Mazda developing straight-six Skyactiv-X & Skyactiv-D engines. Will Toyota use Mazda's I6?

https://jalopnik.com/mazda-patents-ultra-compact-exhaust-to-make-its-new-inl-1841470896

The article claims Mazda’s aim is to make this engine fit into as many vehicles as possible with this compact exhaust manifold.

A turbo would be nice while they’re at it.

There’s also mention of an 8-speed automatic. Nothing interesting there unless it’s supplied by ZF.

A70TTR, is there any possibility Lexus will get to use this engine in one of their cars? ; )

The thought of Lexus not wanting to share engines with Toyota but then using a Mazda engine doesn't make much sense to me. Wouldn't be the first time they did something that doesn't make sense though.

^^ Ideally I’d really like the Toyota and Lexus divisions to cooperate more and share platforms, technologies and engine architectures the way they did in the 1990’s.

If the Mazda RWD architecture and inline-six engines let Akio Toyoda make yet another series of special cars that Toyota and Lexus respectively refuse to make themselves (ie: an IS250/300 more like the 1998-2005 original, possibly a new Lexus SC and a return of the Toyota Mark X or Chaser Tourer V) then I’ll take it for a new RWD inline-six vehicle.

Unless of course Toyota or Lexus want to do all that engineering work themselves as they seem not to want to these days. If they did I’d be all for it but I don’t see them doing it themselves.

The Yaris GR-4 and upcoming Corolla GR-4 are rare exceptions based on volume mass produced platforms. Plus Akio Toyoda really pushing for them to be developed.

I haven't heard a single thing about using Mazda engines despite the rumor in the press.

A70TTR said:

I haven't heard a single thing about using Mazda engines despite the rumor in the press.

Click to expand...

Okay thank you. That clears it up some. So it was just rumors after all.

I would love to see a fun IS again that goes back to the gen1/Altezza roots, and an SC successor and a Mark X / Chaser Tourer V successor however Toyota/Lexus might approach any of those three models... if they chose to.

On Mazda’s end I do hope we see their own fun models with this I-6 engine system.

Just because I haven't heard of something doesn't mean it isn't happening, but usually news like that would pass around so. Might just be too early for implementation or something...

I looked it up and it seems the rumor is for cars 2 gens away (about what I would expect), so that could be why. Also, the rumor came from BestCar and they have a pretty decent track record IMO

Good point. Still, even BestCar with their track record still isn’t confirmation of anything.


But being two generations away and given where most R&D investment may be by then it could make sense. Plus we know how long it takes for a car to get into public sale from the starting point of making the decision to greenlight and begin the design of it.


I just really want to see Toyota/Lexus embrace new successors to these classic 90’s models however they do it.


And as an aside I’m excited to learn of Mazda going a similar route for themselves. If I had to guess, if Toyota/Lexus did in fact see benefit to sharing the platform and technology then Mazda, being a much smaller company that has only invested in their engine technologies, probably would like to leverage this as a way to further partner with Toyota for some of their electric R&D.


But this is total speculation on my part as to why this tie up would hypothetically happen just from the pure business perspectives of both companies.


Similar to how Subaru gradually benefits some from Toyota for their electric R&D (supposedly).


Anyway... I’m primarily interested in where Toyota/Lexus would take a closer-to-1st-gen IS and possibly an SC and Mark X / Chaser.

Interested to hear people's thoughts on this bit of news.

https://www.autoblog.com/2020/04/14/mazda-mazda6-sedan-straight-six-engine-rear-wheel-drive/

Interesting, but I don't see this drivetrain being used in the current Supra since it's so BMW-based. However I would like to see the long rumored new Lexus SC coupe with this engine or some sort of platform sharing if the Mazda Vision coupe does become reality.

Viselord said:

Interested to hear people's thoughts on this bit of news.

https://www.autoblog.com/2020/04/14/mazda-mazda6-sedan-straight-six-engine-rear-wheel-drive/

Click to expand...

Was my thought too. Maybe for the MkVI.

A70TTR said:

Just because I haven't heard of something doesn't mean it isn't happening, but usually news like that would pass around so. Might just be too early for implementation or something...

I looked it up and it seems the rumor is for cars 2 gens away (about what I would expect), so that could be why. Also, the rumor came from BestCar and they have a pretty decent track record IMO

Click to expand...

What about Toyobaru? We all know next-gen 86/brz is in the pipe. Are there any cars that two company working together with?

Viselord said:

Interested to hear people's thoughts on this bit of news.

https://www.autoblog.com/2020/04/14/mazda-mazda6-sedan-straight-six-engine-rear-wheel-drive/

Click to expand...

Guys, bear with me on this
Mazda 6/Toyota Chaser

Bryster said:

Guys, bear with me on this
Mazda 6/Toyota Chaser

Click to expand...

This is EXACTLY where I have been thinking on this.

IF Toyota wanted to they could use this platform and engine driveline system for a new Lexus SC (heck, I'd be a fan as an owner of one) and a successor to the Mark II / Chaser Tourer V / Cresta cars.

There is little to nothing to back up that speculation but since Mazda seems to be more than capable of refining their ICE technology and creating new platforms for themselves as needed, some shared collaboration might be what they actually need to achieve their "upscale" marketing push and bigger market share in the luxury consumer market.

They seem not quite trying to recreate their failed Amati luxury brand but rather take what Mazda currently is and make it upscale.

Hopefully their Miata will always be a basics Lotus elan style roadster though.

Mazda inline 6 engine photo debut

https://car.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1287943.html

https://www.motor1.com/news/453589/mazda-inline-six-engine-presentation/

Bestcar is reporting the next Crown will be a joint partnership with Mazda.

https://bestcarweb.jp/news/scoop/216839