Skip to main content

Fast and frugal: Mazda6 Skyactiv diesel goes racing

Mazda6 Skyactiv-D diesel to race at 24 Hours of DaytonaFuel economy, not performance, is the focus of most midsize sedans. Mazda apparently wanted both. The Japanese carmaker will campaign a race-prepped Mazda6 powered by a Skyactiv-D diesel at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona January 26-27.

The race engine will be based on the 2.2-liter Skyactiv-D offered in European versions of the Mazda6. The engine will be based on a stock block, but will get new valves, pistons, connecting rods, and lubrication components for race duty.

Mazda did not say how much power the engine will produce, but the Grand Am class the 6 will be racing in has a target figure of 400 horsepower. The stock Skyactiv-D produces 173 hp and 310 pound-feet of torque.

Skyactiv is Mazda’s name for a suite of fuel-saving technologies that range from the diesel’s extremely low (14:1) compression ratio to the design of the transmission. It will be interesting to see how much of this makes it to the starting line.

Mazda will be fielding three cars at Daytona, and they should be easy to spot. The #25 Freedom Autosport car will be painted bright green with a giant eagle’s head graphic, the #00 Visit Florida Racing/SpeedSource/Yellow Dragon car will be yellow and orange, and the #70 SpeedSource car will be red and black.

A diesel-powered racer isn’t unheard of, but Mazda’s decision to put a diesel racing engine in a relatively stock sedan moves the technology into a new realm.

In recent years, Audi’s diesels and diesel-hybrids have dominated the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans, but these are purpose-built racecars. The R10 and R15 used 5.5-liter V12 and V10 diesels, respectively, while the R18 used a 3.7-liter V6. Last year’s race-winning R18 e-tron quattro used the same V6 and an electric motor.

With a production sedan’s bodywork and a much smaller inline-four, the Mazda6 is a much more relevant application of modern diesel technology to racing, and that means any knowledge Mazda gains racing it could be more easily applied to cars people can actually buy.

It may be less relevant to Americans, though. So far, Mazda isn’t bringing the 2.2-liter Skyactiv-D to the United States. Stateside buyers get a 2.5-liter gasoline Skyactiv engine with 189 hp and 189 lb-ft.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Alpine sale: Up to $160 off speakers and subs for your car
alpine speaker sale crutchfield march 2024 car and amp setup on table

If you’re looking to kit your car out with some superior speakers or a subwoofer, Crutchfield is the place to go today. Right now, there’s a huge sale on Alpine subwoofers and speakers with nearly 50 different items forming the sale. As there are so many options, the best idea is to hit the button below to see what’s around. If you don’t know where to start though, read on while we take you through some great items in the sale.

What to shop for in the Alpine sale
Buying the best aftermarket car speakers are important for anyone who spends a lot of time on the road and is currently dealing with a mediocre sound system. One good starting point in the Alpine sale is the 2-way speakers for $104 instead of $130. You get two 2-way speakers with a polypropylene/glass fiber/mica woofer with a specialized rubber surround. There’s a one-inch silk dome tweeter with speakers able to handle up to 80 watts RMS with 240 watts peak power. The grilles aren’t included but the factor ones should be fine for most purposes.

Read more
Mercedes to trial humanoid robots for ‘low-skill, repetitive, demanding’ jobs
Apptronik's Apollo robot at work in an auto plant.

Humanoid robots have been coming on leaps and bounds in recent years, and some major companies are starting to take note.

Mercedes-Benz, for example, has just entered into an agreement with Texas-based robotics specialist Apptronik to collaborate on identifying applications for highly advanced robots that the auto giant could deploy. The deal will involve a trial that will see Apptronik's Apollo humanoid robot work alongside Mercedes' human workers on the factory floor.

Read more
Hyundai Ioniq 9: price, release date, range, and more
Hyundai Ioniq 9 Front

Hyundai has been at the forefront of EV development for a while now, largely thanks to the success of the crossover-sized Hyundai Ioniq 5. But the company is readying another new EV that could be even more popular than the Ioniq 5 -- or at least more desirable in the U.S., the land of big cars.

The upcoming Ioniq 9, previously set to be called the Ioniq 7, will be Hyundai's take on an electric SUV. It will be to Hyundai what the Kia EV9 is to Kia. It will have three rows and carry over design elements from the Ioniq 5.

Read more