Mazda bares plan to progressively introduce clean diesel vehicles in Japan

In the spring of 2012, Mazda Motor Corporation will introduce the new CX-5 crossover SUV. Henceforth, the company plans to progressively launch clean diesel vehicles to the Japanese market. The vehicles will be powered by “SKYACTIVE-D 2.2,‘ the next generation 2.2 liter clean diesel engine of Mazda. “SKYACTIVE-D 2.2 does not need expensive nitrogen oxide (NOx) after treatment technology and it is the only passenger vehicle diesel engine in the world which passed Japan’s Post New Long-Term Emissions Regulations. Mazda’s CX-5 will combine a clean diesel engine with an idling stop system, the first of its kind in Japan. The CX-5 will deliver a torque of 420Nm and will have an 18.6m/L capacity, which will make it the best fuel economy SUV in the Japanese market. Clean diesel vehicles have not been able to take off in Japan because of the expensive NOx after-treatment technology required so that the exhaust gas regulations could be met. With innovative technology, Mazda’s CX-5 will have clean diesel combustion without the need for NOx after-treatment. CX-5 will thus have approximately twice as much torque as other gasoline engine vehicles of the same size and 30% better fuel economy. (November 11, 2011)