One in three cars mazda sells wears a badge that displays the number three. Coincidence? Perhaps. But maybe the compact 3's name has something to do with its popularity. A quick Web search netted the following enlightening information about the number three: the numeral raises the spirits of others, spreads optimism and cheerfulness wherever it travels, and possesses the ability to sell itself. That's a hell of a recipe for showroom success. And since the 3's predecessors - the GLC, then the 323, then the Proteg - weren't nearly as popular, clearly their names must be at fault. Mazda's in-house numerology team obviously agrees, since they're keeping the name unchanged on the new-for-2010 second-generation car.Then again, there's quite a bit that Mazda left alone with regard to its highly successful small-car formula. Even though it calls the 2010 model all-new, scant changes were made to its C1 architecture. Suspension mounting points and wheelbase are unchanged, but Mazda used additional high-tensile-strength steel for added stiffness and reduced weight. The 3's body is about the same size as last year's car, with an increase in length of just over three inches being the only significant dimensional change.As before, Mazda will offer the 3 in both four-door sedan and four-door hatchback form. The sedan is by far the more popular variant in the States (we import the majority of all the sedans built), so Mazda chose to bring that body style here first. From dead-on, the new 3 looks a bit silly - like an anime gremlin wearing an I've-been-naughty grin. From any angle, though, its design is youthful, distinctive, and instantly recognizable as a Mazda. Organically shaped grilles in the lower front corners, like those seen on the Kiyora show car from the 2008 Paris auto show, visually widen the front end and flow into swollen front fenders Г la RX-8 and Mazda 6.Just like last time, Mazda's littlest five-seater is offered with a choice of two suffixes - the entry-level 3i as well as the 3s, which boasts a bigger engine, beefier brakes, and a sportier appearance. Last year's 2.0-liter four continues duty in the base 3i, producing 148 hp and 135 lb-ft of torque. Both of its available transmissions have five gear ratios - the automatic gaining one since last year. Mazda says that engine software revisions and aerodynamic improvements will help the manual car achieve an extra 1 mpg both in the city and on the open road, and the extra gear in the automatic helps net even bigger gains - 2 mpg city and 3 mpg highway for an expected EPA rating of 24/33 mpg. As before, the 2.0-liter remains a pleasure to flog, retaining its composure and happily producing thrust as the tach needle swings deep into the red zone.
[ Source: Automobilemag ]
2010 Mazda 3
1990-1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata - Collectible Classic
It seems that when you do something long enough, new things become old and old things tend to feel new again. Some explanation: Twenty years ago, I was the car culture editor for a large format "lifestyle" magazine - before "lifestyle" dripped with irony - called L.A. Style. It was in that role that a brand-new mazda MX-5 Miata was thrust upon me at the end of June 1989. It was mine to drive through the Fourth of July weekend, even though "civilians" weren't able to take delivery of the much-heralded new roadster until after the holiday. Thus, my Miata experience back then was a very singular and exclusive one. Now that time has passed, I'm writing about the car as a collectible classic. As I cast my mind back to the first Bush era, I can make the argument that the Miata fit that definition even at its inception.Bystanders alternately laughed and screamed when they saw the car over that long weekend. A friend's tearful young daughter implored me to give her a ride. She's now a mom and a businesswoman. The Miata has been part of the vehicular landscape for a lifetime. I recall grousing about impaired visibility when the headlights were popped up at night; I was just grasping for something, anything, negative to impart. I liked the car with the top up but truly loved it with the top down.By the 1980s, the postwar sports car boom was a shadow of its former self. The pickings, in terms of light, tossable roadsters, were, to say the least, slim in the wake of the departure of MG, Triumph, and Fiat from the American market. Mazda, emboldened by the success of its rotary-powered RX-7, leapt into the breach with the Miata. It was conceived at the company's American design studio in Irvine, California, at the urging of Mazda product planner and former automotive journalist Bob Hall. Production started in Hiroshima in mid-1989 for the 1990 model year.When I first laid eyes on my loaner Miata (has anybody ever really called it an MX-5?), it seemed instantly familiar; its resemblance to the lithe Lotus Elan was undeniable, right down to the hidden headlights and the chromeless, below-bumper oval grille. All the same, the little Mazda exuded its own spunky personality and was thoroughly modern, equipped with an air bag, four disc brakes, independent suspension, and a five-speed manual transmission; it even had available power windows and air-conditioning! A perky, fuel-injected, 1.6-liter DOHC sixteen-valve four-cylinder was more than adequate to the task of powering a car that weighed less than 2200 pounds. The whole shebang was classically formatted: front engine/rear-wheel drive. It was the archetypal British roadster rebooted with a bulletproof engine, modern underpinnings, balanced weight distribution, reliable electrics, a cooling system that did the job without foaming at the mouth, and a manual soft top that went up and down in seconds without any vexing English complexity. Even the sweet exhaust note recalled sports cars of yesteryear.
