According to a media statement issued by Mazda North American Operations, the April launch of the division’s first diesel-powered car has been cancelled.
“It was decided that further development is required to deliver the right balance between fuel economy and Mazda-appropriate driving performance”, the statement notes, adding that the launch of the Mazda6 Skyactiv-D will be announced “at a later date”.
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The current shape Mazda6 diesel premiered at the Paris motor show in September 2012 and the US importer was quick to announce that it intended to offer the car from 2013. This was then delayed until “Spring 2014”.
Volkswagen of America is the most successful player in the mid-size diesel sedan segment. In 2013, it broke its own record for diesel vehicle sales with 95,823 units delivered to customers. Passat TDI sales reached 34,963 units, representing 34 percent of the 109,652 Chattanooga-built Passat’s sales total in the US market.
What Volkswagen of America calls ‘Clean Diesel’ models accounted for 23.5 percent of its 2013 vehicle sales.
Author: Glenn Brooks
