[Rania Elhoseny]

Mazda hasn't had an all-new product since the spiffy little Mazda2, but that will change in 2012 with the introduction of the Minagi concept-inspired CX-5 crossover. The smallish CUV will reportedly be the first crossover to incorporate Mazda's Skyactiv technology, and, according to Autocar, it will also be available with a diesel and a six-speed manual.

Of course, the diesel engine Autocar speaks of will most likely be a European affair, displacing 2.2-liters and pushing 173 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The oil-burner will reportedly be 20 percent more efficient than the automaker's current 2.2-liter diesel. It will also be able to pass Euro 6 emissions standards, which are more than two years from enforcement.

We're not all that hopeful that we'll be able to experience the 2.2-liter diesel in the U.S. (we're almost always left out of the diesel equation), but Skyactiv measures will likely help improve efficiency either way. The promised tech will reportedly include a lightweight modular platform, smaller, more efficient engines and transmissions, and so on.