[ Source: Automobilemag ]
2008 Mazda Kiyora - By Design
Make no mistake, the Mazda Kiyora is not a concept car. At least, not as the term is typically used these days, when what is presented as an idea about the future is in fact a hastily restyled upcoming production car, presented to prepare public opinion in advance: "Wow, the new Thingamajig came from the Chimera concept car." No way will we see versions of the Kiyora on the streets anytime soon. Or ever.No, the Kiyora is a full-out dream car, as far from production as the long-ago Cadillac Cyclone and just as wonderful in its own way. Created within the nagare-or flow-theme that has informed the last five Mazda concept cars, the Kiyora is quite small, a two-plus-two city car with enough convoluted surface detail to adorn three or four "flame-surfaced" BMWs. It takes the flow theme to the maximum, in that grooves are machined into the translucent plastic roof panel to channel rainwater into a sump at the rear containing an activated charcoal filter, whence it is directed forward to an elegant flask between the front seats.The flask has a patented Lifesaver filtering system using tubular membranes with such fine perforations-fifteen nanometers-that viruses and bacteria can't get through them. This is all part of a conscious effort to present the Kiyora as "the Eco-Friendly City Car." The four principal designers, Belgian project manager Jo Stenuit, French lead exterior stylist Mickael Loyer, his compatriot and lead interior designer Gregory Vera, and Italian exterior stylist Luca Zollino, told us that they conceived of the car not only as a refuge against the outside world, but also as a space open to that world by way of extensive semitransparency, including that grooved polycarbonate roof. Their rap was engaging and amusing, if not particularly based in commercial reality, and it was clear that they had enormous enthusiasm for the project.The front seats cantilever from the center, and the occasional-use rear seats are made of a stretchy vinyl fabric that allows a separation panel to deform into rear seats or be pushed forward by baggage to increase trunk space. Much of the interior is so complex that only stereolithography, in which parts are built as though from sheets of thin paper, could achieve the desired shapes. The right side of the instrument panel clearly shows this. Within that complex, layered sculpture is a large, single block of activated carbon, which captures toxins from incoming air with neither electric fan nor inorganic materials.With water and its fluidity as the principal unifying idea, blue-green coloring both inside and out was chosen to express the visual nature of water, such as how it changes color with depth, temperature, and state; the floor is supposed to look like ice. Door panels are translucent, with the protective side-impact structure contained in the spar carrying the door handles and grips. Sitting in the Kiyora is quite agreeable, with the coloring and forms providing a sense of calm otherworldliness-a dream state, in fact.
[ Source: Automobilemag ]
2006 - Mazda debuting CX-9 in New York
This morning Mazda announced that its CX-9 seven-passenger SUV would be debuting at the New York Auto Show next week. The CX-9 was designed and engineered with both eyes on the North American market, just like its little brother, the CX-7. The larger ute will get Mazda’s new MZI 3.5L V6 coupled with a six-speed auto. It will be built at Ujina No. 1 plant near Mazda HQ in Hiroshima and is expected to arrive in dealer showrooms by early 2007.
LA 2008: 2010 Mazda3 shows its smiling face [w/VIDEO]
Mazda has unveiled its 2010 mazda3 sedan here at the LA Auto Show and we managed to snap some nice shots off as it was spinning around on a huge rotating stand. It's a good looking car that mazda says carries on its "family face" with stylish bulges and creases that attract the eyes, and we're really looking forward to seeing the hatchback version as well. Underhood is a newly-enlarged 2.5-liter version of Mazda's MZR inline-four that offers up 167-horsepower and can be mated to either a 6-speed stick or 5-speed auto. As before, a standard 148-horsepower 2.0L four will be available and can be had with either a manual or auto tranny with 5 forward ratios each.
