Zoom-Zoom Meets Fuel-Efficiency: SkyActiv Explained

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Known for making some genuinely engaging cars in the past, with its new SkyActiv technology Mazda is looking to hang its hat on combining fun-to-drive with fuel-efficiency.

Mazda says it’s more than just a buzzword. SkyActiv is a whole new philosophy that’s going to change the way the Japanese automaker builds cars. It also defines a whole new era for Mazda vehicles.

First of all, SkyActiv doesn’t just mean an engine, or a transmission, or weight savings. It’s all of those elements, and more.

Moving forward, automakers are aiming to make their cars more fuel-efficient in any way possible. Often, the single-minded view of using a smaller engine, or a more efficient transmission comes at the price of driving dynamics, and a less fun-to-drive vehicle. That just won’t work at Mazda.

Read on to find out how Mazda's lead product engineer, Dave Coleman explains Mazda's SkyActiv philosophy.