VIDEO: Test Mazda CX-7

Mazda is the latest manufacturer to launch itself onto the SUV market with the new CX-7.

Mazda CX-7 receives special award for 'Best SUV'

HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation has announced today that the Mazda Demio was named the 2008 Automotive Researchers’ and Journalists’ Conference of Japan (RJC) Car of the Year. The Mazda CX-7 also won the special “Best SUV” prize. RJC Chairman, Michio Takei, announced the two awards after the final round of balloting.

This year’s RJC Car of the Year (COTY) winner, the Mazda Demio (known as the Mazda2 overseas), is a compact car that combines distinct styling, superb handling and very competitive running costs with the fun-to-drive spirit of Zoom-Zoom. Demio received high marks from RJC for its great fuel efficiency and drivability. The new model is around 100 kilograms lighter than the previous model, and the 13C-V model grade combines Mazda’s MZR 1.3L Miller-cycle engine with a continuously variable transmission to achieve top class fuel economy of 23.0 km/L in 10-15 fuel mode.

The Mazda CX-7, the recipient of the 2008 RJC special award for Best SUV, is a crossover SUV with sporty, cosmopolitan styling. The Mazda CX-7 was highly evaluated by the RJC for its powerful and responsive driving dynamics thanks to its eco-friendly 2.3-liter direct injection turbocharged engine which is complemented by a six-speed Activematic transmission and the stable, comfortable ride quality provided by its suspension.

Mazda’s Representative Director, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, Hisakazu Imaki, said, “We are delighted to receive these prestigious awards from the RJC. Under our product-led growth strategy, we launched the Mazda Atenza as the first of our next-generation models in 2002 and it won the RJC Car of the Year award. We’re pleased to be chosen again by the RJC for the Mazda Demio, the first new model we introduced after announcing our Sustainable Zoom-Zoom long-term technical development vision this year. We appreciate these accolades as a validation of where we are going with our products. Looking ahead, we will continue to strive to make cars infused with the Mazda spirit.”

The Automotive Researchers’ & Journalists’ Conference of Japan, a nonprofit organization (NPO), was established in April 1990 to contribute to the robust development of Japan’s automotive industry through open research and criticism. The RJC is comprised of researchers who study automotive engineering and automotive journalists. One of the organization’s activities is the annual selection of the RJC Car of the Year, Import Car of the Year, Technology of the Year and other awards.

Models eligible for the 2008 RJC Car of the Year competition came from a field of 22 vehicles launched for sale in Japan between November 1, 2006, and October 31, 2007, with an annual production volume exceeding 5,000 units. Four years have passed since Mazda last won the RJC Car of the Year for the RX-8 in 2003. This is the fifth time that Mazda has won the RJC Car of the Year award since it was established in 1991.

VIDEO 2007 Tokyo Motor Show: Mazda Taiki Unveiled

The Mazda Taiki made its debut appearance at the Tokyo Motor Show. The fourth concept car in the Nagare design theme series, Taiki continues the evolution from the Mazda Nagare, Mazda Ryuga, and Mazda Hakaze.

Mazda Taiki unveiled

You're not telling me that Mazda is about to launch a car with out-riggers and a freaky body, are you?
Yes. And no. Mazda has played with its 'nagare' design concept over the course of 2007, with a steady stream of concept cars inspired by the natural rhythms of nature. Waves, winds, that sort of thing. And the latest, the gracefully swooping Taiki, is indeed named after a Japanese wind. CAR Online has been assured that this is a very serious design direction. Senior designers have confirmed to us that a new, small production car will appear with this nagare-inspired look by 2009. Will that be a new Mazda 3 small hatchback? Or a new, standalone coupe to take up where the MX-3 left off? We're not sure yet, but the news heralds the most important change in Mazda's styling since the arrival of the Mk1 MX-5. This Taiki looks absolutely outrageous! It's stunning in the metal - a proper old-school concept car, whose graceful length impress and inspire, yet it all makes sense in the context of the Nagare, Ryuga and Hakaze concepts shown earlier this year. This series of concepts previews a definite movement and Mazda is deadly serious about introducing the look to a showroom near you. Expect the body surfacing, and the adventurous new grille details, to make the journey from motor show stand to high-street dealership. You'll have to wait a while longer for the Taiki's 1.6-litre rotary engine running on hydrogen, but it's working hard at this technology as well. Trials start in 2008 in Japan.

Mazda Furai Concept and New Mazda RX-8 to Make World Debut at 2008 North American International Auto Show

Mazda Motor Corporation will showcase the world premieres of the Mazda Furai concept vehicle and the heavily revised new Mazda RX-8 sports car at the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), to be held in Detroit from Sunday, January 13 through Sunday, January 27, 2008. On the heels of its show-stopping debut at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show in October, the Mazda Taiki concept vehicle also will make its North American debut, the first time it has been shown outside Japan. Additionally, Mazda will have a special display of racecars on its stand during the press days, and the full lineup of production cars for consumers to sample on the public days.


