Mazda announces facelifted Mazda Axela equipped with breakthrough Skyactive Technology

Mazda has commenced production of the face liftedMazda Axela (known overseas as the Mazda3) equipped with breakthrough Skyactive Technology at the Hofu Plant in Yamaguchi prefecture, western Japan. The facelifted Axela is Mazda’s first model to combine the newly developed 2.0-liter Skyactive -G 2.0 direct injection gasoline engine with the SKYACTIV-DRIVE six-speed automatic transmission. Skyactive-Drive reduces slippage to delivers a direct shift feel similar to a manual transmission. Sales of the facelifted Mazda Axela – the second model equipped with Skyactive Technology following the facelifted Mazda Demio (known overseas as the Mazda2) – will begin in the Japanese market in fall 2011.

The facelifted Mazda Axela with Skyactive-G 2.0 and Skyactive-Drive delivers significantly improved driving performance and fuel economy. In the Japanese market, the Skyactive -G 2.0 Axela also features “intelligent-Drive Master” (i-DM), a new technology that is proving popular on the recently released facelifted Mazda Demio. The newly-developed i-DM provides information and driving tips designed to promote a smooth and efficient driving style, thereby supporting enjoyable driving, a more comfortable ride for passengers, and improved fuel economy.

The Mazda Axela is a core model in Mazda’s lineup and accounts for a third of the company’s global sales. It is also the fastest-selling model in Mazda’s current lineup of passenger vehicles, with a cumulative production volume of over three million units.