Why Mazda flies against the current, increasing engine capacity

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Its Japanese manufacturer “Mazdahas launched its largest model, the CX-60, with a three-liter petrol engine or 3.3-liter diesel. Even the rechargeable hybrid version has a 2.5-liter engine. For comparison, the Hyundai Santa Fe The range includes 1.6 and 2.2 liter powertrains, while the Seat Tarraco has 1.5 and 2 liter engines.

A smaller engine wears out faster in city traffic

Reducing engine displacement is linked to increasingly stringent environmental requirements. Manufacturers whose vehicles exceed the CO2 emission threshold have to pay hundreds of millions of euros in fines. Guntars Pulss, editor of the magazine “Profi Latvija” and a long-term member of the Latvian Car Jury of the Year, explains how manufacturers manage to maintain engine power by reducing their volume.

“In an attempt to emerge between environmental requirements and different national tax systems, manufacturers have tried all sorts of technologies over the past twenty years to come to the conclusion that the smallest turbocharged engine requires less fuel at constant low loads, so The automakers, together with component manufacturers, have invested heavily in turbines and direct injection systems, the latter providing a very precise fuel supply that affects both consumption and emissions, while the turbines deliver more power than ever before with more engine capacity. air and by creating a suitable fuel mixture, a small engine can deliver significant torque and power in the short moments when the accelerator is pressed or someone is overtaking, “the journalist explains.

He also points out that the shift to a smaller workload and the widespread use of turbines have been facilitated by new knowledge of materials and the ability to make various components more accurately.

However, in addition to bonuses such as light weight and economy, small engines also have some disadvantages. For example, because such an engine is much more intensive, it is loaded more, which in turn directly affects the service life. In order not to reduce resources, small engines must be operated prudently and the recommended maintenance cycle must be followed.

“Every manufacturer should mention in the car’s owner’s manual that the recommended oil change interval is only valid for normal operation, ie if the machine is driven regularly not only on the city but also on the highway at a more or less constant speed and is not subjected to excessive load. On models, the self-diagnostic system takes into account driving conditions and adjusts maintenance time if necessary.

Guntars cites courier transport as an example of a heavy load. It travels mainly in the city and is switched on and off 20-50 times a day, so the engine does it just like starting from scratch all day at very short intervals. Of course, in this mode the parts wear out faster. “In such an operating scenario, the oil should be changed twice as often as recommended by the manufacturer, as the lubrication efficiency decreases much faster than when driving at a constant speed on the highway,” explains the editor of “Profi Latvija”.

Advantages of a larger engine

There is a saying that the workload cannot be too much, and Mazda’s engineers seem to have followed this philosophy when developing new engines. It should be noted, however, with one important remark: the engines of the new CX-60 stand out with their extremely high efficiency, namely that the thermal efficiency of these powertrains reaches up to 40 percent under favorable conditions. As this figure is usually around 20 percent for internal combustion engines, the Japanese result is particularly impressive. However, the new crossover’s rechargeable hybrid system is also equipped with a 2.5-liter e-Skyactiv engine.

Speaking of the characteristics of larger engines, Guntars Pulss says that they usually have a higher torque and a wider speed range. Even when driving dynamically, the engine runs at a lower speed and, unlike small engines, is subjected to less load. According to Guntars, this allows large engines to last longer even in harsh operating conditions.

“Mazda’s specialists have always been on their way to finding innovative solutions. While others are using turbines, this Japanese manufacturer has paid close attention to fuel injection systems, experimenting with blending and compression, and this work has resulted in systems such as Skyactiv- “The G” and “Skyactiv-X” are not only economical, but also combine high-speed petrol and low-torque diesel. In general, they should last longer than small engines with equivalent power, “says Guntars Pulss.

In addition, higher volume does not automatically mean high fuel consumption. The so-called CX-60 rechargeable hybrid version, even with a 2.5-liter engine, consumes just 1.5 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers (according to WLTP). In addition, this power unit has a high power – the system develops 327 hp, which allows the large family crossover to reach a hundred in 5.8 seconds. The aforementioned Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid version with a 1.6-liter petrol engine consumes 1.6 liters, but the system has 265 hp and the car accelerates to a hundred seconds longer – 8.8 seconds.

The difference in fuel economy between rechargeable hybrids is even greater when the battery is discharged and only the internal combustion engine is running – then the mass of the battery and electric motors becomes an additional burden. Engines with a larger displacement are better in this situation as well, because of the advantages already mentioned – a larger speed range combined with a relatively high torque. This not only saves fuel by reducing the load on the engine, but also extends its life.

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