Considering the low price class in which the Mazda3 competes, features like dual-zone automatic climate control, Xenon self-leveling head lamps, push-button start and hands-free Bluetooth are very nice touches, as is the iPod integration and an optional leather interior. Increasingly important these days is fuel mileage, so the 3's low .29 coefficient of drag is an important piece of the overall efficiency puzzle and helps the 2010 Mazda3 hit 33 mpg on the highway with the smaller engine option. See the full press release past the break for all the details and be sure to check out our live shots below.
[ Source: Autoblog (Mazda) ]
Michael Phelps to hock Mazda6 in China
Click above for a high-res gallery of the European-spec Mazda6
When American super swimmer Michael Phelps won eight gold metals and broke seven world records at the 2008 Olympics, he became an instant celebrity. Since the Olympics were held in the land of the Great Wall, Phelps is perhaps an even bigger sensation in China. In fact, Phelps is so big in the Middle Kingdom that he has just scored what is believed to be the largest endorsement deal of any western celebrity, a $1 million deal to pitch the all-new Mazda6. Mazda is spending big bucks on a pitchmanin an effort to capitalize on its recent success in China. The outgoing 6, named Rui Yi in China, experienced a 43 percent sales increase in 2008, outpacing Mazda's already impressive brand-wide increase of 27 percent.
China is currently the world's third largest market, behind only Japan and the United States. The world's most populous nation is expected by many analysts to surpass Japan in this category as soon as this year, and the US could be in the rear view mirror by 2020. Mazda spending big to land an American hero shows goes some way to showing just how important the growing market is for the Japanese automaker.
[ Source: Ad Age ]
Auction of the Day: Mint 1984 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE for a good cause
For the first generation mazda RX-7, it didn't get any better than the GSL-SE. The FB cars were done by 1985, and the GSL-SE was only available for 1984-85. Carrying larger brake rotors, an upgraded suspension, revised front airdam and a fuel-injected 13B Rotary, SEs are sought after and a clean, unmolested original-owner car is a rare find, indeed. Patti Wilhelm's 1984 RX7 GSL-SE is the cleanest we've ever laid eyes upon. Even though it's traversed 291,000 miles since she drove it away from Valley Mazda in 1984, the car has been well cared for and has seen recent refurbishment and upgrades like Bilstein shocks.
Patti sadly passed away from kidney cancer in June, 2008. She wanted her RX7 to go to a good home, and that it should benefit others. Being a motorsports enthusiast and an animal lover, the beloved Mazda is being raffled off, with the proceeds going to The Humane Society of the United States. Autoweek magazine is helping coordinate online bidding, which currently stands at $7,100, and will close at midnight on December 14th. We're wowed more by the quality of Patti's life than anything, but the car is just as much a class act. Head on over to place your bid for a good cause.
[ Source: MotorWorldHype ]
Refreshed Mazda MX-5 Roadster goes on sale in Japan
What mazda has called a "refresh" is actually a seriously thorough tweaking of the MX-5's mechanics and aesthetics. Outside the rag top, known as the Roadster in Japan where it's just gone on sale, gets a smaller version of the smile we've seen on the Mazda3, new alloy wheels, a stronger character line and three new colors. Inside it gets new gauges, more supportive seats and a new MX-5-specific BOSE system. And underneath the hood, the engine gets a higher redline, the automatic transmission gets a couple of new modes, and manual gearbox just gets more refined and the front end has been lowered. And those changes represent just the tips of many icebergs. One thing we can all be thankful mazda hasn't changed about the MX-5 is its Jinba Ittai. That's Japanese for "rider and horse as one." Who knew? Follow the jump for the exhaustive press release and check out the high-res gallery of Mazda's new Roadster below.
[ Source: Autoblog (Mazda) ]
Officially Official: Mazda3 five-door hatchback gets real
Mazda has officially taken the wraps off its five-door hatchback version of the redesigned Mazda3 at the Bologna Motor Show today. As you can see in the gallery of new high-res pics below, the Mazda3 five-door gets the same swoopy sheetmetal as its four-door brethren, including the super happy smiley front end face. What's new is an extended roofline that drops down at a steep angle to create a wagon-esque profile. With a D-pillar that kinks up at a swept back angle, the look is very similar to that of a Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix that's been stepped on by a giant. The new cargo capacity will no doubt be appreciated by families who can put every extra cubic foot to good use, and if the current generation Mazda3 is any indication, this will also be the basis for the Mazdaspeed model.
