MotorWeek is looking ahead to the Los Angeles Auto Show later this month. One of the reveals we’ll be watching for is the world premiere of the all-new Mazda3. This teaser shot indicates we’ll see a sedan and hatchback. They embody what the company calls a “more mature interpretation of Kodo design”. This next-generation Skyactiv-Vehicle Architecture marks the beginning of a whole new generation of Mazda cars. Power will come from the all-new SKYACTIV-X compression ignition gasoline engine. We first saw it at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show. Compression ignition does not require spark plugs. Instead, the piston compresses the fuel and air mixture to a point where it heats up and ignites spontaneously. Diesel engines do it, but the technology has eluded engineers trying to bring it to gasoline engines. However, the new SKYACTIV-X will still have spark plugs that would be activated in certain situations. Look for the SKYACTIV-X in 2019.
