Mazda debuts MZ-2.0T engine in prototype racers

For this season’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the two-car Mazda Prototype race team will be powered by a new petrol-fuelled MZ-2.0T engine. The engine has been in development for some time now, with nearly 6,437 km clocked prior to its racing debut.

According to Mazda, the MZ-2.0T’s name is in references to its configuration – “MZ” refers to Mazda, “2.0” refers to its 2.0 litre capacity and “T” is the turbocharger that has been bolted on. The engine is specified as an inline four-cylinder, and shares a similar foundation to the MZR-R engine that powers the entire field in the Indy Lights series.

The engine features direct-injection, a tubular 4-2-1 exhaust manifold, a dry sump oiling system, a single 46 mm Garrett turbocharger, a compression ratio of 13.5:1, and is capable of revving up to 9,000 rpm. Power output is rated at approximately 570 hp (285 hp per lire).

With Mazda’s recent introduction of the all-new CX-9 and its Skyactiv-G 2.5T engine, the thought of a smaller turbocharged Skyactiv-G engine is certainly a tantalising one, especially for smaller models in the brand’s range like the Mazda 3 in the future.

However, the MZ-2.0T doesn’t bear any Skyactiv-G branding on it, unlike the race-tuned Mazda Skyactiv-D diesel engines that competed in the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) class. The Skyactiv-D engine was eventually adapted for road use, with the CX-5 being the first model to benefit from it.

Whether this MZ-2.0T will serve as a precursor to smaller turbocharged Skyactiv-G engines in the future remains to be seen. On the prospect of high-performance models, Mazda says that they have no plans to introduce new hot models involving its current crop of vehicles but one can always dream. How does a turbocharged 2.0 litre Skyactiv engine in a Mazda 3 sound?

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