Mazda Shinari to influence design of next 6 / Atenza

The four-door sports concept Shinary will influence the design of the next-gen Mazda 6 / Atenza (マツダアテンザ), according to information from Mazda itself. The new design language is going to replace the "Nagare" one, with the latter one applied only to one model, the new 5, aka Premacy (プレマシー).

The next-gen Atenza is expect to be launched in spring 2012.

SKYACTIV technology: What the future holds for Mazda

Mazda has released details about its next-gen powertrain technologies with the name SKYACTIV, including completely new engines, transmissions, bodyshells and platforms that will be launched in 2011. 

Since Mazda claims that SKYACTIV technologies will be launched next year,  the first model to benefit will be the new Demio/2 which goes on sale in the first half of 2011. Thereafter, we can expect that the next models coming with the new technologies will be the new MX-5 (earlier post) and 6 (Atenza). 

SKYACTIV-G petrol engine

• Fuel consumption levels that until now have been the reserve of hybrid powertrains 
• Compression ratio of 14.0:1, the highest compression ratio ever used in a production petrol engine anywhere in the world 
• 15 percent drop in fuel consumption and 15 percent increase in torque output

SKYACTIV-D diesel engine

• Compression ratio at 14.0:1, the lowest ever employed for a diesel engine 
• 20 percent drop in fuel consumption 
• Two-phase turbocharger delivering smooth and linear responses from low to high engine speeds and increasing low and high-end torque up to the rev limit of 5,200 rpm

SKYACTIV-Drive automatic transmission

• It combines the advantages of a conventional automatic transmission, a continuously-variable transmission and a double-clutch transmission
• Direct driving feel that is comparable to a manual transmission  
• Improved fuel economy of up to 7 percent compared to a current, conventional torque-converter automatic transmission

SKYACTIV-MT manual transmission

• Lightweight and compact manual transmission contributing to lowering fuel consumption 
• Compact size allowing efficient vehicle packaging

SKYACTIV-Body & SKYACTIV-Chassis

• Newly-developed, high-strength bodyshell being 8 percent lighter and 30 percent stiffer 
• Outstanding crash safety with an excellent foundation for agile handling attributes 
• Use of high-tensile steels and optimised bonding materials 
• Newly-developed suspension that is 14 percent lighter than the current suspension

In further phases, efficiency improving technologies, such as regenerative brake systems and hybrid power systems, will be successively introduced.