LA MOTOR SHOW: Sixes to return: Mazda R&D boss
Mazda R&D boss says right-sizing or up-sizing engines is now emerging as a trendThe engine downsizing trend is over.
That's the belief of Mazda’s global head of research and development, Kiyoshi Fujiwara. And his company's decision to stay with larger capacity engines have been vindicated.
In fact, the R&D boss suggests that larger capacity engines, far from being consigned to the scrap heap, will be needed to hit future emission and fuel economy targets.
"A 3.0-litre or 4.0-litre engine might be better [for some larger vehicles] for more severe emission rules. Right-sizing or up-sizing is now emerging as a trend," he stated.
On the introduction of its naturally aspirated SKYACTIV lean-burn high-compression technology, Mazda was criticised by many for eschewing turbocharging and smaller capacity engines.
This writer was one of them.
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But Fujiwara, Mazda’s Director and Senior Executive Officer in charge of research and development, contends customer feedback regarding driveability and real world fuel consumption of the smaller turbo powerplants has vindicated his engineers' decisions.
The various emerging emission issues with downsized petrol engines also seem to support Fujiwara and Mazda's case.
"At last most of our European manufacturer [colleagues] have begun to speak that downsizing is [reversing]," Fujiwara told motoring.com.au at today's Los Angeles Auto Show opening.
"Five years ago when we introduced SKYACTIV we said [larger] capacity was the right direction. We said real world economy is important," Fujiwara commented.
Mazda recently launched its first SKYACTIV turbo-charged four-cylinder in the CX-9 SUV, just crowned carsales.com.au COTY. But Fujiwara was wary about committing to other uses for the 2.5-litre blown engine.
"The wind has changed, therefore the turbocharger system has become less important for future technology," he stated.
Indeed, when asked by motoring.com.au whether that meant Mazda would seek to develop such engines and whether that meant a return to six-cylinder in Mazdas like the CX-9, Fujiwara intimated yes, with the qualifier; "budget permitting".
"A 3.0-litre or 4.0-litre engine capacity is hard to achieve with an I4 [inline four].
"If we have some money to invest, to create multi-cylinder [SKYACTIV] engines is a possibility," he stated.
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