2014 Mazda6 Diesel Debuts for North America: 2012 LA Auto Show
The wait is finally over today as Mazda finally confirmed that that it will offer the SkyActiv-D diesel powerplant in the North American market optionally in the 2014 Mazda6.
Neither the car nor the engine are news by themselves — Mazda’s KODO Soul of Motion design language has been floating around the streets on the CX-5 crossover and the Mazda6 is nothing new. Neither is the SkyActiv-D engine, for that matter. AutoGuide had the chance to test drive a car equipped with the oil-burning powerplant during a review of the prototype. What is new, on the other hand, is official confirmation that the two will be wed for North American sale.
SEE ALSO: Mazda SkyActiv Prototype Review
Mazda uses a relatively low compression ratio to give its diesel engine a higher redline than most motors using the fuel would be capable of. Despite that, it still offers plenty of torque. While Mazda hasn’t officially released power figures for the engine seen today, the version as tested more than a year ago packed 165 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. While that’s really not a lot of torque for a modern diesel, the real magic is in how high the motor spins — 5,200 rpm to be exact.
Still mum on more details, the brand says it will reveal more specifications including options packages and, of course, power ratings closer to the car’s on-sale date. That information won’t be far considering the gas-powered version of the car is slated for dealers in early 2013 with the diesel version to follow in mid 2013.
Luke is an energetic automotive journalist who spends his time covering industry news and crawling the internet for the latest breaking story. When he isn't in the office, Luke can be found obsessively browsing used car listings, drinking scotch at his favorite bar and dreaming of what to drive next, though the list grows a lot faster than his bank account. He's always on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> looking for a good car conversation. Find Luke on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> and <A title="Luke on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/112531385961538774338?rel=author">Google+</A>.
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2014 mada 6 price ... ??
Still making its oil level rise? After you read this, Google "Mazda diesel oil level problems" and see what's been going on in Australia and elsewhere....