Why does Mazda underpower their cars?

Javelin wrote:

MrJoshua wrote:

Javelin wrote: You guys need to read Mazda's site on SkyActiv. It's *way* more than you think...

I have-Tuned length intake, tuned headers, good injection and head work, etc... It is impressive that they did it and did it well, but didn't seem that revolutionary. I guess what they can market is the name of the package. Kind of like Eco-Boost is really just a direct injected twin turbo V-6 designed and built really well but the name sounds cool.

You realize SkyActiv is way more than *just* the engine, right?

Lets flip this around because you seem to want to convince me I'm wrong because I didn't recite the SkyActiv feature list correctly. What did Mazda do to create the SkyActiv feature that is new technology?

SkyActiv explained

kreb wrote: Adding to the excess of frivolity here ...I'm sure that in some markets there are penalties associated with big motors, .... What's holding these guys back from being the Japanese Porsche?

You answered your own question. Insurance and repair parts would put the cost out of reach for the fat part of the bell curve. Compounding the issue is that you and I would love the power, and maybe even be willing to pay the insurance, but might not pony up for the extra power.

Besides, Mazda goes out of their way to make zoom-zoom hot rods; just look for the mazdaspeed badge. They just dont sell a ton of them, if they did, they would be doing this to ALL the cars.

In reply to MrJoshua:

Over 130 new patents and you're still saying it's "no big deal"?

For what it's worth, there's a patent out there for an invisible beam of light for the purpose of stimulating felines into exercise.

Javelin wrote: In reply to MrJoshua: Over 130 new patents and you're still saying it's "no big deal"?

Applied for.

Putting it all together to make it work is really neat, but I have yet to see a single feature not already found in some other car. Tell me what is new.

Im with Mr. Joshua on this one.

SkyActiv is primarily branding. Sure, it refers to a design ethos that includes using certain technologies, but none of them are really exclusive to SkyActiv.