The new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is rated at 184 hp and 185 lb-ft of torque; the current 2.0-liter Skyactiv four-cylinder produces 155 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque. Better yet, Mazda claims the 2.5-liter engine in front-drive form will match the 2013 CX-5′s EPA highway rating of 32 mpg (official EPA numbers are not out yet). The new engine will be offered on the Touring and Grand Touring models, which means the sole transmission choice will be the six-speed automatic. The 2.0-liter engine is still available in a base Sport trim, currently the only variant available with the six-speed manual. Pricing should be announced close to the sale launch. The good news, however, doesn’t end here.
For the Japan Car of the Year awards, the expected close battle between this year’s two most highly anticipated cars – CX-5 and the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ – didn’t materialize as the crossover from Hiroshima pulled away from the jointly developed 86/BRZ sports car to triumph by some 45 votes.
While the judges were duly impressed with the rear-drive 86/BRZ’s handling, high-revving boxer engine, and reasonable price, it was the CX-5’s Skyactiv-branded technologies, road manners, and economical Skyactiv-D 2.2-liter clean diesel engine (which has just been confirmed as an optional powerplant for the U.S. spec Mazda6) that most impressed the 60 jurors. Skyactiv is Mazda’s suite of new body, chassis, engine, and transmission technologies designed to increase fuel efficiency, reduce weight and emissions — all while improving the car’s handling and ride quality.
As one of only two foreigners on the all-Japanese jury panel, I found myself allocating my Top 10 votes due in large part to the Mazda’s all-new Skyactiv fuel-saving clean technologies do not rely on hybrid or electric power. It’s an impressive achievement for an automaker that has totally reinvented itself twice in just 10 years (the Mazda6 of 2002 signaled its ‘first’ rebirth).
In accepting the Japan COTY trophy, the so-called ‘Godfather’ of Skyactiv technology, Kiyoshi Fujiwara, said, “It was a long road. In the early days of Skyactiv development, I had a lot of opposition from colleagues suggesting this technology was not the answer. But we stayed true to our goals, and here we are today, fully recognized by the COTY jurors. Thank you!”
The BMW 3 Series – with 282 votes – snatched the Import Car of the Year going away from a strong finishing Range Rover Evoque polling 218 votes. And despite losing out to the CX-5, the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ didn’t go home empty handed — it scored the COTY steering committee’s special prize.
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