en.Wedoany.com Reported - Mazda has announced that its all-new, self-developed 2.5-liter SkyActiv-Z gasoline-electric hybrid technology will debut on its global best-selling model, the CX-5. The technology will be unveiled later next year and is scheduled to go on sale in Australia in 2028, replacing the current G25 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder gasoline/all-wheel drive (AWD) powertrain.
Mazda revealed that this Euro 7-compliant hybrid system offers the dual advantages of high performance and low fuel consumption. The technology could potentially replace the discontinued G35 2.5-liter turbocharged gasoline internal combustion engine flagship version and the D22 2.2-liter turbocharged diesel version in the all-new KM series CX-5. Breakthroughs in thermal efficiency and ultra-lean combustion with SkyActiv-Z mean it may not need to rely heavily on heavy electrification components such as batteries, electric motors, and inverters, potentially making it a lighter, simpler, and more cost-effective solution than Toyota's traditional hybrid setup.
The SkyActiv-Z technology is expected to spawn multiple variants, one of which could serve as the entry-level model for the 2028 CX-5 lineup, filling the gap left by the discontinued G20 2.0-liter front-wheel drive powertrain. This position is currently occupied by the new G25 Pure AWD, with a starting price of AUD 39,990 (excluding on-road costs). Mazda Australia Managing Director Vinesh Bhindi told CarsGuide that the goal is to make the CX-5 hybrid as competitive as possible in the market, offering a wider range of hybrid model choices rather than confining it to mid-to-high-end trims. He emphasized: "We will offer hybrid technology widely." However, Bhindi also confirmed to CarsGuide, "We haven't finalized any specifications regarding front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive yet."
Regarding whether the SkyActiv-Z hybrid system would render the remaining G25 2.5-liter engine obsolete, Bhindi believes that aside from the upcoming CX-5 hybrid, the pure internal combustion engine market will persist for a long time, adding: "Pure internal combustion engine." This G25 engine has been the mainstay of early CX-5 models in Australia since 2013, accounting for nearly 60% of total sales last year. This remains the case despite the engine's age and relatively high emissions, coupled with potential fines for Mazda Australia due to the increasingly stringent New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). Bhindi stated that Mazda's current and future product portfolio will cater to three types of customers in the market, including those interested in battery electric vehicles (EVs), those choosing the internal combustion engine and hybrid versions of the CX-5, and those opting for the CX-60, which offers four powertrains.
Mazda CX-5 Project Manager Koichiro Yamaguchi told CarsGuide through an interpreter that he declined to reveal specific details of the hybrid system but emphasized that it would deliver a unique driving pleasure consistent with the brand's character, noting: "It should be a fun-to-drive hybrid." He explained that the SkyActiv-Z engine will be paired with gasoline engine technology, and the electric system will strongly support the engine in low-rev driving situations to ensure fuel economy. When asked about the technical route of SkyActiv-Z, Yamaguchi revealed to CarsGuide that the hybrid system will be in a class of its own, differing from Toyota's traditional series-parallel hybrid, Nissan's e-Power range-extender electric, or Honda's e:HEV system, aiming to provide a driver-centric hybrid system with an immediate sense of response.
Yamaguchi, who has been involved in the development of models including the RX-8 rotary engine sports car, the second-generation (BL series) 3/Axela compact car, and the CX-30 compact SUV, has worked at Mazda for 34 years.
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