
- Mazda has announced the performance of its new 3.3-liter straight-six engine.
- At 340 hp and 369 pound-feet, it’s the most powerful engine Mazda offers.
- The CX-90 will have it; This SUV will be fully unveiled on January 31st.
While much of the fanfare surrounding the forthcoming Mazda CX-90 Three-row SUV focuses on its Plug-in hybrid drive, there’s a straight-six engine in the future lineup that also deserves some attention. The CX-90 debuts on January 31st, but before that Mazda saw fit to release a few more details about its latest gas burner.
Mazda says the CX-90’s turbocharged 3.3-liter straight-six will be the most powerful production gas engine the automaker has ever developed. The I-6 will produce 340 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel the automaker recommends; As with other engines on the market, using non-premium petrol will incur a horsepower penalty, although the automaker hasn’t disclosed performance on good old 89 octane.
This new straight-six is also technically a hybrid, just not one you can drive on electricity alone. Instead, the 3.3-liter is paired with a 48-volt hybrid system. While we’re not sure how Mazda will use it just yet, there are similar 48-volt setups across the automotive industry. They can extend stop-start use on the road and allow the engine to shut down when coasting or braking, all for better fuel economy.
Mazda claims that this straight-six was developed specifically for the CX-90 new longitudinal engine platform. It’s likely that we’ll see this engine reappear on the CX-90’s smaller twin-row brother, the CX-90 CX-70which shares a platform and will have a separate debut later in 2023.
There’s also another interesting tidbit in Mazda’s press release. The automaker said its Kinematic Posture Control will be standard on all CX-90 variants. debut on the MX-5 Miata, Kinematic Posture Control claims to improve cornering stability by braking the inside rear wheel just as slightly. As if we need any more excuses to toss this thing around once it gets to our office.