ASH8

Mazda i-stop Wins 2010 RJC Technology of the Year Award

HIROSHIMA, Japan—

Mazda Motor Corporation announced today that its unique idling stop system, i-stop, has won the 2009 Automotive Researchers’ and Journalists’ Conference of Japan (RJC) Technology of the Year award.

Idling stop systems reduce fuel consumption by automatically shutting down the engine when the driver stops the vehicle. Mazda’s i-stop system is fitted to direct injection engines and uses combustion energy to restart the engine in just 0.35 seconds, about half the time necessary for most other competing systems. The i-stop system also suppresses noise and vibration as the engine shuts down and restarts, ensuring that drivers experience a natural driving feel with no sense of discomfort.

Mazda introduced i-stop on the all-new Mazda Axela*1 (known overseas as the Mazda3), which launched in Japan in June 2009. The new Axela with i-stop offers approximately 15 percent improved fuel economy compared to the previous model when tested under Japan’s 10-15 mode test cycle.*2 Axela models with i-stop also qualify for Japan’s eco-car incentive program as well as tax reductions of 75 percent under the government’s eco-car tax reduction program. Almost half of the total Mazda Axela sales volume in Japan to date has been for i-stop models.*3

Seita Kanai, Mazda’s senior managing executive officer in charge of R&D, said, “Mazda’s i-stop system is one of the green technologies that form the base of our future product strategy. It improves fuel economy without adversely affecting driving performance. In this way, we believe i-stop perfectly reflects Mazda’s commitment to provide our customers with driving pleasure as well as superb environmental and safety performance. We are honored to receive this award. In recognizing our environmental efforts, this prize holds a special significance for Mazda.”

The Automotive Researchers’ and Journalists’ Conference of Japan, a non-profit organization (NPO), was established in 1990. It aims to contribute to the development of the automotive industry through various activities, including the recognition of outstanding vehicles and technologies by the Car of the Year selection committee.

Automotive technologies eligible for the 2009 RJC Technology of the Year competition must be introduced to the market in vehicles sold between November 1, 2008, and October 31, 2009. This is the third time that Mazda has won the RJC Technology of the Year award. Previously, Mazda won for its Miller-cycle engine (used in the Eunos 800) in 1993 and for the RENESIS Rotary engine (for the RX-8) in 2003.

Renesis_8

Good news, that is a very nice way to cut fuel economy. I wonder if they're as reliable as normal engines? I am pretty sure some data is present already since they've been selling them for over a year now.

They should use this system on other engines as well, and in all markets.
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Colorado Dispensary

The_Beast

I've driven a BMW with this system and its pretty cool. The first time it happened I freaked out and thought the engine had just died, but when I pushed the clutch in to start it it started right back up automatically. I wonder how the A/C will work with this though? I'll have to look into it...

MattMPS

if A/C is working to cool down the temperature into car , dont' work. if not, yes...if temperature into the car goes up ...the engine restart.

shaunv74

This would be huge for our rotary fuel woes in the city.

renesisgenesis

Rotary fuel economy is never going to be that important. It's a particular car with a crowd that loves it for being unique, and we aren't all that worried about fuel economy; if we were, we wouldn't be driving sports cars, but 4 cylinder sedans.

CyberPitz

It still wouldn't hurt, especially in countries that tax you on that sort of thing.

*They do tax you somehow for MPG or Emissions, right?*

renesisgenesis

I have a friend from Singapore and apparently their government taxes you on your automotive purchase depending on engine cc's. So the rotaries would do great there!!

newguy

Good for Mazda but personally I think Nissans rev matching manual is cooler and such a simple idea no one thought to do before.

77mjd

+1

But I would still think this i-stop would be a no-brainer to include with the 16x if it was at all possible. I know it's a sports car, but still...every little bit would help and we know even for a sports car RX-8 is considered horrible for gas mileage.

Symbioticgenius

This in a Rotary is gonna be causing floods all over. Stop at the end of your driveway. Flood. That stop sign at the end of your block... Flood.
If it only works when the engine is at operating temps... then sure, but the Renny drinks most fuel when not at operating temps (I think most cars do in fact), so the offset would differ.
However, I wouldn't mind seeing it in every car in 5 years or so. Especially the Miata.

mscamp02

iTrader: (3)

Good for mazda...not sure if its the best innovation but certainly a very cool idea

tmak26b

Honda Insight/Toyota Prius has the same thing. Cool yes, groundbreaking no.

longpath

iTrader: (1)

My only concern is bearing wear from there being no oil pressure at startup. I think think I'd want to pass on the initial iteration of this, especially in a rotary as we already have some challenges with lubrication. Two possible solutions are an accumulator and solenoid valve or an electric secondary oil pump for start up.