KUALA LUMPUR: The details of the fourth-gen Mazda 3 SkyActiv-X have been made official just a few months after its reveal in the European market. The all-new engine has a lot of drivelines.

Mazda’s SPCCI (Spark Controlled Compression Ignition) is used in the SkyActiv-X petrol mill. The fuel-air mixture is ignited by the compression pressure that offers more power. The engine also uses a spark plug that helps control the ignition time at specific periods.

These result in improving the engine, which means fuel efficiency and the torque are enhanced. The manufacturer claims that the engine is improved up to 30% over the standard SkyActiv-X petrol engines. The engine is capable of churning out 178 hp of power and the peak torque sticks at 222 Nm. However, the company has not revealed the displacement of the engine yet.

Some rumours suggest that the engine will be a 2.0-litre unit. Also, the company has not mentioned the M Hybrid system yet. Formerly, it was speculated that the hybrid system would be attached to the engine. It is a mild hybrid system that uses an e-motor generator and helps to recover energy from braking. This results in making the stop-start system operate more smoothly.

There is another variant of the of the engine which can push out 120 hp of power and 213 Nm of peak torque. In some European press releases, it is speculated that this engine is a 2.0-litre unit. However, the same unit that is provided in the current Mazda 3 and has a much better power output of 162 hp and 210 Nm of torque.

The models with ‘SkyActiv-D116’ designation that are available in the Slovakian market will have a 1.8-litre engine. It was first given to the CX-3 facelift, replacing the previous 1.5-litre unit.