Official: Facelifted Mazda2 with SkyActiv 1.3L revealed in Japan

[Rania Elhoseny]

Mazda has taken the knife to the company's Demio compact, known as the Mazda2 in this neck of the woods. Along with a minor facelift, the five-door now rocks the first production application of the automaker's direct-injection, 1.3-liter SkyActiv gasoline engine. With an astronomical compression ratio of 14.0:1 and an intelligent start/stop system that requires less fuel to re-initiate the combustion cycle, the small-displacement four-cylinder promises to be one of the most efficient mills to ever wear a Mazda badge. The company says that the Demio returned the equivalent of 58.8 mpg on the JC08 evaluation cycle.

The engine uses a range of clever tech to help with efficiency, including a cooled EGR system that helps reduce knock, multi-hole fuel injectors that help cool the combustion chamber, a uniquely designed piston, dual sequential valve timing and lighter engine internals for reduced friction losses.

Mazda hasn't released any power figures for the Demio at this point, and it's unclear whether the thrifty little 1.3-liter four-cylinder will show up in U.S.-spec Mazda2 models anytime soon. We've got our fingers crossed. Hit the jump for the full press release.