From this month Mazda adds a diesel powered Mazda 6 hatch and wagon to its range.

This makes Mazda the only Japanese car maker offering a diesel passenger car in Australia.

Combining with a six-speed manual transmission, the Mazda 6’s engine features the latest diesel technology and backs up its fuel economy with strong performance and clean exhaust emissions.

The direct injection and turbocharged Mazda 6 diesel also promises a sporty drive with the Mazda designed, engineered and manufactured 2.0-litre, direct injection engine producing 360 Newton metres of torque (pulling power).

The Mazda 6 hatch diesel accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 9.5 seconds.

Mazda is offering buyers not only two body styles but the choice of different trim levels.

The Mazda 6 Diesel wagon, which is priced at $35,205 (RRP) comes with climate control air-conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, trip computer, six-stack CD, wheel-mounted audio and cruise control switches and luxurious trim, remote central locking with deadlock function, power windows and mirrors, driver’s seat height adjustment and telescopic and height adjustable steering.

The diesel-powered hatch, which is priced at $38,090 (RRP) , also gains a number of upmarket interior appointments usually found on Luxury versions of the Mazda 6. These include leather seats, Bose sound system with seven speakers and a power-operated driver’s seat with three position memory.

The power operated driver’s seat position can be programmed into the car’s retractable keys allowing `his and hers’ settings to be recalled as you open the car door.

Like their petrol counterparts the Mazda 6 Diesels, which will wear MZR-CD badges on each front door, boast impressive safety features. They have six airbags -- dual front, front side for driver and passenger and head protecting curtain airbags – and ABS anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brake-force Distribution.

Other safety items include a breakaway brake pedal to reduce possible foot, ankle and lower leg injury; anti-whiplash head restraints for the front seats while all three rear-seat passengers get a head restraints and a lap/sash seatbelt.

To ensure that cargo remains restrained at all times, the Mazda 6 wagon comes with a roll-up net that fixes to the roof behind the rear seats, or from the floor to the roof when the second row seat has been folded flat.

Mazda Australia managing director, Doug Dickson, said: "The Mazda 6 petrol range has enjoyed great sales success and critical acclaim. The addition of a state-of-the-art diesel hatch and wagon will ensure that it remains the country’s favourite medium segment import."

“Customer feedback from motor shows helped cement our plans to import a hatch and wagon diesel model, with these body styles proving to be popular choices. The hatch, with more than 50 per cent of petrol Mazda 6 sales, continues to be the most popular body style, while adding a diesel to the wagon gives us a manual version in this body style for the first time."

“Fuel economy has become a hot topic of late and we expect it to remain an important consideration for car buyers. Offering the spacious, fun to drive Mazda 6 with a fuel economy rating of just 5.9L/100km will give customers an opportunity to purchase a stylish, five-seat, safe and family car without performance compromise or fuel bill worries”.

Mazda Australia expects to sell at least 50 Mazda 6 Diesels a month, with 30 of those likely to be the hatch.

Diesel Technology

The car’s MZR-CD 2.0-litre common-rail turbo diesel engine uses various technologies to ensure that it meets Euro Stage IV emission standards.

Utilising a ceramic filter system to capture particulate matter, the Mazda 6’s diesel engine virtually eliminates diesel smoke.

Once the filter has captured a pre-determined amount of particulate matter exhaust gas temperatures are raised to burn it off and regenerate the filter.

Advanced common-rail fuel injection

The MZR-CD engine’s common-rail fuel injection system injects fuel at an ultra-high pressure of 1,800 bar (180 MPa, 26,100 psi). The required fuel for injection is accumulated under a pressure of up to 180 MPa in the common-rail. Fuel injection volume, frequency and timing are optimised by electronic control based on throttle opening and engine speed data.

Fuel atomisation is excellent and fuel is injected in precise quantities in immediate response to running conditions. This improves the engine’s combustion efficiency to boost power and dramatically reduce NOx and particulate emissions.

Relatively low combustion ratio

The MZR-CD’s low compression ratio (16.7 to 1) allows low-temperature pilot premixed combustion, also reducing soot and NOx emissions.

Fuel is injected into each combustion chamber before the piston reaches top dead centre, promoting combustion efficiency while minimising production of particulate matter or black soot. In addition, the lower combustion temperature helps to minimise NOx.

To enable optimal control of the air/fuel ratio, a high response intake shutter valve and a valve to control the recirculation rate from the exhaust gas recirculation (ERG) cooler are located on the intake side of the engine. Residual oxygen in the exhaust gases is monitored by an O2 sensor and this information is utilised by a 32-bit powertrain control module to optimise the fuel/air ratio, continuously optimising the mix and suppressing NOx.

A cataylised diesel particulate filter reduces black smoke emissions to virtually zero by capturing particulate matter in a ceramic filter. When a specific quality of particulate matter is trapped it is automatically burnt off, allowing the filter to return to its original efficiency.

The particulate filter enables the MZR-CD engine to cut its soot emissions to 80 per cent below the Euro Stage IV emission standard.

The relatively low compression ratio also reduces pumping loss and promotes thermal efficiency. Typically a low compression ratio means inferior thermal efficiency under low-load conditions, but this is offset by a combination of high fuel injection pressure and the frequency and timing of the multi-stage injections.

These attributes combine with the tall gear ratios provided by the Mazda 6 Diesel’s six-speed manual gearbox to produce not only 360 Nm of torque but impressive fuel economy numbers.

