First all-SkyActiv model shows the potential that lurks beneath Mazda’s all-new CX-5

By MARTON PETTENDY in ICELAND

AS MAZDA’S first all-SkyActiv model, the 2012 CX-5 not only represents Mazda’s first bona fide compact SUV entrant but provides a fascinating insight into the next generation of Mazda models for at least the next decade.

The next model to combine the Japanese brand’s Sky body and chassis, albeit with a 75mm-longer wheelbase than the CX-5 compact SUV’s, with the full complement of Sky engines and transmissions is the 2013 Mazda6 due to appear late next year.

After that, a completely redesigned Mazda3 will replace Australia’s top-selling small car in 2014, riding on essentially the same platform that underpins the 2700mm-wheelbase CX-5.

A reskinned version of the current Mazda2 is understood to have been pushed back at least a year because the current model’s late debut on the US market, but the all-new generation of Mazda’ smallest model – not due until at least 2017 – could again be twinned with Ford’s Fiesta.

Therefore, like the all-new Australian-engineered BT-50 ute that goes on sale here in October, the Mazda2 will not ride on a Sky platform for the foreseeable future.

Mazda’s 100kg-lighter yet stronger SkyActiv platform will, however, underpin replacements for the seven-seat CX-9 crossover, the Mazda5 people-mover not currently sold in Australia and the outgoing CX-7 medium SUV, which for now will be replaced globally by the CX-5 early next year.

Each new Sky-based model will be powered by new direct-injection SkyActiv petrol and diesel engines designed specifically for that given application, each with an unspecified new bore pitch and cylinder dimensions.

The 1.3-litre Sky-G petrol four already fitted to the Japanese market’s Demio (Mazda2) and the 2.0-litre Sky-G engine that will debut in Australia’s facelifted Mazda3 range in October will be joined by a smaller new 1.5 or 1.6-litre Sky-G petrol engine, and then a larger 2.5-litre Sky-G petrol four.

Mazda is also working on a smaller-capacity SkyActiv-D turbo-diesel engine displacing around 1.6 litres for a range of compact models, as well as a SkyActiv rotary engine for a future sportscar to replace the discontinued RX-8, which could be called the RX-9 if Mazda can establish a business case.

The next stage in Mazda’s commitment to develop the conventional internal combustion engine is sparkless homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI), but before then it will marry its idle-stop-equipped Sky engines and transmissions with regenerative braking and, in 2013, Toyota-sourced hybrid drive technology.

The next Mazda6 is almost certain to be the company’s first hybrid model and should combine a four-cylinder Sky-G petrol engine with a development of the Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) system seen in the current Prius.

Further afield, combining the HSD system with Mazda’s new 2.2-litre Sky-D diesel, which will itself consume just 4.2L/100km in the 2013 Mazda6, should produce even more efficient results.

For now, however, the 2012 CX-5 represents the first ‘core’ Mazda model with the company’s full suite of current Sky technologies, as well as Mazda’s first serious tilt at one of Australia’s largest and fastest-growing vehicle segments.

Smaller, better packaged and priced lower than the CX-7 – which currently starts at $33,990 and is available with 2WD 2.4-litre petrol, AWD 2.3-litre turbo-petrol and AWD 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engines, but was never a consistent top-three seller in the compact SUV class – the CX-5 should have what it takes to compete head-on with segment favourites like Subaru’s Forester, Toyota’s RAV4, Hyundai’s ix35 and the Nissan X-Trail and Dualis.

“CX-7 was designed for the US market and sits in a bit of white space,” said Mazda Australia managing director Doug Dickson.

“It’s slightly bigger and heavier than the rest to differentiate ourselves from models like the RAV4, but that white space probably existed for a reason. People are looking for something smaller and more city-friendly perhaps with less sophisticated engines.

“We’ll have a full range of CX-5 models and, down the track, there’ll be as many CX-5 variants as there were CX-7s. Of course, they’ll all be priced competitively, but CX-5 will also be the newest kid on the block.”

Mazda Motor Corporation’s R&D director Hirotaka Kanazawa told GoAuto the company has finetuned its smorgasbord of Sky technologies since ‘mule’ testing began at various locations around the world in mid-2010.

“Mazda has always aimed to have a distinctive presence despite its small size,” he said, adding that the rollout of SkyActiv technologies was part of the ‘Sustainable Zoom-Zoom’ strategy launched in 2007 and Mazda’s commitment to reducing the fuel consumption of its entire model fleet by 30 per cent between 2008 and 2015.

By bundling its common SkyActiv platform architecture and powertrains across a range of future models and applying its ‘Building Block’ strategy to the SkyActiv IC engine via i-stop, regenerative braking and then hybrid systems, Mr Kanazawa said Mazda will have amortised its investment by 2015 via lower development and production costs.

“SkyActiv is the breakthrough technology to solve two conflicting goals,” he said.

“The enabler is ‘Monotsukuri’, which means consistent product development at every stage, from concept to production.

“This will enable us to reduce development and production investment for all new products company-wide between 2011 and 2015.

“SkyActiv will take our Zoom-Zoom philosophy into the modern era sustainably, while maintaining the fun-to-drive aspect of all models and a oneness between driver and car, which we call Jinba-Ittai.”

CX-5 program manager Hideaki Tanaka, who previously led development of the 1989 MX-5, 2002 Mazda6, 2003 RX-8 and 2007 CX-9, said Mazda used its full range of SkyActiv technologies and benchmarked rivals like the Tiguan, RAV4 and Honda CR-V to deliver the safest, most efficient and driver-focused compact SUV possible.

“CX-5 will spearhead Mazda’s new generation of products and carries with it great promise and expectation,” he said. “We looked at the essence of what people find pleasurable and the result is predictable and responsive handling without compromising environmental performance.”