All attending media are invited to the company’s formal unveiling on the Mazda show stand, scheduled at 13:45 p.m. on Monday, January 14, 2008.
Mazda Furai –‘Sound of the wind’

Inspired by the fact that, on any given weekend, there are more Mazdas and Mazda-powered cars road-raced in the United States than any other brand, the Mazda Furai is the sort of car that could only come from a company that incorporates the “Soul of a Sports Car” into everything it builds, but with an eye toward the future and the environment through the use of ethanol (E100) produced by BP.



Furai takes Mazda’s unique Nagare (Japanese for “flow”) design language a step further as it is translated into a concept car based on an American Le Mans Series (ALMS) racing car. The car utilizes the Courage C65 chassis the company campaigned in the ALMS series only two seasons ago, and the 450-hp three-rotor rotary engine that distinguishes it from anything else on the track.



Says Franz von Holzhausen, Mazda’s North American director of design, “Furai purposely blurs boundaries that have traditionally distinguished street cars from track cars. Historically, there has been a gap between single-purpose racecars and street-legal models — commonly called supercars — that emulate the real racers on the road. Furai bridges that gap like no car has ever done before.”



Mazda’s critically acclaimed Nagare design language describes the flow of water, air, people or things moving in one direction. Mazda Nagare is flow, with an insightful and spirited styling, which, in Mazda Furai, invokes a raw, unfettered desire to possess everything this car represents.

Mazda Releases "Stylish V" Special Edition Model Verisa in Japan

Mazda Motor Corporation has announced the launch of the Mazda Verisa “Stylish V” special edition model in Japan. Mazda’s high quality and fashionable compact car has been updated with a stylish and distinctive-looking black and red interior. It goes on sale today at all Mazda, Mazda Anfini and Mazda Autozam dealerships nationwide.
The Special Edition Stylish V is based on the “C” grade Verisa that offers high quality fabric seat covers. It is equipped with stylish and unique features such as exclusive black and red leather and flat-weave fabric seat covers and an exclusive leather-wrapped steering wheel with red stitching. The Verisa Stylish V also features the popular ‘Dress-up package’ as standard equipment to enhance the high quality exterior appearance. This package includes bright molding (front bumper/rear bumper/front grille/door sills/rear gate), front fog lights (with bright bezels) and an exhaust pipe finisher.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the Stylish V special edition is 1,640,000 yen for the front-wheel drive (FWD) version and 1,829,000 for the electronically controlled four-wheel drive (e-4WD) version (both prices include consumption tax).

Main features of the Verisa Stylish V
Base model

Verisa C (Available as the FWD version or the e-4WD version, both equipped with the 1.5-liter DOHC engine and four-speed automatic transmission)

Special equipment
Interior

-	Exclusive leather and flat-weave seat covers (black/red) Stylish and individual design with black leather and red fabric
-	Exclusive leather-wrapped steering wheel (black leather and red stitching) Exclusive black leather steering wheel highlighted with red stitching
-	Exclusive door trim, upper glove box lid and dashboard In line with the red theme color of the exclusive seats, red garnish is used effectively throughout the interior to emphasize the stylish and individualized impression.
-	Audio-less specification To best match each driver’s needs, the Stylish V is equipped with two speakers and a space for a head unit in the center panel. The steering wheel is also free of remote control switches. The Audio-less spec allows for maximum variety of terrestrial digital GPS and digital audio systems that are available as dealer installed options.

Exterior

-	Dress-up package Currently available as a factory installed option for the standard Verisa model, the Dress-up package is standard on the Stylish V (see above for details).

Body colors

A choice of four body colors is available: the exclusive Metropolitan Gray Mica and the standard Velocity Red Mica, Radiant Ebony Mica and Moist Silver Metallic.

Factory-installed options

-	15-inch alloy wheels with 185/55R15 tires
-	The S package [high intensity discharge headlights and Autolight system (which switches the headlights on automatically), rain-sensing wipers (front), water repellant coating (windshield, front door windows and door mirrors), immobilizer]

New Mazda 3

The current Mazda3 model was unveiled in late 2003. With its attractive sporty looks, Mazda sold over 1 million vehicles world wide. This leaked picure is from a spyshot and from Mag-x magazine. The all new Mazda3 or a.k.a Axela for Japanese market with J86C development codename will be available to the public in the third quareter of 2008.

