Mazda 3 models with the brand’s new Skyactiv-X petrol engine will arrive in showrooms in October, at prices starting from £23,555.
The family hatchback is the first Mazda to be fitted with the supercharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. A new saloon model is set to join the Mazda 3 line-up in the autumn and that will also be offered with the Skyactiv-X.
The new engine is claimed to offer the best of both worlds – combining technology used in both petrol and diesel engines to offer petrol-like performance but with diesel economy and emissions.
Skyactiv-X is said to be the world’s first production petrol engine to use compression ignition to provide drivers with the free-revving performance of a petrol engine with the superior response of a diesel.
Producing 180hp with 224Nm of torque, the unit has the highest compression ratio for a production petrol engine in the world, while its lean-burn capabilities produce long fuel economy and low emissions.
Mazda claims fuel consumption figures of up to 51.4mpg while producing CO2 emissions of 103g/km. The car will reach 62mph from rest in eight seconds and go on to 134mph.
The powertrain joins a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol and a 1.8-litre four-cylinder turbocharged diesel in the car’s list of engine options. It will be offered with six-speed manual or auto transmission options, while top-specification models will be available with all-wheel drive.
Trim levels range from entry-level SE-L to range-topping GT Sport Tech, while standard equipment on all cars includes LED headlights, rear parking sensors, cruise control and an eight-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility.
