More details about the 2012 Mazda3
Mazda announced at the Canadian International Auto Show that the Mazda3 will become available with the new SKYACTIV powertrain and receive a few cosmetic upgrades upon its release this fall. Full details have yet to be announced, but Mazda has confirmed the engine is a direct-injection 2.0-liter four-cylinder that will deliver a 15 percent improvement in fuel economy, while the transmission adds another four to 7%. 
At the time of the unveil, Mazda was not willing to disclose any official fuel economy figures, opting to say only that the engine will provide better low-end and mid-range torque in addition to the fuel savings. While no specific numbers are available, Car & Driver has managed to find out that the engine was capable of churning out 163 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque in prototype form. Both figures are increased from the 148-hp and 135 lb-ft (183 Nm) in the current 2.0-liter, and only slightly down from the larger 2.5-liter engine.
What makes the power increase even more amazing is the fact that Mazda is targeting 5.88 l/100km on the highway and 7.84 l/100km in the city. This represents a sizable improvement from the 7.12/9.4 l/100km the current 2.0-liter achieves. Aiding the improvement is a new 6-speed automatic transmission.
The powertrain that made is debut in the ‘3’ is widely expected to be carried over to the next-generation Mazda6. The first examples of the 2012 Mazda3 are scheduled to arrive this fall, sporting a number of cosmetic changes that include a redesigned front end, accommodating new fog bezels and headlamps.
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Source: Auto123
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