The Mazda6 is been a key fleet car, but emissions of 133g/km makes it a difficult sell when rivals fall below 120g/km.

“CO2 has really killed us,” Tomlinson admits. “But with Skyactiv we’re back in the game.”

He is looking to push fleet sales to 8,500 next year, accounting for around 24% of Mazda’s UK volume (this year is likely to dip below 6,000).

Corporates, user-choosers and SME fleets are the key targets.

The Skyactiv technology has already impressed fleets who have tried the CX-5.

Lorraine Johnson, new business development consultant at Marshall Leasing, says: “Skyactiv technology will increase demand for Mazda vehicles because it drives down CO2 emissions.”

Tony Leigh, head of car fleet services at PricewaterhouseCoopers, adds: “A low CO2 figure is important and, with the price of fuel, economy is crucial, so it all comes down to cost. The CX-5 looks to be very competitive.”

Tomlinson is naturally delighted by the reaction. “There is global demand for increased fuel economy and lower CO2. If you deliver a car that does that then you’re on to a fleet winner,” he says.

“That’s why we’re so delighted with CX-5 and are optimistic that Mazda6 will take us a step forward.”

Mazda has refrained from trying to push up its market share by doing lots of business in rental or motability.

“For us it’s about true fleet,” says Tomlinson.

“If we can grow organically through demand led growth that will be fantastic, but that’s not to say we won’t do rental, we will, and that’s not to say we won’t do motability, we will.

“We’re winning new accounts and growing our number of customers. It’s just unfortunate that with some of the larger ones we haven’t been able to renew terms.

“The competition has moved the game forward, but with Skyactiv we have something new to talk to customers about. We’re excited about the future,” Tomlinson says.

All-new Mazda6 set to drop below 100g/km

Mazda will celebrate the world premiere of its all-new Mazda6 saloon during the Moscow Motor Show on August 29.

The Mazda6 is the second model in Mazda’s new generation of products which incorporate both the full range of Skyactiv technologies and the new Kodo ‘Soul of Motion’ design language. 

The 2.2-litre diesel is expected to sit below 100g/km CO2 emissions, a sector-leading figure.

It will also be the first Mazda equipped with the company’s new brake energy regeneration, i-Eloop. The introduction of i-Eloop marks stage two of Mazda’s environmental development. 

The strategy calls for far-reaching improvements in traditional automotive technologies, before moving to the step-by-step introduction of electric devices to improve fuel economy and cut carbon emissions.

New Mazda6 will stand as the flagship model for a new generation of Mazda products.

The model to be exhibited in Moscow is a Russian-specification saloon equipped with a direct-injection Skyactiv-G 2.0-litre petrol engine and six-speed Skyactiv-Drive automatic transmission.