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Mazda6 shatters diesel speed record
Mid-size sedan pips previous 2.0-2.5 litre record, exceeding 220km/h on a German test trackDiesels are not known for setting new speed records, but the Mazda6 powered by its 2.2-litre SKYACTIV-D four-cylinder has done just that – reaching above 220km/h on a banked oval in Germany.
Three cars driven at the Papenburg test oval for a 24-hour period last weekend claimed 20 FIA speed records, according to Mazda. Most of the new records set were for "average speed records over a variety of distances," Mazda advises. But it was the lead car's average speed of 221.072km/h that stood out, trumping the previous record of 209.824km/h for diesel-engined cars displacing between 2.0 and 2.5 litres.
Drivers from seven European countries took part, rotating through the three cars to keep them on the move. Of the 23 involved, some were journalists, some were driving professionals and the balance were enthusiasts. Each driver worked a 1.5-hour shift, and the cars were not permitted, under the FIA rules, to slipstream behind one of the other cars.
At the conclusion of the event the three cars posted similar average speeds with less than 1km/h (0.89km/h) between the three.
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