Australia's most popular SUV looks to extend its hold on the market, with the Mazda CX-5 adding new technologies to boost performance and improve efficiency across all engine grades.

Committed to the pursuit of driving pleasure and achieving optimal efficiency in line with Mazda's Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030 vision, Mazda has introduced a range of innovative SKYACTIV technologies to the CX-5 engine lineup to improve real-world combustion, torque and power output.

The latest and most advanced SKYACTIV-D 2.2L diesel engine will debut on the Mazda CX-5. It adds a new two-stage twin turbocharger with variable turbine geometry, helping to increase maximum power output from 129kW to 140W and maximum torque from 420Nm to 450Nm.

Taking Mazda one step closer to its goal of ideal diesel combustion, the engine adopts Rapid Multi-stage Combustion, with a new stepped egg-profile combustion chamber in piston, and ultra-high-response multi-hole piezo injectors. Combined with the benefits of the turbocharger, the engine's compression ratio increases from 14.0:1 to 14.4:1.

A new water flow management system has also been added, quickening engine warm-up to help achieve better real-world fuel economy.

In another first for Mazda, the SKYACTIV-G 2.5L petrol engine adopts cylinder deactivation to reduce fuel consumption when driving at constant speeds.

Unlike other manufacturers employing similar technology, Mazda's system shuts down cylinders one and four in light-load situations, reducing pumping loss and mechanical resistance. When cruising at 40km/h, real world fuel economy is improved by approximately 20 percent, and by approximately five percent when at a constant 80km/h.
           
Ever evolving and improving Mazda's petrol engines, a suite of new technologies have been added to both SKYACTIV-G 2.5L and SKYACTIV-G 2.0L engines to further improve efficiency.

A more rapid combustion is achieved with new and precisely tuned intake ports, generating a stronger tumble flow during intake stroke. Combined with a reshaped piston crown, the result is greater torque at low-to-mid rpm and improved fuel economy at high rpms.

The nozzles of the multi-hole fuel injectors have been redesigned for more efficient fuel injection, increasing pressure from 20MPa to 30MPa to realise a faster and more broadly dispersed spray.

A new Water Flow Management system (WFM) adds a coolant control valve to reduce the flow of coolant around the walls of the combustion chamber, helping reduce heat loss while the engine warms up.

The engines also adopts asymmetrical oil rings, with a larger outer radius at the top and smaller radius at the bottom edge, and revised piston skirt curvature realises an ideal barrel shape. Combined, these changes reduce mechanical resistance, contributing to better fuel economy.

Collectively, the updates to the petrol engine range have accounted for a 1Nm increase in torque for the 2.5L variant, and a 1kW increase in power for the 2.0L variant.

The top of the range Akera will also see added functionality with a 360° view monitor added to its equipment, while the Touring will introduce windscreen Active Driving Display in lieu of the flip-up display on the previous model.

This more advanced CX-5 is also now more affordable, with price drops across the range. The Maxx Sport and Touring variants will retail for $400 less than the previous model, while GT and Akera will retail for $800 less.

Mazda Australia Managing Director, Vinesh Bhindi, said the updated CX-5 is another example of Mazda's commitment to constant evolution in pursuit of best in class performance and efficiency.

"The CX-5 introduces some major developments with cylinder deactivation and the variable geometry turbocharger, but it's the smaller technologies that advance Mazda to the ultimate goal of fuel efficiency in combustion engines," said Mr Bhindi.

"Mazda truly loves the motorcar, and will continue to refine, innovate and pursue technologies that enhance driving pleasure, while also delivering outstanding environmental and safety performance."

There are 12 varieties of the updated Mazda CX-5 on offer, including three Maxx, and three Maxx Sport, and two each of the Touring, GT and Akera grades.

The Mazda CX-5 comes with a choice of SKYACTIV-G 2.0L or SKYACTIV-G 2.5L petrol engines, or SKYACTIV-D 2.2L diesel engine, and is available in FWD and AWD drivetrains paired with a 6-speed SKYACTIV-MT manual transmission or a SKYACTIV-DRIVE automatic transmission.

The updated Mazda CX-5 is on sale now.

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Mazda CX-5 pricing

About Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030

Announced in 2017, "Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030" is Mazda's long-term vision for technology development that looks ahead to the year 2030.

As part of the new technology to achieve this vision, the company disclosed plans to introduce a next-generation engine called SKYACTIV-X in 2019. SKYACTIV-X will be the world's first commercial gasoline engine to use compression ignition.

Under the original "Sustainable Zoom-Zoom" vision announced in 2007, the company has striven to offer both driving pleasure and outstanding environmental and safety performance. In light of the rapid changes taking place in the automotive industry, the new vision takes a longer-term perspective and sets out how Mazda will use driving pleasure, the fundamental appeal of the automobile, to help solve issues facing people, the earth and society.

For further information on Mazda's Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030 vision, visit www.mazda.com.au.