They knew that if they could stop a petrol engine with the compression and expansion-stroke pistons in the right position, they could initiate a rapid restart by igniting fuel in them. But to do this, fuel had to be injected directly into the cylinder. This was the birth of Mazda’s innovative direct-injection petrol + i-Stop technology. When the driver pushes the clutch pedal to engage first gear, the engine restarts smoothly in just 0.35 seconds – about twice as fast as conventional systems.
A Materials Revolution – Mazda’s Single Nano-Technology Catalyst and a new DPF
Conventional catalysts have large amounts of precious metals embedded onto their ceramic surfaces to react with exhaust gases and ‘catalyze’ their toxins. Several years ago, Mazda engineers used single nano-technology to successfully embed precious metal particles individually onto a ceramic base, avoiding the ‘clumping’ problems of the old technology and achieving a 70 percent saving in the precious metals required, with no drop-off in performance. For its diesel engines, Mazda made a particulate filter (DPF) with a ceramic base structure that allows the oxygen molecules embedded in it to release when burning off diesel particulate matter. This improves DPF efficiency, requires less fuel, and reduces the need for filter regeneration.
Back to the Basics – Weight Saving Technologies
For any vehicle, weight gain kills performance, diminishes agility and increases fuel consumption. Driven by the ambition to build ever more efficient cars that are still fun-to-drive, Mazda introduced its ‘gram strategy’ to lower vehicle weight by scrutinising every component at the initial design stage to indentify and implement possible weight savings.
Furthering the more strength with less weight ethos, ultra-high tensile steels for a stronger and lighter body and suspension were produced with advanced casting technologies. Engineers even introduced lighter neodymium magnets for the audio speakers. By going back to the basics, Mazda became one of the first carmakers to introduce a new generation of cars that were lighter, stronger, more fuel-efficient and cleaner than their predecessors – despite the fitting of additional safety technologies and more infotainment equipment as standard.
A Materials Revolution – Mazda’s Single Nano-Technology Catalyst and a new DPF
Conventional catalysts have large amounts of precious metals embedded onto their ceramic surfaces to react with exhaust gases and ‘catalyze’ their toxins. Several years ago, Mazda engineers used single nano-technology to successfully embed precious metal particles individually onto a ceramic base, avoiding the ‘clumping’ problems of the old technology and achieving a 70 percent saving in the precious metals required, with no drop-off in performance. For its diesel engines, Mazda made a particulate filter (DPF) with a ceramic base structure that allows the oxygen molecules embedded in it to release when burning off diesel particulate matter. This improves DPF efficiency, requires less fuel, and reduces the need for filter regeneration.
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| Photo: Mazda |
Back to the Basics – Weight Saving Technologies
For any vehicle, weight gain kills performance, diminishes agility and increases fuel consumption. Driven by the ambition to build ever more efficient cars that are still fun-to-drive, Mazda introduced its ‘gram strategy’ to lower vehicle weight by scrutinising every component at the initial design stage to indentify and implement possible weight savings.
Furthering the more strength with less weight ethos, ultra-high tensile steels for a stronger and lighter body and suspension were produced with advanced casting technologies. Engineers even introduced lighter neodymium magnets for the audio speakers. By going back to the basics, Mazda became one of the first carmakers to introduce a new generation of cars that were lighter, stronger, more fuel-efficient and cleaner than their predecessors – despite the fitting of additional safety technologies and more infotainment equipment as standard.
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