Mazda claims to be on track to break 20 FIA speed records for diesel-powered production cars.The company brought three of its Mazda6 flagships -- each powered by a 2.2-liter SkyActiv-D 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine -- to the ATP oval test track in Papenburg, Germany, this weekend in an attempt to set new benchmarks.
The lead car sustained an average speed of 137.37 mph for a sustained 24-hour marathon run on the high-speed track, while the second and third car were close behind with average speeds within a half mph.
Mazda appears to have beat the current record of 130.38 mph for diesel-powered production cars in the 2.0-2.5-liter category, though the latest numbers still await official verification from the FIA. The additional record-breaking runs this weekend were related to other speeds across different distances.
The company promises to eventually bring the Mazda6's diesel powerplant to the US market, where it is expected to produce 310 lb-ft of torque and 173 horsepower. Ironically, the launch has been delayed because the company didn't think the powertrain had enough 'zoom zoom' for US buyers.
The company has not yet provided an updated time-frame for bringing the diesel Mazda6 to the US.
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