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 ]

Mazda extends rotary warranty on RX-8 to 100k miles

You've got to hand it to Mazda for its perseverance with the Wankel rotary engine design. Ever since it's engineers managed to make it semi-reliable, the turbine-like smoothness of the quick-spinning lump has seen duty in numerous Mazda-branded vehicles, and even a few others as well. Still, despite constant engineering work and updates to the basic rotary engine design, there is a lingering question about the reliability of the design. Most owners seem happy with the engines in their RX, that is, until a seal blows or they forget to keep the oil supply topped up and it fails to restart. Or it floods in the winter, needing a tow. Alright... so there may be a few problems.
To ease the minds of RX-8 owners and owners-to-be, Mazda has reportedly decided to extend the warranty coverage for the 2004-2008 Renesis rotary engine for a period of eight years or 100,000 miles. Mazda even goes so far as to offer reimbursement to those who've spent money on engine repairs before 100,000 miles. This seems like a nice measure made in good faith on Mazda's part. After all, most educated owners of the rotary-powered cars knew what they were getting when these purchases were made, and the engine was already covered under the same basic warranty that comes standard with all Mazda vehicles. Nice work, Mazda.
In the interest of full disclosure, this particular blogger bought an RX-8 new in 2004, though it was sold two years later.

[ Via: RX8Club.com ]
[ Tag: mazda rotary, mazda rx-8, mazda rx-8 rotary en..., mazda rx8, mazda rx8 hydrogen re, MazdaRotary, MazdaRx-8, MazdaRx-8RotaryEn..., MazdaRx8, MazdaRx8HydrogenRe, renesis, rotary, rx-8, rx-8 warranty, Rx-8Warranty, rx8, rx8 warranty, Rx8Warranty, wankel ]

Mazda sponsoring Japanese baseball all-star games

Are you paying attention? Because this could very well be the most important piece of automotive news we've reported since the couch-hauling Miata. Mazda is sponsoring this year's All-Star Games for the Japanese pro baseball league. Yes, you read that right.Unlike the MLB All-Star Game, the Nippon Professional Baseball Association holds two or three all-star games, on different days, in different cities around Japan, giving local fans of the sport a better chance to see their favorite players in the ultimate exhibition showdown. We hear Mazda is considering promotions that could include renaming the fastball the "zoom-zoom ball" to boost attendance. But then, we hear a lot of things. Press release after the jump. PRESS RELEASE
Mazda to Sponsor Japanese Pro Baseball's 2008 All-Star Games HIROSHIMA, Japan-Mazda Motor Corporation has announced that it will be the main sponsor for two all-star games organized by the Nippon Professional Baseball Association in Japan. The Mazda all-star 2008 games will be played at the Kyocera Dome Osaka on July 31 and at Yokohama Stadium on August 1, 2008. Why Mazda Will Sponsor These Games
Featuring team rosters comprised of marquee players from the Japanese pro baseball leagues, the all-star games have become a popular midsummer sporting event in Japan. Unlike the single all-star game held every year in the US by Major League Baseball, Japanese pro baseball all-stars play two or three games in different cities over a two or three day period. Mazda decided to support the all-star games as the main sponsor to contribute to the further development of Japanese professional baseball, and because the games are wildly popular with Japanese people. The charm, dreams and emotions conjured up by viewing the all-star games are similar to those evoked by Mazda's Zoom-Zoom vehicles-cars that "look inviting to drive, are fun to drive, and make you want to drive them again." The Mazda Biante, the Hiroshima-based company's all-new minivan, will be the latest addition to Mazda's lineup in Japan when it goes on sale in summer 2008.Event Details
An overview of the "Mazda All-Star Game 2008" events will be made in an official announcement from the event organizers on May 27, 2008.Mazda will hold a variety of activities to support the all-star games. These activities include fan balloting for the all-star teams' player selection, which begins in late May and continues through to the "Mazda All-Star Game 2008" days on July 31 and August 1.




[ Via: Autoblog (Mazda) ]
[ Tag: japan baseball, JapanBaseball, japanese baseball, JapaneseBaseball, mazda all-star game, MazdaAll-starGame, nippon professional baseball, NipponProfessionalBaseball, npba ]