Development of SKYACTIV Engines from a Perspective of Environmental Improvement

Abstract

Mazda defined the ideal state of the internal combustion engine and drew up a development process by backcasting from the ideal state. Through the process, the first-generation SKYACTIV gasoline and diesel engines were developed with the world's highest and lowest compression ratios respectively, which enabled the engines to achieve 15 to 20% lower fuel consumption. The internal combustion engine still has room for improvement and is expected to have higher thermal efficiency if specific heat ratio is increased by making an air-fuel mixture leaner, combustion period is shortened, and adiabaticity is enhanced. Mazda will continue to improve the efficiency of the internal combustion engine as this is a right approach to improving the earth's environment also from the perspective of reducing Well-to-Wheel CO₂ emissions.