Mazda To Launch Superior HCCI Petrol Engines In 2019
By R.
Mazda has announced the latest upgrade to engine technology with the all-new HCCI engine which offers diesel-like fuel economy.
Short for “Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition”, the new HCCI petrol engine will debut as part of the 2019 Mazda 3 lineup. The announcement follows after several years of trying to perfect the technology on the heels of other automakers who have failed to produce the same.
Also known as Skyactiv-X or Spark Controlled Compression Ignition, HCCI technology promises to deliver efficiency figures never seen before in petrol-powered Mazdas, including up to 30% better fuel economy and torque performance over its 5-year-old direct-injection Skyactiv engines and lesser C02 emissions.
Using characteristics of both gasoline and diesel engines, the technology works by optimizing internal compression of fuel and air to ignite using pressure and not spark plugs that combine a small amount of gas and a spark to ignite it. Eventually, the goal is to reach the same level of fuel economy as diesel engines, only much cleaner.
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The benefit of HCCI is more even burning of fuel within the cylinder at reduced temperatures. Based on driving conditions, HCCI can revert to direct-injection and alternate between both modes, a process Mazda calls “Spark Controlled Compression Ignition.”
Comparing Mazda Skyactiv And HCCI Skyactiv-X EPA MPG estimates.
According to The Truth About Cars, HCCI engines are expected to improve the Mazda 3’s EPA MPG range from 28-32 to 37-43, the Mazda 6 from 28-30 to 37-40, and the Miata from 29 MPG to a staggering 39 MPG. Not bad as all of these are 2017 model estimates!
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All in all, Mazda has very ambitious plans to bring HCCI to market, with its first entry into the U.S. and Europe before expanding outward into other continents within the next several years. No word yet if the manufacturer has plans to share the technology with Toyota, stagger its release, eliminate today’s Skyactiv engines or focus more on electric vehicles with other automakers turning their focus away from conventional engines.
Source: The Truth About Cars