Featured Mazda competes for thermal efficiency against Toyota with Skyactiv-Z

I like that companies like Mazda are trying to make engines more efficient. But I do like that Toyota makes a very aerodynamic car, the Prius. Their sedans are pretty sleek too. Too bad they don't offer an aerodynamic cargo-carrying design anymore.

People seem to think that you can take any shape and make it aerodynamic. But I remember all too well when Mazda killed their Mazda 6 Wagon in favor of the CX-5, yet the CX-5 got worse fuel mileage even being tuned down to produce less horsepower and was smaller, having less passenger and cargo space.

My thoughts are, first, get rid of the boxy crossover design if you want fuel efficiency and replace it with something that makes more aerodynamic sense (Drag = Frontal Area x Cd x Fluid Density x V^2). Then worry about engine efficiency.

 

Mazda has been willing to tolerate more risk on advanced engine technology for decades.

Their rotary engines, the Miller-cycle engine they used in the late 80s, direct-injection, gasoline compression engines, and their "starterless" engine are all examples.

Not always successful in these endeavors, but I give them a lot of points for trying.

Our other car is a Mazda 6 Sedan. I would've camped out overnight for the station wagon if they'd still offered it. But sadly now the sedan is discontinued as well, which probably means it's our first and last Mazda- we just don't buy crossovers or SUVs.

 

How efficient something is turns on what the need is. Grocery getter? Pulling a trailer? Traveling just a couple blocks?
Putting the same displacement in an internal combustion engine though?



Isn't that why Volkswagen put a diesel in the car rated with the highest efficiency ever? Even over the past 1½ decades?

Volkswagen 1-litre car - Wikipedia

Plug-in hooked up to turbo diesel wins. Gets over 200mpg. 250 units sold. Oh! too expensive? There you go, not accounting for cost. Here's to hoping Mazda is successful, but again, how it's packaged comes into the equation. Yet it isn't going to beat a bicycle when it comes to efficiency