Mazda diesel autos tipped

An all-new transmission - SKY-Drive - is under development in Japan and will be suitable for use in everything from the Mazda3 to CX-9 with diesel power.  It is part of the company's SKY development program, which is spearheaded by a 2-litre petrol engine intended to deliver a 15 per cent improvement to both torque and fuel efficiency.

The first look at the SKY program came at last year's Tokyo Motor Show, where a 1.3- litre SKY engine was fitted to its Kiyora concept car.  A SKY-D engine is also on the way, according to Mazda's Masazumi Wakayama, for use in the next-generation CX all-wheel drives and the mid-sized Mazda6.

The transmission for the Sky engines is an all-new auto with a five per cent efficiency improvement, although few other details are available. No-one at Mazda will discuss the number of ratios, the possible use of constantly-variable technology, or a euro-style twin-clutch deive system.  But the SKY-Drive automatic is set for introduction and its potential for diesel use is obvious.

"Thee SKY-G petrol engine is coming in 2011 with SKY-Drive automatic transmission," says Steve Maciver of Mazda Australia.  "The diesel is being developed to work with that transmission, but we haven't confirmed when it's coming. We haven't actually been given a date from Japan.  We're keen to get it as soon as we can. We recognise there is a demand there from customers and we're keen to satisfy that demand." 

The transmission is expected to cope with up to 400 Newton-metres of torque, which means it should easily work with the CX-9 at the top end and - since the CX models are all-wheel drive without a centre transfer case or crawler gears - and also with the Mazda3 and Mazda6 passenger car layouts.  "We believe the transmission is being developed on several models,"  Maciver says.