- Skyactiv-X engine technology awarded the most innovative technology development in 2020
- Mazda MX-5 wins again in the convertible import category
- New Mazda3 on third place in the compact class import category
Mazda has taken a trio of awards from leading German magazine auto motor und sport. At the 44th presentation of the renowned award, the Japanese manufacturer achieved two first places and a third place in a top-class competitive environment.
First, Yasuhiro Aoyama, President, and CEO of Mazda Motor Europe received the “International Paul Pietsch Award” for the Mazda Skyactiv-X technology. “We are very pleased to receive this award from the editorial team for the most innovative technical development of the year 2020. We have repeatedly emphasized that, in our view, the optimization of combustion engines is not yet complete. With the Skyactiv-X technology, we have reached a decisive milestone that takes us a big step forward in our continuous quest for the ideal combustion engine,” said Aoyama.
The international Paul Pietsch Award for innovative technology developments in the automotive sector has been presented by the auto motor und sport editorial team since 1989. The Mazda Skyactiv-X engine is the world’s first mass-production petrol engine that, like a diesel engine, burns an extremely lean air-fuel mixture using compression ignition.
Bernhard Kaplan, Managing Director of Mazda Motors Germany, received the award for the readers’ choice in the Cabrio Import category for the Mazda MX-5 / MX-5 RF. “When looking at the competition in the convertible import category, we are particularly proud of the victory in this class. With the Mazda MX-5, we have had a perfectly proportioned sports car in our model range for over 30 years, with which many readers have made contact at some point in their life. I believe that this is our secret of success and that should continue with future generations, ”said Kaplan. The iconic roadster placed 1st with 12,3 percent, in front of the Ferrari Portofino with 7,8 percent on the second and the Jaguar F-Type with 7,1 percent on the third place. The Mazda MX-5 already won the prestigious readers’ choice in its class in 2016, 2017 and 2019.
The new Mazda3 also cleared a place on the podium. The compact model with its award-winning Kodo design was able to convince 9.2 percent of the readers in the compact class Import and was voted for the third place.
At this year’s election, around 100,000 readers voted for their favorites from 387 models in eleven vehicle categories – across all segments including sports cars, convertibles, SUVs, and vans. The award ceremony took place today with numerous national and international brands of the automotive industry in the International Congress Center Stuttgart (ICS).
The award for technology is an important indicator of brand image and trends in the automotive industry. For the 44th time since 1976, readers and online users were asked to select the best cars of the year. The Best Cars 2020 readers’ choice is held in Germany by auto motor and sport and by 14 European and three non-European magazines.