Variable Geometry Turbocharger

The engine also features a variable-geometry turbocharger that has a lower inertia moment and features a short distance between the exhaust gas inlet and the centre of the turbine shaft.

A variable-geometry turbocharger helps maximise torque over the widest range of engine speeds. The Mazda 6’s VGT is an update of earlier designs with the size of the turbine reduced to lower the inertia moment by 14 per cent. In addition the ratio between the cross sectional area of the narrowest part of the VGT’s exhaust gas inlet and the distance from the centre of that area to the centre of the turbine shaft has been reduced, producing smoother acceleration, a 10 per cent power jump, a 10 per cent improvement in maximum torque and better fuel economy.

The variable-geometry turbocharger is combined with the engine’s high pressure common-rail fuel injection system, with optimised injection volume and multi-stage injection of up to nine times per cycle and a relatively low compression ratio, all of which improve output and torque, repress combustion noise and reduce emissions.

High torque, low NVH

The new turbocharged 2.0-litre MZR-CD engine has been developed to deliver high torque while minimising NVH.

Multi-stage injection, which is performed up to nine times per cycle, prevents overly rapid pressure increase in the cylinders, suppressing diesel knock and other combustion noise.

When the engine is idling the intake shutter valve restricts air intake volume to reduce cylinder pressure by about 25 per cent and suppresses idle knock, while the low compression ratio limits engine speed fluctuations and significantly lowers vibration.

Mechanical Changes

Six speed manual shared with MPS models

The diesel engine mates to the same three-shaft gearbox first used in the Mazda 6 MPS.

To handle the engine’s torque and to ensure smooth gear changing, first, second and third gears feature triple cone synchronisers, fourth gear has a double cone synchroniser and fifth and sixth gears have a single cone synchroniser.

Suspension

The Mazda 6 Diesel’s double wishbone front and multilink rear suspension only differs in spring rates (slightly firmer) compared with the petrol driven models.

Pricing (RRP)

Mazda 6 Diesel wagon $35,205

Mazda 6 Diesel hatch $38,090

Specification

Wagon Features

Features
	Wagon
Transmission
6-speed manual	x
Exterior
Alloy wheels	x
Rear spoiler	x
Body coloured power mirrors	x
Power windows	x
Body coloured side protection mouldings	x
Body coloured front and rear bumpers	x
Front and rear mudflaps	x
Green tinted windscreen, side and rear windows	x
AM/FM aerial printed into rear glass	x
Roof rails	x
Instrumentation
Trip computer (current and average fuel consumption, distance to empty and average vehicle speed)	x
Tachometer, temperature gauge and electronic odometer	x
Low fuel warning light	x
Ambient temperature display	x
Digital clock	x
Critical function warning lights/chimes	x
Lights
Halogen headlamps	x
Front fog-lamps	x
Illuminated entry system with delayed fade	x
Front door courtesy lamps	x
Interior map reading spot lamps	x
Cargo room lamp	x
Illuminated power window switch (driver) and ignition key surround	x
Lights-left-on sound warning	x
Instrument panel light dimmer	x
Interior
Climate control air-conditioning	x
Ventilation pollen filter	x
Cruise control	x
Steering wheel mounted audio and cruise control switches	x
Tilt and telescopic adjustable steering wheel	x
Upper grade cloth seat trim and door inserts	x
Leather-wrapped:
steering wheel	x
handbrake handle	x
Front seats with:
rake and slide adjustment	x
height adjustment (driver)	x
lumbar adjustment (driver)	x
seat back pocket (passenger)	x
adjustable head restraints	x
Rear seats with:
'Karakuri' flat fold function	x
remote operated 60/40 split fold backrest	x
centre (fold out) armrest	x
adjustable head restraints	x
Vanity mirrors (driver and front passenger)	x
Front door map pockets	x
Centre armrest console with dual compartments	x
Glasses storage compartment	x
Upper dash felt lined storage tray with lid	x
Lockable (and illuminated) glove box	x
Front 2-speed wipers with variable intermittent and vehicle speed sensing function	x
Rear wiper with intermittent function	x
Rear window demister	x
Interior release for fuel filler door	x
Retractable cargo area cover with cargo net	x
Passenger assist grips (front and rear)	x
Driver's left footrest	x
Cigarette lighter and ashtray	x
Cupholders	x
Cargo area tiedown hooks	x
Audio
AM/FM digital tuner	x
CD player, in-dash 6-disc (MP3 compatible)	x
Speakers, number of	6
Safety & Theft Prevention
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)	x
Front SRS airbags (driver and passenger)	x
Side SRS airbags (front)	x
Curtain SRS airbags (front and rear)	x
Remote central locking (2 transmitters with retractable key)	x
Engine immobiliser	x
'Double lock' door deadlock function	x
Front seat-belts with pretensioners, load-limiters and height adjustable shoulder anchorages	x
High mount stop lamp (in rear spoiler)	x
Whiplash-minimising front seats	x
Intrusion-minimising brake pedal	x
Day/night rear vision mirror	x
One touch (up and down) power window (driver)	x
Rear centre seat 3-point lap-sash seat-belt	x
Child restraint anchor points and childproof rear door locks	x
Side impact door beams	x
'Triple H' safety construction with front and rear crumple zones	x
Left-hand-side convex (wide angle) exterior mirror	x

Hatch Features