel engine

Meets global emissions regulations (Euro 6 in Europe, Tier2Bin5 in North America, and the Post New Long-Term Regulations in Japan) without expensive NOx after-treatments thanks to the world’s lowest diesel engine compression ratio of 14.0:1
20 percent better fuel consumption compared to the current 2.2-litre diesel
A new two-stage turbocharger means smooth and linear response from low to high engine speeds which boosts low- and high-end torque (up to the 5,200 rpm rev limit)
Highly efficient Mazda active ceramic diesel particulate filter (DPF)
Weight reduction of 10 percent∙ Reduced friction of 20 percent
Variable valve lift for stable combustion after cold start (avoids misfiring)

SKYACTIV-Drive
Mazda’s next-generation six-speed automatic transmission

Quicker, lighter and more fun to drive
Achieves excellent torque transfer efficiency through a wider lock-up range and features the best attributes of all transmission types. The result is a connected driving feel similar to a manual transmission
Combines all the advantages of a conventional automatic transmission, a continuously variable transmission, and a dual clutch transmission
Up to 7 percent improvement in fuel economy versus current five-speed automatic transmission
Available for SKYACTIV-D and SKYACTIV-G

SKYACTIV-MT
Mazda’s light and compact next-generation manual transmission

Optimized for a front-engine, front wheel-drive layout, its crisp, short and light shift stroke ensures a shifting feel similar to that of a MX-5
Significantly reduced size and weight due to a revised structure
More efficient vehicle packaging thanks to its compact size
Improved fuel economy due to reduced internal friction

SKYACTIV-Body
Mazda’s next-generation lightweight, highly rigid body

Outstanding crash safety performance and lightness (30 percent more rigid, 8 percent lighter)
Reduced weight through optimised bonding methods and expanded use of high-tensile steel
A ‘straight structure’ in which each part of the frame is configured to be as straight as possible

SKYACTIV-Chassis
Mazda’s next-generation high-performance lightweight chassis

Balances precise handling with a comfortable riding feel
Newly-developed front strut and rear multi-link suspension ensures high rigidity and lightness (the entire chassis is 14 percent lighter than the previous version)
Mid-speed agility and high-speed stability – enhanced riding quality at all speeds achieved through a revision of the functional allocation of all the suspension and steering components
Realises Jinba ittai-like connected driving feel of oneness between car and driver