– Direct-Injection Turbocharged Drivetrain Powers the Ultimate MAZDA6 –
NEW YORK – Turbocharged. More than 270-horsepower. Stylishly elegant. Separately, each term has the power to stimulate the inner racecar driver in each of us, but together, they establish the newest dimension of Zoom-Zoom. The 2.3-liter, direct-injection turbocharged MAZDASPEED6is the ultimate MAZDA6, adding a sense of refined bravado to the Mazda family.
With output pegged at 274-horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, the six-speed manual transmission MAZDASPEED6 will be the most powerful, fastest and best-handling car ever sold by Mazda in the United States. The MAZDASPEED6 powerplant also enjoys the distinction of being the first gasoline direct-injection turbocharged engine available in the United States — paving the way for many more accolades to the already critically acclaimed MAZDA6 platform.
"Mazda engineers established a new level of excellence with every component of the MAZDASPEED6," said Weldon Munsey, vehicle line manager for Mazda North American Operations (MNAO). "With abundant top-end performance and ample torque at medium or low revs, the MAZDASPEED6 receives all the benefits of a turbo with amazing fuel economy and eco-friendly emission levels."
By introducing direct injection to turbo applications, Mazda has circumvented the usual drawback of turbocharging – poor low- and mid-range torque – while meeting strict exhaust regulations. By injecting fuel directly into the combustion chamber and allowing it to vaporize under more controlled conditions than in the intake tract, fuel mixture loading efficiency is improved and torque is increased by up to 10 percent at around 3000 rpm over a conventional intake system. Direct injection also yields an internal cooling effect within the combustion chamber, allowing a high 9.5:1 compression ratio. The turbocharger delivers significant boost from the moment the accelerator is engaged at approximately 2500 rpm.
A single-scroll turbocharger, lightweight and simple in construction, allows not only enhanced reliability, but also reduces greatly the required thermal capacity of the exhaust system. In turn, this reduced thermal capacity maintains the overall temperature of exhaust gasses and aids in minimizing catalyst light-off times, helping comply with increasingly strict cold-start and running emission regulations. Injecting atomized fuel directly into the cylinder causes a fine fuel mixture to form around the spark plug, which prevents engine-damaging misfires. The mixture allows a delay in ignition timing without risk of misfire, which also helps maintain exhaust gas temperature. The end result is an impressively efficient catalytic converter that minimizes harmful emissions and allows MAZDASPEED6 to meet both LEV-II state and Bin 5-A Federal regulations.
Mazda engineers began with a clean slate when designing the six-speed manual transmission. Engineers chose gear ratios to exploit the power band of the direct-injection turbocharged engine, allowing low gears for strong acceleration and high overdrive gears for effortless high-speed cruising. To ensure a pleasing balance between responsive shifts and smooth gear changes, and sufficient strength to cope with the power generated throughout each gear, the MAZEDSPEED6 employs triple cone synchronizers for first, second and third gears, with a double cone synchronizer for fourth gear. The synchronizers also help minimize shift effort.
Since 274-horsepower through the front wheels would cause inevitable torque steer and difficulty putting power to the ground, the MAZDASPEED6 employs an all-new Active Torque Split All-Wheel Drive system, which yields a superb balance between Zoom-Zoom driving excitement and assured stability under all road conditions. Unlike many competitor offerings, the torque transfer system found in the MAZDASPEED6 — which adjusts front/rear torque distribution between 100:0 and 50:50 for optimum drive power to each wheel — seamlessly integrates the inherent stability of all-wheel drive. Active Torque Coupling is controlled electronically and can react to wheel slippage much more quickly than conventional gear- or fluid-controlled systems.
Incorporating real-time input data on steering angle, yaw rate, lateral G force and engine status to determine road surface and driving conditions, the Active Torque Split system selects between three modes of front/rear torque distribution, allowing the driver an exceptionally pleasurable driving experience.
Normal, Sports and Snow (slippery) modes encompass the full range of potential driving conditions and ensure the MAZDASPEED6 delivers consistent performance regardless of the situation. To ensure consistent power delivery under all weather and driving conditions, the Power Take Off center differential aggressively distributes torque to the rear axle and is water-cooled.
Filling out the torque transfer system is a beefed-up rear differential that delivers unparalleled reliability. Increased torsion rigidity of the propeller shaft and rear differential mount enhances torque transfer noticeably more than competitor’s vehicles. Integrating a limited-slip differential optimizes torque transfer to the left and right rear wheels and ensures excellent power delivery when cornering or on slippery surfaces.
Every component of the MAZDASPEED6 has been optimized for strength and reliability to cope with the added load and heat of forced induction. Mazda engineers applied proprietary Advanced Precision Mazda Casting processes to the cylinder block and head to drastically improve strength, and cross-drilling between the block liners and between the valve bridges on the cylinder head improves the overall resistance to heat by providing greater surface contact area for the engine coolant. Other enhanced components include a crankshaft and connecting rods made of steel, increased diameters of connecting rod pins, optimized rod shape and the introduction of full floating pistons. Each and every moving part is stronger, more rigid and more durable.
