We'll be able to buy petrol and diesel versions of the new Mazda6 from next month, but in the US, the diesel learning curve needs a little help, so Mazda is campaigning a diesel-powered version of the all-new sedan at the 2013 Rolex 24 at Daytona in two weeks. Having competed there with its rotaries in the past, Mazda Motorsports will be seeking its 24th class win.

Created to run in the Grand-Am GX class, the racing Mazda6 will be powered by a version of Mazda's latest SkyActiv-D clean diesel engine, which is to be offered in road-going Mazda6s in the US later this year.

It will be the first time a diesel- powered vehicle has ever raced at the Rolex 24. John Doonan, Motorsports Director, Mazda North American Operations, says: "The SpeedSource engineering team, working with the Mazda, has been flat out for months on engine development. We're happy to report that the engine is meeting the performance targets for both power and endurance. That means 400-plus horsepower (298-plus kW) for over 50 hours, with an engine that includes a very long list of production parts.

"This is not a pure race engine; it is a production block SkyActiv-D."

The road-going Mazda6 has already been launched in Europe and Australia, with New Zealand taking the new range from next month, with turbodiesel SkyActiv-D engines, as well as SkyActiv-G petrol units in sedan and sportwagon body styles, driving through six- speed manual and automatic transmissions.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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