Freshened Mazda Biante Offers 7% Improvement in Fuel Economy with i-stop Stop-Start System
25 June 2009
Mazda Motor Corporation has begun sales of the freshened Mazda Biante range for the Japanese market. On models equipped with a 2.0L direct-injection engine, the top-selling front-wheel drive (FWD) 20S model grade now offers fuel economy of 13.6 kilometers per liter (7.4 L/100km, 32 mpg US) on the 10-15 cycle, a 7% improvement over the previous model, due to the addition of i-stop, Mazda’s proprietary engine stop/start system.
| Mazda Biante 20S. Click to enlarge. |
Mazda’s i-stop system precisely controls the positions of the pistons during engine shutdown, and then uses Mazda’s direct injection technology to perform a combustion restart. This returns the engine to idling speed in just 0.35 seconds (models with an automatic transmission). (Earlier post.)
In addition to i-stop, the FWD 20S model grade also comes with features to support eco-driving: a trip computer with a fuel economy meter and an eco-lamp, which lights up when the vehicle achieves the most efficient driving conditions.
All 2.0-liter FWD Biante models qualify for Japan’s eco-car incentive and tax reduction programs to promote sales of lower emission vehicles. Under the tax reduction program, the automobile acquisition tax and automobile weight tax are reduced by 50% for the 20CS model grade and 75% for the FWD 20S grade.
I'd like to see this 2.0L direct injection engine in the US. Curious about the fuel economy in the Mazda 3 and 5 with such an engine and what the power/torque is for this motor. I think their standard port injected 2.0L motor is around 148hp/135lb-ft torque...25/33mpg [in the Mazda3].
The 2.3L in the Mazda5 is around 153hp/148lb-ft torque...22/28mpg.
I bet a 2.0L direct injected Mazda5 could get nearly the same power and torque as the 2.3L but also achieve a slight improvement in gas mileage at the same time.
Posted by: Patrick | 25 June 2009 at 09:48 AM
It would be interesting to see this one brought in. Hard to compare the Biante figures to Mazda 5, though. The Japanese 10-15 cycle is wildly optimistic, especially compared to the new US numbers since they were adjusted down (again) last year. I'd say the only figure of much use here is the 7% improvement.
Posted by: Wes | 26 June 2009 at 06:05 AM