Photo: original photo by autoevolution
The Japanese manufacturer's flagship sedan isn't as snazzy as a BMW 5 Series, nor as boring as its German rivals. Its main strong points are the cool styling, uncluttered cabin design and what Mazda calls the SkyActiv-D, otherwise known as the 2.2-liter low-compression four-pot turbo diesel powerplant.
Until the 1.5-liter SkyActiv-D enters production along with the Euro-spec Mazda2, that's the only way you can burn some oil with a Mazda. But this apparently boring 2.2-liter turbo diesel powerplant is now a star in its own right thanks to a recent feat performed by the company's engineers and auto journalists on a circuit in the land most famous for its Autobahns.
So you have ATP's oval test track in Papenburg, Germany, a fleet of three Mazda6 sedans propelled by the 2.2 SkyActiv-D and a dying need to break some FIA records. Specifically, after 24 hours of having fun, Mazda managed to break no less than 20 speed records for diesel-powered production vehicles.
As such, the current FIA average speed record for diesel-powered production cars in the 2.0 - 2.5-liter category was surpassed by almost 7 mph (11 km/h). Mazda says that the record-braking run totaled some 3,293 miles or so, with 23 drivers taking part. No one was permitted to slipstream or drive more than 90 minutes per stint, so props to you Mazda and your frugal diesel mill for this accomplishment.
So you have ATP's oval test track in Papenburg, Germany, a fleet of three Mazda6 sedans propelled by the 2.2 SkyActiv-D and a dying need to break some FIA records. Specifically, after 24 hours of having fun, Mazda managed to break no less than 20 speed records for diesel-powered production vehicles.
The Mazda6 sedan 2.2 SkyActiv-D returns a combined fuel economy of 56 US mpg (4.2 liters per 100 km)
Take the lead car as a prime example of the feat - over the 24-hour-long eco-marathon, the Japanese sedan averaged 137.37 miles per hour (221 km/h), while the other two examples of the breed finished the run with average speeds within half a mile of the leading Mazda6.As such, the current FIA average speed record for diesel-powered production cars in the 2.0 - 2.5-liter category was surpassed by almost 7 mph (11 km/h). Mazda says that the record-braking run totaled some 3,293 miles or so, with 23 drivers taking part. No one was permitted to slipstream or drive more than 90 minutes per stint, so props to you Mazda and your frugal diesel mill for this accomplishment.
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