Mazda’s new petrol engine produces just 96g/km of CO2

We’re going to start this story with an anecdote from a hypercar maker. Christian von Koenigsegg told TG a while ago how he wanted to push the combustion engine “through the wall” before he gave up on it.

Mazda it seems, got the memo too. It has announced a brand new 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine that’ll find a nice comfortable home in the new Mazda3 later this year. Dubbed ‘Skyactive-X’, it promises a lot.

Like, up to 52.3mpg (combined) on the stricter WLTP measurement, and CO2 as low as 96g/km (depending on your gearbox and wheel size, obviously). Either way, that’s lightly outstanding for a petrol engine, not least one with 175bhp and 165lb ft of torque.

Mazda claims this engine “is the world’s first commercial petrol unit to combine the spark ignition of a petrol engine with the compression ignition of a diesel”. It also notes how it’ll be fitted with hybrid tech as standard.

So there’s a 24V system that recycles ICE energy during deceleration, feeding into an electric motor that in turn helps the ICE.

That engine will be fitted in both hatchback and saloon versions of the new Mazda3, with a six-speed manual or six-speed auto on offer. We’ll find out how much they all cost in July.

How much wall is left, do you reckon?