RSS Feed

Related Articles

Related Categories

Mazda economy surprises established players

10th October 2006 Print
Mazda economy surprises established players Responding to critics of models with lower Official Combined government fuel economy figures, Mazda Motors UK entered two of its sportiest models in the 2006 Fleet World/AA/ALD Automotive MPG Marathon held on 4-5 October in the south-west of England. The Mazda6 MPS sports saloon returned an impressive 32.45 per cent increase in its economy figure, enough to earn it second place overall (beaten only by a diesel model) and Best in Class. Meanwhile, the rotary-engined Mazda RX-8 sports coupe achieved an outstanding 17.32 per cent increase.

Driven by freelance motoring journalist, Iain Robertson, and navigated by Jerry Ramsdale, the class-winning Mazda6 MPS team built on their efforts of 2003, when Mazda entered a 2.0?litre version of its new Mazda6 model and lifted the ‘Up-to-2-litre Class’ honours and a fine third place overall.

Mr Robertson commented, “Although my confidence in the Mazda6 was total, I knew we would have a major task with the Mazda6 MPS. After all, it has a 2.3-litre engine that is turbocharged and drives all four wheels. These are not usually good constituents for a beneficial economy recipe!”

Starting at event sponsor ALD’s Bristol HQ and tackling a route that encompassed motorway, A- and B-roads, up hill and down dale, through town centres and villages, both Mazda team entries realised that the maximum effort would be needed to extract the most realistic fuel economy from the cars. Sue Cooke and Carmel Stewart, both freelance motoring journalists, manned the Mazda RX-8.

Mrs Cooke commented: “We appreciated that we were starting as outsiders in this competition, as the rotary engine, renowned for its minimal moving parts and efficient power output, is aimed at the sportiest end of the new car scene.”

Yet, both cars arrived at the Newquay overnight halt, some 200 miles later, showing three-quarters of a tank remaining on their respective fuel gauges. Mrs Stewart added: “Nobody expected our Mazda RX-8 to have fuel remaining at the halfway point! We were most happy with our progress.”

Mr Robertson was equally enthusiastic about the Mazda6 MPS and added, “High performance car engines are not renowned for immense torque outputs, but we have both been tackling surprisingly steep hills in fifth and even sixth gear, without taxing the cars at all.

“A key to achieving good fuel economy is slotting into the highest gear ratio as rapidly as possible, while only using a whisker of throttle depression. Downhill stretches can be exciting, remaining in top gear but applying neither brakes nor accelerator for the best fuel returns. This method relies on the automatic over-run fuel cut-off devices fitted to most modern engines. With coasting and switching-off the ignition not being allowed on this public road event, for health and safety reasons, the results are all the more astonishing,” concluded Mr Robertson.

“The sting-in-the-tail of this year’s MPG Marathon lay in the long climb up to the top of Bodmin Moor,” commented Mr Ramsdale. “You could almost watch the fuel gauge slipping towards half-empty on this stage. Everything is uphill from Newquay!”

Upon arrival at Bristol and the conclusion of this year’s near-400 miles event, hopes were high for a good result with both cars. The judging was based on both the outright fuel consumption achieved, as well as the percentage improvement obtained over the Official Combined government figures. Therefore, the 36.69 mpg of the Mazda6 MPS was enough to award it the runner-up slot (to a diesel-powered Toyota Avensis 2.2 D-4D) and Best in the ‘Over-2-litre’ Petrol Class, while the 29.56 mpg of the Mazda RX-8 was enough to beat a Nissan Murano, VW Touareg TDi and, in percentage increase terms, even a Peugeot 207 diesel, Cadillac BLS diesel and two Jaguars.

The £23,995 Mazda6 MPS is a high-torque sports saloon developing 260 ps, with a top speed of almost 150 mph and 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds. Its Official Combined fuel figure is 27.7 mpg. Priced at £22,900, the high-powered Mazda RX-8 features a 231 ps twin-rotor engine and is capable of topping 145 mph and reaching 0-60mph in 6.4 seconds, with an Official Combined fuel figure of 25.2 mpg.

More Photos - Click to Enlarge

Mazda economy surprises established players