2009 Tokyo Auto Show: Mazda To Debut New Fuel-Efficient Engines, Transmission

2009 Tokyo Auto Show: Mazda To Debut New Fuel-Efficient Engines, Transmission

By John O'Dell September 29, 2009

The upcoming 209 Tokyo motor Show is going to be the slimmest in decades, with no US or major European automakers slated to attend - casualties of the recession.

That may, however, work to the advantage of hometown automakers such as Mazda.

The company said late Monday that it will use the show to spotlight the world premiers of two new fuel-efficient engines - a clean diesel and a direct-injected gasoline model, as well as a new high-efficiency automatic transmission,

Mazda also will stage the Japanese introduction of its Kiyora concept car that showcases the car makers' next-generation environmental and safety advances.

Originally unveiled at the 2008 Paris Auto Show, the Kiyora is a flame-shaped, glass-roofed. 4-seat city car concept that foreshadows the replacement for the Mazda 2 city car.

As shown in Paris, it used a 1.3-liter, direct injected gasoline engine and a six-speed transmission.

Mazda says the Japanese show version  will be upgraded to use the new 2.0 liter Mazda SKY-G direct-injected gas engine (left) that will debut in Tokyo, and the 6-speed SKY-Drive automatic transmission.

Together they will help the lightweight concept deliver fuel economy of 32 kilometers per liter - 75 miles per gallon in U.S. terms.

The 'SKY" designation, also to be used on a new SKY-D 2.2-liter clean diesel engine (below), is the embodiment of "Mazda's desire to ensure an everlasting blue sky under which drivers will always be able to enjoy the fun-to-drive pleasure afforded by owning a Mazda," the company's breathless PR copy said.

(It also, according to Mazda's copy writers, stands for the "sky's the limit aspirations of Mazda's engineers.")

The company did not provide further details about the engines, transmission or concept, except to say they are part of Mazda's drive to improve its overall fleet fuel economy by 30 percent by 2015.

Stay tuned for Edmunds' coverage of the Tokyo show, which opens to the public Oct. 24-Nov. 4 after a two-day press preview Oct. 21-22.

John O'Dell:  is an AutoObserver Senior Editor. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.