KahnBB6
Well-Known Member
This probably should be for another thread but as an aside it's worth noting in conjunction with that BestCar quote on Mazda's new Skyactiv inline-six engines:Powered by an announced, but not detailed, new 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine, the outlet reports that the engine will be debut as a part of Mazda’s new Skyactiv-X family. It also claims that the engine will be coupled to a mild-hybrid system, similar to what a number of luxury manufacturers are doing at the moment to both improve torque and fuel economy.
While little else is known about the forthcoming coupe, Best Car says Mazda is hoping to deliver the car with over 350 horsepower, which would put the car firmly in the Mustang, Camaro, and Supra territory. Pricing was also theorized, with the outlet saying that it would cost between, “5 million to 6 million yen.” At the current conversion rate, you’d be looking at around $45,000.
https://www.motor1.com/news/355606/lexus-rc-mazda-engine-rumor/
https://www.topspeed.com/cars/how-w...-platform-and-inline-six-engine-ar185837.html
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2...rwd-platform-and-inline-6-engine-makes-sense/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterl...n-radical-new-6-cylinder-engine/#43e433ad7eb6
Mazda can design such architectures and make innovations in their Skyactiv engine families but even while they want to grow as an automaker and move upmarket they have always had some trouble doing this (anyone recall their almost-launched Amati luxury brand that spawned the 90's 20B Cosmo and a shelved LS400 competitor?).
Enter Toyota/Lexus who are eyeing yet another co-developed series of RWD vehicles. By sharing costs Mazda can then afford to put these engines and a RWD luxury car platform into production to further their efforts to make the Mazda brand name more luxury oriented-- at least by creating for it a couple of high end vehicles above the Mazda6.
I don't buy the Topspeed article's claim that a Celica would get this engine or especially an MR2 but they're probably looking at the co-developed Mazda platform for a future IS and possibly another Lexus coupe (another SC??) that will be a sibling to whatever Mazda's RWD coupe will be. I can also see Toyota Japan expanding this to a new RWD I-6 Mark X as the article suggests (and for once it would be great to get that car in the U.S.). The Land Cruiser was also mentioned as a candidate for that Mazda I-6 engine.
This is just how Toyota is doing things these days. If any of these above rumors do pan out there will be some more nice cars on the horizon.
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