Mazda Sneakily Announces New Four-Cylinder Internal Combustion Engine Program

Many have wondered which direction Mazda would take with future powertrain development, as the automaker has talked about rotary range-extending engines, plug-in hybrids, and more. We’re now starting to get a clearer picture of how Mazda’s propulsion systems may look going forward, as it recently snuck some significant news into its latest financial report.

Mazda’s new four-cylinder engine is named Skyactiv-Z, a somewhat familiar title for enthusiasts. It will replace the automaker’s current Skyactiv line and will focus on lower emissions and improved efficiency.

The announcement noted that the new Skyactiv-Z will use “lambda 1 combustion,” which optimizes the air-fuel mixture for the best possible thermal efficiency. Mazda’s effort would place its engines on the level of those made by Porsche, which maintain a lamba of 1.00, otherwise known as the “perfect burn.”

Surprisingly, Mazda’s new engines will comply with the extremely strict Euro 7 emissions rules in Europe and Tier 4 requirements in the United States. The automaker’s approach differs from nearly all its competitors, most of which have pursued electrification to meet the tightening regulatory requirements.

That said, Mazda said it had learned lessons from developing its new inline-six powertrains, noting that the development efforts for the larger internal combustion engines would translate to the new four-cylinder. The company did not rule out electrification alongside its new combustion engine, so we could see some form of a hybrid or plug-in hybrid to boost its efficiency numbers.

[Images: Mazda]

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