Mazda to Reinvent the Engine

Mazda to Reinvent the Engine To Challenge The EV World.
By Car Domain – Your Aussie home for car news, fun facts and bold opinions

Mazda’s been part of the Aussie car scene since the 1960s, carving out a reputation for building tough, stylish and driver-friendly cars that suit everything from the city commute to long weekend drives. Who hasn’t seen a Mazda 2 zipping through Melbourne or a CX-5 cruising the Gold Coast? Over the years, they’ve become a firm favourite with Australian drivers thanks to their balance of reliability, performance, and value

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But Mazda hasn’t just been cruising, they’ve been trying to revolutionise the humble engine. One bold step in that direction was the creation of the Skyactiv-X engine. It was hyped as a major leap forward for internal combustion engines (ICE), using something called spark-controlled compression ignition, a clever way to blend the best of petrol and diesel tech. On paper, it sounded like a masterstroke: more power, better fuel efficiency, and lower emissions.

In practice? Well… let’s just say things were a bit more complicated.

Sure, the Skyactiv-X delivered some fuel savings compared to older engines, but not the jaw-dropping kind many were expecting. It was also pretty complex under the bonnet, making it tricky (and expensive) to build and maintain. Some drivers weren’t sold on how it drove either; it needed higher revs to feel punchy, which wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea. And when Mazda tried to roll it out across more models, they hit a few roadblocks.

The tech just didn’t scale easily, and it quickly became clear to Mazda’s engineers that while Skyactiv-X was clever, it wasn’t the answer to the fast-changing demands of drivers or environmental standards. With EVS on the rise and customers becoming pickier, it was time to shift gears again, and that’s what set the stage for their next big move.

Enter the Skyactiv-Z engine (yes, we’re nearly there). But before we dive into that, it’s worth noting Mazda isn’t the only brand trying to give the internal combustion engine one last epic chapter.

Car makers across the globe have tried rewriting the rules. Hydrogen combustion engines have been hyped by Toyota and BMW, promising clean driving by swapping petrol for hydrogen. Sounds great, right? No petrol, zero CO2, and exhaust that’s water. But the reality? Not so simple. Hydrogen has to be stored at insanely high pressure (up to 700 bar!), which means bulky, expensive tanks. And refuelling? Good luck finding a hydrogen pump anywhere in Australia.

Then there’s the pollution issue. Even though they’re cleaner than petrol engines, hydrogen engines still release nitrogen oxides, nasty stuff that pollutes the air. So, despite the big promises, this tech hasn’t taken over the industry.

And don’t forget Koenigsegg, the Swedish supercar maker, which ditched the camshaft with their wild free valve engine. Instead of using the traditional metal shaft to open and close valves, they used an electrohydraulic system to control each valve independently. Cool stuff, and definitely pushing the limits, but not exactly something you’ll see in your next family SUV anytime soon.

So, what does all this mean? While every new idea had its moment in the spotlight, none have quite cracked the code. But each experiment helped shape what’s coming next.

Mazda’s learned a lot from Skyactiv-X. And with lessons in hand (and maybe a little chip on their shoulder), they’re now doubling down on Skyactiv-Z, a hybrid powertrain they believe could flip the EV game on its head.

But more on that very soon. Trust us, it’s a wild story you won’t want to miss.

Would you give a supercharged hybrid over a full EV a go? Let us know in the comments!