Mazda announced the pricing and fuel economy ratings of the i-ELOOP equipped Mazda6 for the American market. i-ELOOP, in case you don’t know, is derived from “Intelligent Energy Loop,” and is Mazda’s fancy way of saying regenerative engine braking system.
This system complements the SKYACTIV powertrain technologies to achieve best-in-class fuel economy amongst similarly-sized sedan, with an EPA ratings of 28 city/40 highway/32 combined mpg. The i-ELOOP will be part of the new GT Technology Package ($2,080 MSRP), available on Grand Touring models ($29,695).
That may sound a bit steep compared to the non i-ELOOP models with the same 2.5 liter SKYACTIV engine (184 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of torque), which start at just $20,990 and return 25 city/37 highway/29 combined mpg with manual, and 26 city/38 highway/30 combined mpg with the automatic transmission. But the Gran Touring models are far better equipped than the base Sport and the mid-range Touring trim levels.
The Mazda6 GT comes with Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), High Beam Control (HBC), Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) and Forward Obstruction Warning (FOW), a Sport mode button and active grille shutters. Those features make the 32 grand asking price sound like a bargain.
For those of you who like technical stuff, the i-ELOOP is a capacitor-based regenerative engine braking system that converts a vehicle’s kinetic energy into electricity as the car decelerates. By using this stored energy to power components such as headlights, climate control and audio systems it reduced the load on the gasoline engine to produce more electricity, and therefore reduces fuel consumption.
