2015 Mazda 6, easy 40mpg

[ChewChewTrain]

Originally Posted by Katmandu

They are the poor man's BMW. Very similar engineering.

My next car will be a Mazda 6. Hopefully.

Incidentally, while waiting outside to get a haircut, a Mazda 6 parked in front of me. Based on my buying a 14 y/o, Miata, I told him I was a big Mazda fan. He echoed the same. Without using any hypermiling techniques, he's getting 39mpg. Think he mentioned his wife drives a Mazda, too.

He mentioned that Ford is a Mazda investor. Because of that association, he discovered some Ford and Mazda part SKUs are interchangeable. What I like about that relationship is that Mazda has a "big brother", so to speak, with greater resources. And, of the domestics, the Blue Oval has my respect.

Mazda has always been a progressive car company. They introduced the Wankel rotary engine. When sports cars were a dying breed, they introduced the Miata, which, after winning every automobile award possible, became the best selling sports car in automotive history. In 2011, Mazda adopted a new design philosophy (skyactiv), where literally every part of the car was redesigned from a blank sheet and is now returning impressive MPG without performance sacrifices.

Sorry for the commercial, everyone. (shrug)

[Tzfardaya]

Hey, I like commercials... but the Blue Oval and Silver M have started to split ways. Ford divested much of their shares in Mazda in the last couple years.. IIRC the 2011 series Mazda2/Ford Festiva was one of the last vehicles they co-designed... and even those two cars share very few parts.

I recently picked up the 2011 Mazda2 (Late May/Early June) and while the mileage doesn't match what you'd get with their skyactiv rigs, It's still fairly good while still being a very fun car to drive... (I'm taking corners with minimal body roll and no tsc activation at speeds that would have flipped my '96 blazer)

Since I'm still not a very good ecodriver (like to play in traffic FAR too much...) my mileage isn't the greatest, even though every tank of gas I've put through this car has been above epa rating.. First mod I'm planing to make to this car is a belly pan, bottom of this car is wide open... I've already got an idea of how to work the pan to allow easy access to the oil filter without having the access panel break the lines of the pan...

[Katmandu]

Originally Posted by Tzfardaya

I recently picked up the 2011 Mazda2 (Late May/Early June) and while the mileage doesn't match what you'd get with their skyactiv rigs,

Check this out about the Sky-Activ..... (off Wikipedia).

SKYACTIV-G engines for the U.S. market have a lower compression ratio of 13:1 allowing them to operate on standard instead of premium fuel with an approximate 3-5 percent reduction in torque and fuel economy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyActiv

[ChewChewTrain]

Originally Posted by Tzfardaya

I recently picked up the 2011 Mazda2... (I'm taking corners with minimal body roll and no tsc activation at speeds that would have flipped my '96 blazer)

HOLY SMOKES! How many '96 Blazers have you flipped?

[Katmandu]

Originally Posted by Dean in Milwaukee

The 2015's only come with the 2.5 4 cylinder, no 6 is available. It does get up and go if you want though, 184 hp and 3100 lbs is quite decent.

Bummer no 6.

What model 6 do you have ?

I noticed this off Mazda's website concerning the 6. Appears the Grand Touring model is rated 2 MPGs HIGHER with the "Technology Package".

EPA-estimated mileage city/highway (mpg): 26/38 (28/40 with Technology Package)†

What is the GT's Technology Package. Can't find any info on Mazda's website.

[Katmandu]

GT Technology Package
- Mazda Radar Cruise Control
- Forward Obstruction Warning System
- i-ELOOP regenerative engine braking
- Lane Departure Warning
- Active Grille Shutters
- Sport Mode Button
- High Beam Control

[Katmandu]

Originally Posted by Katmandu

- i-ELOOP regenerative engine brakingl

Check this out about i-ELOOP. Pretty damn cool !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJHAr4wA2fc

[Tzfardaya]

Originally Posted by ChewChewTrain

HOLY SMOKES! How many '96 Blazers have you flipped?

None, I back it down when the rear inside tire lifts.. I figure there's not much more I can risk in a vehicle that top heavy...

[Tzfardaya]

Originally Posted by Katmandu

Check this out about i-ELOOP. Pretty damn cool !

I wonder how hard that would be to reverse engineer into our existing rigs... And how would they keep the battery topped up for starting.. Do they use the cap for that as well?

[Katmandu]

Originally Posted by Tzfardaya

I wonder how hard that would be to reverse engineer into our existing rigs... And how would they keep the battery topped up for starting.. Do they use the cap for that as well?

I don't think it would be rocket science.

I'm sure someone here can come up with something!