Happy 1st Anniversary, SKYACTIV Technology!

In June 2011, Mazda Motor Corporation sold the very first car that comes with SKYACTIV Technology, which is essentially a facelifted version of the third-generation Demio. We celebrate the 1st anniversary Mazda's SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY, which promises the best fuel economy without sacrificing performance. Let's have a brief moment to take a look at the Mazda SKYACTIV models but first...

What is SKYACTIV Technology?

Part of Mazda's vision to create a perfect harmony between ecology of the hybrid car and the performance of the gasoline-powered car, the term SKYACTIV was born. The SKYACTIV technology provides driving pleasure and outstanding eco-friendly and safely performance to customers with the fuel efficient engines, efficient transmissions, and "lighter and rigid" platforms. To learn more about SKYACTIV, visit http://www.mazda.com/mazdaspirit/skyactiv/

SKYACTIV No. 1: Demio

2012 Mazda Demio

The new 2012 Mazda Demio is the first Mazda to be equipped with the all new P3-VPS (1.3-litre SKYACTIV-G) engine. The new SKYACTIV-G engine is the next generation of Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engine that is the first to attain the world's highest petrol engine compression ratio of 14.0:1, 15% increase of fuel efficiency and torque, and a 4-2-1 exhaust system, cavity pistons, multihole injectors and some of the technology that makes SKYACTIV "Only the sky is the limit" after all. The Mazda Demio 13-SKYACTIV provides 84ps/5400rpm of power, 11.4kg-m/4000rpm of torque, and the fuel economy of 30km/L (10-15 mode). With that, the new Mazda Demio SKYACTIV is the reigning "king" of fuel efficiency, dethroning the 27.0km/L cars like the fifth-generation Daihatsu Move and the third-generation Suzuki MR Wagon!

Good to know that Mazda's i-stop feature found on the second-generation Axela/3 and the third-generation Mazda Premacy/5 is included at the Mazda Demio/2 13-SKYACTIV model. With i-stop equipped, it will automatically shut-off the P3-VPS (1.3L DOHC SKYACTIV-G) engine when stopped at the red light. Also included is the CVT for enhanced fuel efficiency, good for those who want to take a long Japanese trip this summer.

SKYACTIV No. 2: Axela

2012 Mazda Axela

Marked as the 2nd Mazda to be equipped with SKYACTIV Technology, the Mazda Axela 20-SKYACTIV comes with the new PE-VPS (2.0L 4-cylinder DOHC 16-Valve SKYACTIV-G) direct injection engine that provides the best compression ratio, 4-2-1 exhaust system for the excellent knock-resistant technology, and combustion improvement. If the PE-VPS engine wasn't enough, a new SKYACTIV-DRIVE was equipped and this one has all the advantages of a conventional step CVT, Dual Clutch, and Step Automatic Transmission. The new SKYACTIV-DRIVE is the ultimate automatic transmission developed exclusively to the Mazda Axela SKYACTIV variants, which provides good fuel economy at both low and high speeds, easy start up (Launch feel), easy start up on hill (Creep), direct feel, and smooth shifting (Shifting Quality). This new transmission is "ideal for global market" like a region-free Playstation 3 if you know what I mean. With this region-free SKYACTIV-DRIVE, the fuel economy of the Mazda Axela SKYACTIV is good for 20.0km/L based on Japan's 10-15 mode scale and 17.6km/L based on Japan's JC08 mode scale. This has bound to be the best SKYACTIV-powered model ever made and it also comes with the exclusive i-DM (intelligent Drive Master) which provides real time information and some advices before you get off the Axela SKYACTIV.

SKYACTIV No. 3: CX-5

2013 Mazda CX-5

SKYACTIV Technology promises optimized fuel economy and uncompromising performance, so that's why the Mazda CX-5 has the best of both worlds. First, the 2.0 liter SKYACTIV-G i-stop engine (PE-VPS) engine produces 155PS of power and 196Nm of torque. This is equipped on the 20C and 20S 2WD variants and it provides them 16km/L of fuel economy, making it more efficient than its key rival, the Mitsubishi RVR. For the first time in Mazda history and it's available only on the CX-5 XD (Cross-D) variants is the brand-new 2.2 liter SKYACTIV-D i-stop (SH-VPTS) Common Rail diesel engine that produces 175PS of power and 420Nm of torque. It promises a record-breaking fuel economy of 18.6km/L. Depending on the variant, the new CX-5 comes with an improved 4WD for all round driving with fuel economy of 15.6km/L for the 2.0L petrol variant and 18.0km/L for the 2.2L diesel engine. Most variants do come with the 6-speed SKYACTIV-DRIVE transmission that has good fuel economy, easy start up, direct feel, and smooth shifting, ideal for the world market.

The Mazda CX-5 is the first Mazda to come with the all new Smart City Brake Support that uses a laser sensor to detect a vehicle or obstacle in front and automatically reduces the extent of the brake rotor travel to quicken braking operation. If the driver fails to brake, SCBS automatically activates the brakes and reduces the engine output at the same time. It's like what the Volvo S60 and the Subaru Impreza Sport/G4 does.

To sum up then: The Demio is the first SKYACTIV model from Mazda. The Axela is the first Mazda model to have the SKYACTIV-DRIVE transmission. And the Mazda CX-5 is a full-fledged SKYACTIV vehicle that has everything SKYACTIV; SKYACTIV-D, SKYACTIV-G, SKYACTIV-DRIVE, SKYACTIV-BODY, and SKYACTIV-CHASSIS. Mazda's SKYACTIV Technology evolved the internal combustion engine, provide enjoyment, reduced weight, sportscar-like shift feel, world-class level of crash safety performance, and everything that made it great. Of course, most fuel efficient cars have taken away fun-loving performance especially is some have a little ECO buttons. For SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY, they defied the limits; fun-to-drive characteristics with better fuel economy. Here in the Philippines, the only Mazda model we have with SKYACTIV Technology is the CX-5 but it puzzled me that as we all know, direct-injected cars won't work in the Philippines because our fuel is very dirty and it may cause knocks. Seems that they didn't care about the risk learned from an old GDi Pajero back in the 1990's.

Anyway, it's a MANY HAPPY RETURNS for Mazda's SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY but if I have to choose which of these three Mazda SKYACTIV vehicles is my type, I would probably go for the Mazda CX-5 because this is the first model to have everything SKYACTIV and the first model to adopt the KODO -Soul In Motion- design philosophy. It looks like the Minagi concept car a couple of moments ago and overall, I like it. I really wish I wanna have one of those.