Mazda confirms new SkyActiv-D 1.5 litre diesel engine for next Mazda2

The next Mazda2, previewed by the Hazumi Concept (pictured) gets a new SKYACTIV 1.5 diesel The Geneva Motor Show this year saw the arrival of the Mazda Hazumi Concept which was the first view of the next generation Mazda2, due to arrive in early 2015. What the Geneva Show also revealed from Mazda was the new SkyActiv-D 1.5 litre diesel engine which is heading for deployment in Mazda’s cars, and now Mazda has confirmed the next Mazda2 will be offered with the new clean and fugal diesel. Similar to the 2.2 litre diesel already available in the Mazda 6 and Mazda 3, the new 1.5 litre offers 103bhp and 185lb/ft of torque and features a bigger homogenous lean burn range, less mechanical resistance and new insulation to improve cooling and efficiency.

Top Gear Christmas Special: Video trailer

Top Gear Christmas Special - Iraq to Bethlehem The first clue we had about what the Top Gear Christmas Special would be this year was back in October when we caught the boys out playing in the Middle East with a trio of rather battered roadsters. It seemed like the makings of another road-trip special with the madness of the Middle East as a backdrop for the madness of Top Gear. It was only a month later we learnt that the Middle East was to be the backdrop for the 2010 Top Gear Christmas Special with the boys searching for ‘The Baby Jesus’ on a road trip to Bethlehem as three modern-day wise men (oxymoron obviously springs to mind).

Hyundai i40 / Sonata launches

The new Sonata / i40 has launched in Korea The Sonata – which will be the Hyundai i40 in Europe – is yet another very convincing new model from the Koreans. Gone is the very boring old Sonata and in comes the very European style i40. It is a somewhat derivative design – from the  ’Coupe Saloon’ school of design – but that’s a positive for a budget car maker like Hyundai.