Mazda upgrades fuel efficiency

Mazda Motor Corp. aims to boost average fuel efficiency by 30% in the next seven years with new and reworked engines. The company will upgrade almost all its gasoline engines by 2015 and roll out a stop-start idle system, a gasoline rotary engine and new diesel engines. The automaker said it has already improved fuel efficiency by 30% since 2001. More efficient engines will account for about two-thirds of the fleets average increased fuel efficiency. The stop-start idle system, which Mazda calls Smart Idle Stop, will be introduced next year. It restarts the engine with direct fuel injection into the cylinders, which Mazda says is an industry first. The technology allows fast, quiet restarting and as much as 8% better fuel economy. All gasoline engines introduced after 2010 will have direct injection to boost power by 15% and squeeze out 20% better fuel consumption. Mazda’s new line of diesel engines to debut in early 2010 will feature direct injection and turbochargers. (June 30, 2008)