The first vehicles featuring the next-gen engine are set to arrive in 2027.
Financial news is usually dry, but every now and then, a car company slips in an interesting detail. That’s the case with Mazda’s latest quarterly report. Amid the usual numbers, there’s a mention of a new gasoline engine we hadn’t heard of before: the Skyactiv-Z.
Skyactiv-Z is set to replace both the Skyactiv-G and Skyactiv-X engines. While Skyactiv-G is widely used, the Skyactiv-X with its homogeneous-charge compression-ignition (HCCI) technology never fully took off. Mazda plans to phase out both engines, introducing Skyactiv-Z as a new four-cylinder model. Insights from its development will also help Mazda refine its larger inline-six engines, making them cleaner and more efficient.
Since the first vehicles with this engine won’t launch until 2027, Mazda is keeping details under wraps. However, they do share that the new four-cylinder will use a lambda one combustion approach to “achieve high thermal efficiency through super lean burn combustion over a broad range from low to high rpm, delivering both excellent environmental and driving performance.”
Mazda plans to debut the Skyactiv-Z engine in vehicles sold in Europe and the United States. Engineers are currently working to ensure the four-cylinder meets both Euro 7 regulations and the EPA’s Tier 4 standards.
In related developments, Mazda aims to streamline its engine lineup by focusing on fewer powertrains. As for the rotary engine, Mazda reports “smooth progress” after reestablishing a dedicated team in February, saying, “The development of emission compliance for the rotary engine is very challenging, but we are making good progress.”
In late May, Mazda, Toyota, and Subaru held a joint conference to introduce new combustion engines. Toyota has already shared details on its new ultra-efficient four-cylinder engines, and Subaru recently announced the Crosstrek’s new fuel-saving hybrid setup.
Now for some speculation: since the next MX-5 will continue with a combustion engine (even as the Skyactiv-G is phased out), it’s possible that the fifth-gen Miata will be powered by a Skyactiv-Z engine. Whether this will include any electrification remains to be seen, though hopefully it will be minimal to avoid adding weight to the agile roadster.
