What's the news?
Prior to this little venture, Mazda's Skyactiv branding related specifically to its planet-saving credentials: Skyactiv engines were said to be clean and frugal, and Skyactiv construction meant lightweight bodies and chassis. But now we have Skyactiv torque vectoring.
However, what makes Mazda's brilliantly named G-Vectoring Control (GVC) - part of a family of forthcoming motion control technologies called Skyactiv-Vehicle Dynamics - a bit different to the torque-vectoring norm is that it primarily uses steering input to shuffle grunt from wheel to wheel, rather than a loss of traction or measurement of forces acting on a wheel triggering the torque-shunt.
Thus, GVC can control lateral and longitudinal acceleration and deceleration forces to optimise the vertical loads on each wheel. Mazda says this means the car 'more closely matches the driver's intentions' and reduces the need for unconscious steering corrections, cutting fatigue in the process. Although we really draw the line at the use of the non-word 'smoothening' for the transition of forces, something Mazda claims boosts comfort by decreasing torso sway in the car's human occupants.
GVC is said to be particularly effective on rough surfaces like unpaved roads, or in slippery conditions (rain and snow). Mazda says GVC is able to be fitted to any of its cars that have Skyactiv engines - necessary for the precise control over torque output - and Skyactiv chassis. The Japanese company is also asserting that a torque-vectoring system based purely on steering input is a world first in the automotive industry.
Anything else?
Launched on the 2017MY Mazda3, which has just gone on sale in Japan, GVC will arrive on models in Europe later this year. Other Skyactiv-Vehicle Dynamics systems should follow soon after.