At the moment, all the specs for the new Mazda3 five-door hatchback are for the European market, so don't expect its new 2.2L and carryover 1.6L turbo diesel engines to be available in the U.S. Europeans will also have a choice of 1.6L and 2.0L gas engines, though we expect the U.S.-spec model to offer the same 2.0L and new 2.5L four-cylinder engines as the sedan. Check out the official press release from Mazda after the jump for more details and the high-res image gallery below for more shots of the new Mazda3 five-door hatchback.
[ Source: Autoblog (Mazda) ]
Spy Shots (Sort of): Mazda3 five-door hatchback
The styling of the new mazda3 is generally pretty good, with one notable and extremely controversial element: that happy-go-lucky smiling face. Still, we've yet to get an official uncovered glimpse of the upcoming 5-door hatch, so there may still be some surprises up Mazda's sleeve. Today we discovered the odd batch of "official spy shots" straight from the horse's mouth, Mazda that is. They show the upcoming hatchback as it sheepishly plays peek-a-boo with its sedan sibling through some beautiful European scenery. From what we can tell, that blissfully chipper visage is alive and well on the 5-door. The rest of the details, unfortunately, are still pretty obscured by all that effective black vinyl clothing.
When it finally is debuted at the 2008 Bologna Motorshow in Italy next month, the hatch's engine options should basically mirror those of the sedan's, which means the U.S. will initially get both a 148-horsepower 2.0L and a larger 167-horse 2.5L version of the MZR four cylinder engine. Could a Mazdaspeed3 be far behind?
[ Source: Autoblog (Mazda) ]
CAR gets way early first drive of Mazda MX-5
CAR magazine has gotten an opportunity to try out the refresh of the MX-5, which has left them impressed enough to say it's "still the best car Mazda makes." There's nothing revelatory coming for 2009, just more consistent refinement of a winning formula. The biggest change is a bit of rhinoplasty that adds more of the family nose to the MX-5's visage. The headlamps have taken on a shape that echoes the car's siblings the 3 and the 6. Grille openings, and the shape of the front airdam, call to mind the RX-8, and new sill extensions stretch between the wheels. The tweaking adds a whiff more aggression to the convertible's look, which some have found effeminate in the past.
Rather than get caught up in the recent massive horsepower war, Mazda's been careful to maintain the MX-5's stellar chassis manners that allow drivers to make the most of the horsepower with the car's penchant for serving up handling enjoyment. There have been refinements to the hardware: the transmission now has shorter throws, and the engine gets a forged crank connected to new pistons, and a new valvetrain also helps orchestrate a power peak 300 rpm higher, now at 7,000, and redline bumps out to 7,500. For those that don't want to shift themselves, there's a six speed automatic, and the front suspension has been revised to improve steering feel and action. The MX-5 has evolved from an MGB throwback to a classic in its own right. Now, if they'd just make a proper fixed-head version. Thanks for the tip, Nguyen Ta!
[ Via: CAR ]
[ Tag: 2009 mazda mx-5, 2009 mazda mx5, 2009 mx-5, 2009 mx5, 2009MazdaMx-5, 2009MazdaMx5, 2009Mx-5, 2009Mx5, mazda miata, mazda mx-5, mazda mx5, mazda roadster, MazdaMiata, MazdaMx-5, MazdaMx5, MazdaRoadster, mx-5, mx5 ]
Mazda3 hatch unveiled, will debut next week
The Mazda3 hatchback will be unveiled next week at the Bologna Motor Show, and Mazda has released a quartet of photos to help get everyone excited. The Euro backdrop means that the 5-door's engine lineup will include a 2.2L turbodiesel that's guaranteed to keep the EU carbon nannies placated. Up front, it wears the same moderately unnerving perma-smile as its sedan brother. Look for more info next week, and feel free to start mentally transforming it into the next Mazdaspeed3. We have.
[ Via: Autoblog (Mazda) ]
[ Tag: 2010 mazda3 hatchback, 2010Mazda3Hatchback, bologna motor show, BolognaMotorShow, breaking, hatchback, mazda, mazda3, new mazda3, NewMazda3 ]