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Mazda has announced that it is working on a homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine, set to join its lineup in 2019. This statement follows speculation about a groundbreaking engine technology from the company. While this will not be the first HCCI engine ever created, it marks the first one to be offered commercially.
The new engine will be named Skyactiv-X. It has similarities to diesel engines in that the fuel-air mixture in the cylinders is ignited through compression; however, it will not use diesel fuel. Skyactiv-X will utilize a unique combustion technique that makes it commercially feasible in ways that previous HCCI engines have not been. This method is referred to as Spark Controlled Compression Ignition, allowing the engine to use conventional spark plugs at lower RPMs, rather than relying solely on compression ignition across the entire RPM range.
In contrast to most diesel engines that typically feature turbochargers, the Skyactiv-X HCCI engine will be supercharged, providing a torque improvement of 10 to 30 percent compared to the existing Skyactiv-G engine. Mazda claims that fuel efficiency will exceed that of the gasoline engine it replaces by 20 to 30 percent, and will be 35 to 45 percent more efficient than a comparable Mazda engine from 2008. Currently, Mazda produces a Skyactiv-D diesel engine, and the company asserts that Skyactiv-X will match or surpass the fuel efficiency of its diesel counterpart.
This presents an interesting alternative to both diesel and electric power sources. Recently, a Mazda executive expressed the view that the notion of the “death of the internal combustion engine is overrated.” With fewer resources than larger automotive brands to fully transition to electric vehicles, such innovative developments could be key for Mazda to remain competitive in the automotive industry moving forward.
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