Posted on 10/26/2006 6:29:10 AM PDT by Red Badger
Mazda has gained about a two-year advantage over its rival Japanese manufacturers by launching a turbo-diesel passenger car on the Australian market.
Mazda6 diesel wagon
Mazda has placed two Mazda6 diesel models in showrooms - a $35,205 wagon and a $38,090 luxury hatchback. Both are powered by MZR-CD 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engines that produce 105 kW and 360 Nm.
But the big attraction will be the claimed 5.9 L/100 km fuel consumption, compared with the MZR 2.3-litre petrol-engined 6's 8.8 L/100 km official average.
On the highway, Mazda claims an average of 5.0 L/100 km for the diesels and a cruising range beyond 1000 km.
One limitation will be the diesel's six-speed manual gearbox. The car is primarily aimed at Europe where automatic transmissions are not popular.
The lack of an auto option and other diesel turn-offs such as dirty fuel pumps at petrol stations have prompted Mazda to set the diesel Mazda6's sales rate at just 50 a month. The petrol models regularly sell more than 800 a month.
The Mazda6 diesel is very much a toe in the water, but if it meets expectations, diesel should be part of the second-generation 6 line-up arriving in 2008. There is also potential for a turbo-diesel version of the 3, which is already sold in Europe.
Rivals Mitsubishi and Suzuki have no plans for diesel passenger cars in Australia. Honda and Subaru harbour ambitions, but Honda is waiting for its engines to ether enter their second generation, and Subaru is yet to start its diesel engine production.
Toyota and its luxury division Lexus are eschewing diesel in favour of a petrol-electric hybrid strategy. There is no shortage of turbo-diesel engine choices among European importers, and Holden exploits its relationship with General Motors subsidiary Opel to offer a turbo-diesel Astra.
All this activity has been driven by a big growth in turbo-diesel passenger car sales this year, although volume will finish at only about 15,000 in 2006. Petrol-powered passenger cars sell by the hundreds of thousands each year.
Mazda has been considering a 6 turbo-diesel since 2003, but is waiting for the second-generation Euro IV-compliant MZR-CD. Common-rail direct injection, a variable geometry turbocharger and a ceramic particulate filter that gets the car a 3.5-star emissions rating are all part of the design.
It is likely that Mazda will eventually launch a turbo-diesel version of the CX-7 crossover sports utility vehicle that goes on sale here next month with a turbo-petrol engine. The larger CX-9 - yet to be confirmed for Australian sale - would also be a candidate for diesel.
It's better than the FIAT..........
Somewhere, in a box in the garage, I have a set of glow-plugs from an MB 190D...
You can sell them on eBay.............
Now that's a real car, not a toy like that Fiat. Honda makes a diesel civic that's currently or soon to be available in Europe for about the same price.
Here's a prediction: clean diesels are going to kill the hybrid passenger car market in the next five years.
5.9L/100 km ~ 40 mpg
8.8L/100 km ~ 27 mpg
On the highway, Mazda claims an average of 5.0 L/100 km for the diesels and a cruising range beyond 1000 km.
5.0L/100 km ~ 47 mpg
I wonder what kind of mileage a diesel hybrid would get??
It should get about 30 percent better milage than a gas hybrid.
One limitation will be the diesel's six-speed manual gearbox. The car is primarily aimed at Europe where automatic transmissions are not popular........
They raise a great point about dirty diesel pumps. I hate that when you are all dressed up and get diesel stench on you from the damn nasty pump.
I don't understand the big deal.
Back in the late 70's during the gas crisis my wife put down a deposit on a turbo-diesel rabbit that got around 60 mpg. We went back to pick it up and sign the papers when I got off work and they had sold it to someone that offered more money than we did. We took back our deposit and went down the street to the Datsun dealer and bought a gasoline 510 hatchback that had more room, better pickup and cost less but it only got around 53 mpg. Now, 30 years later they are trying to brag about 40 mpg????
I was telling my wife the same thing a couple of days ago - can anyone tell me why hybrids would survive against clean diesels?
A lot of pollution controls have been added since then that "rob" the mileage and the EPA methods of measuring the "real world" fuel economy have changed, too...........
Look for a new line of Men's and Ladies fragrances to hit the market, Eau de Diesel..............
I'm not that enthused over automatics, either........
I don't know, but it seems like it would be oxymoronic to add an electric system to an already functioning good mileage diesel............
Personally, I wish we could get more cars with manual transmissions here. Generally, I prefer a manual if I can get it.
Cars are heavier now, in part due to safety regulations.
Almost all of my cars/trucks have been manuals. But I'm getting lazy in my old age..............
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