HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation's facelifted Demio compact car (known overseas as the Mazda2) with Mazda's breakthrough SKYACTIV-G 1.3 gasoline engine has received the 2011-2012 Car of the Year Japan 'Special Award'. The Mazda Demio 13-SKYACTIV was launched in Japan in June 2011. The result was announced by the Car of the Year Japan Committee on December 3, 2011.

Mazda Demio 13-SKYACTIV

The new SKYACTIV-G 1.3 engine in the facelifted Mazda Demio achieves a record high^* compression ratio (for a regular gasoline mass production automobile engine) of 14.0:1 and exhibits high efficiency, especially under high load at low rpm. In order to avoid knocking – an unavoidable issue with conventional high-compression engines – the SKYACTIV-G 1.3 features a number of new technologies, such as piston cavities that are specially designed to support ideal combustion, and multi-hole injectors that enable precise fuel injection control.

With the combination of the SKYACTIV-G 1.3 engine, Mazda's unique i-stop idling stop system and a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the facelifted Mazda Demio delivers outstanding fuel economy of 30.0km/L (10-15 mode test cycle) or 25.0km/L (Japan's JC08 test cycle).

To be eligible for the award, vehicles must be launched in Japan and have an expected annual sales volume above 500 units. The first stage of selection is to be included as one of the 10 finalists nominated for the Car of the Year Japan award. The winner of the Special Award is then selected by ballot alongside the Car of the Year Japan. This year, the voting and announcement took place on December 3, 2011 at the Tokyo Motor Show.

* As of October 30, 2011 (Mazda data)