To complete the Zoom-Zoom experience, engineers tuned the exhaust for optimized torque output and an exhaust note that is both subtle and aggressive with a pleasing linear curve at high engine speeds.
The thorough attention to detail that is synonymous with Mazda has yielded a 2.3-liter, direct-injection turbocharged MAZDASPEED6 drivetrain that further establishes Mazda on the front lines of automotive design and performance. With every component enhanced for strength and durability, and every aspect optimized to ensure seamless performance, the MAZDASPEED6 powertrain propels the newest member of the MAZDA6 family to a higher level of automotive excellence.
Mazda North American Operations is responsible for the sales and marketing, customer parts and service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., MNAO has more than 700 dealerships nationwide.
I really like what I see out of the Mazdaspeed line, I think they do a sweet job with whatever they touch (the Protege and Miata come to mind), so I'm sure the MS6 should be pretty cool too.
You should have seen the deals last fall on the '04 Miata Speed. Sticker approx. $27K could pick one up OTD w/ttl for $21K loaded w/ leather, cloth top, Bose sound system, all the extras. My conservative self went with a base '05 ZX3 since I have a '91 Miata in good shape. Here's the kicker the insurance on the ZX3 was slight higher for a guy my age w/o any tickets. Just not a practical car but sure could haul ass w/turbo@ 178hp rwd, racing suspension and 17" custom rims. Practical and conservative isn't much fun but needed a car that was more comfortable and could haul more stuff, people, cargo whatever.
if mazda can do this with their smaller cars, why wont ford? IMO youd see a lot more forced foci running around than miata's or sedans. the hatch is a hot body style for the present time, and for a couple years a turbod SVT would be nice. i mean they only let out the SVT for 3 yrs as it is now, take a year off, better the product, and make it even more fun to drive
Agreed sveet... I mean Ford owns Mazda and won't implement any of the seemingly popular ideas from tehe Mazdaspeed line into any of the Ford products! Do they think the Mazda name is associated with fast and sporty, and Ford is left for stuffy middle-class housewives? Sheesh!
Now I'm rarely impressed with sedans in general, I think they can look nice with some work, but off the dealer floor they seem to be Blah unless you're looking at a BMW or something. My buddy with a Mazdaspeed Protege though, damn! Such a sweet little sedan! Granted they only made like 2400 of them and only in 2003, I don't know if it was a flop, but I don't think it was, based on how this car looks/sounds/pulls/handles... it's a little beast, even before he started tinkering with it.
I just wish Ford would give their own name's products some balls every now and again, instead of passing off the nice ideas and goodies into other companies it owns or has controlling share over! The F150 is a lovely truck, but wasn't 2005 supposed to be the Year of the Car?!
Well as you all know that rumored is that the SVTFocus returns in 06 with allwheel drive and damn near 300hp with the turbo. We shall see what Ford comes up with next dealing with the focus.
Pzevinside wrote: Well as you all know that rumored is that the SVTFocus returns in 06 with allwheel drive and damn near 300hp with the turbo. We shall see what Ford comes up with next dealing with the focus.http://teamfocus.mywowbb.com/forum1/3603.html
Last edited on Wed May 25th, 2005 06:58 am by Pzevinside
I look at it this way...how many normal, elderly, Non-car people do you see driving Foci???? Millions...Ford makes their money from them not us car people who want the RS or a 2.3 Turboed SVT...why should they spend money on us few when they are making billions on normal, regular people who are happy and content with what a boring stock Focus can do..and are not interested in a faster, better car....nor will they ever modify one. I know I'd be in line buying an 06 SVTF with a 2.3 Turbo even if it didn't make 300 hp....and even if it didn't have all wheel drive....I'd be happy with 250 h.p., front wheel drive, limited slip, etc. etc.....Cause the way things are looking now, when 06, 07 comes around, I'll be shopping somewhere other then Ford...Hope we can change this site from Team Focus to just Team...
Last edited on Wed May 25th, 2005 01:51 pm by Blurry
____________________ 02 SVT Focus, CD Silver, No. 2032.
I imagine because the competition in the roadsters market has heated up considerably in the U.S.. All of the Miata Speeds are made in Japan and the quality and craftmanship to me is just superior. IMO
JT
Last edited on Wed May 25th, 2005 02:16 pm by JTex
I agree, Ford needs to come up with something soon. All the other big names are. SRT 4, SC Calvilier. You would think the 06 SVT info would be comeing out soon. 06's are going to be hitting the show room floor in 4 or 5 months. I wouldn't be surprised to see the SVT in 07.