Mazda Ryuga Concept Car from NAIAS

The Mazda Ryuga (Japanese for 'gracious flow') concept was shown at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Gull-winged Ryuga is the second of three concept cars following Mazda's new design language of 'flow', a style first seen on the Mazda Nagare concept shown at the 2006 LA Auto Show. "But we wanted to take the idea further," Laurens van den Acker, Design Division General Manager for Hiroshima, Japan's Mazda Motor Corporation, said "The Ryuga concept we're presenting in Detroit is our next step in the evolution of Nagare. It's an exploratory design study that's more realistic than Nagare and therefore more useful in gauging reactions from those who see it. "To put this in fashion terms, if Nagare is haute couture (a custom designed and tailored garment), Ryuga is pr�t-a-porter (ready-to-wear, not one of a kind)." Large 21 inch wheels are placed at the far corners of the Mazda Ryuga concept's exterior and lend the car a highly stable, balanced stance. The aggressive wedge shape imparts motion even when this sports coupe is parked. Volumes that are small in front, larger at the rear, wrap around and over the wheels to give the exterior tension and direction. The front bucket seats of the Mazda Ryuga concept provide ample lateral support for energetic driving with the shape of the seats creating an impression of movement which is further emphasized by the patterns in the material. The experimental 'floating' center cluster allows a high level of interface between the driver and the multifunction touch panel without having to take one's eyes off the road ahead. Information necessary for safe and dynamic driving is available to the driver with RPM and speed (which is shown in both analog and digital formats) being displayed on the same axis.

AutoExec NC-03 MX-5

Mazda’s short but rich history at the 24 Hours of Le Mans was primarily initiated by Yojiro Terada, who first entered the race with a car powered by the 12A rotary engine in 1973. Terada now heads Auto Exec, a company that tunes strictly Mazda cars. Most of Auto Exec’s tweaks are visual, evidenced by the handsome body kit worn by the NC-03 MX-5. The car’s suspension has also been tuned, giving the compact roadster better balance (the car’s understeering character has been mostly dialed out). Auto Exec hasn’t decided to come to the U.S. market yet, but a company spokesman says that day may come sooner than later.

Crash Test of Mazda 3

Crash Test of Mazda 3

Mazda 6 2008

Competition in the large family car market is hotting up. Ford’s Mondeo and the Renault Laguna lead the field for quality, while Vauxhall’s Insignia promises to be just as impressive.

And now, Mazda is hoping to inject some ‘six’ appeal to the sector. The firm has given its 6 a stylish new look, as well as increasing quality and improving the specification. Bosses also claim the car’s reputation for sporty hand­ling will remain intact, and challenge the Mondeo for driving thrills.

So, we got behind the wheel of one of the first examples in the UK to see if it matches up to the promise. And there’s no denying that the exterior is a success, as the sleek 6 is one of the best-looking cars in the class. At the front, a deep, V-shaped grille is flanked by angular, swept-back headlamps. A low roof, high waistline and bulging wheelarches provide the car with a powerful stance.


At the rear, the neat LED tail-lights are distinctive, while this Sport model also benefits from a racy bodykit. This comprises side skirts, a deeper front bumper and a bootlid spoiler.

Climb aboard, and you’ll find the bold styling has also made its way into the cabin. The dashboard features an uncluttered layout and an excellent level of fit and finish. However, some of the plastics aren’t up to the car’s premium billing – those used on the centre console and stereo controls fall behind the high standards set by the Mondeo. Yet the interior is a treat after dark, as the dials are lit up in an orange and blue glow.

The cabin is a roomy and comfortable place in which to spend time. A 65mm stretch in length over the previous car means plenty of room front and rear, while the front seats provide excellent support. Standard equipment is also generous, with a powerful Bose stereo, Bluetooth phone connectivity and keyless ignition all included.

Hit the dashboard starter button, and the 2.5-litre powerplant fires into life. The 168bhp unit is smooth and unobtrusive, although it doesn’t deliver a knock-out punch. Peak torque of 226Nm is delivered at 4,000rpm, which means the engine needs to be worked hard for decent progress.

To compensate for the lack of low-down grunt, the engineers have made the gearing shorter to compensate – so 70mph in sixth translates to a busy 2,900rpm on the rev counter. This detracts from an otherwise refined motorway cruising experience – as does a small amount of wind noise from around the door frames.

There’s better news once you get into the corners. Mazda has worked hard on weight-saving measures, with the result that the 6 is 35kg lighter than its predecessor, at 1,275kg. This can be felt in the way the car drives.

The steering responds to finger­tip inputs, the six-speed gearbox has a slick shift and the chassis feels very alert: it’s clear that the company has drawn on experiences gained from its MX-5 roadster. The one downside of the sharp chassis is a rather restless ride. Over broken road surfaces, the Mazda can lose its composure.

But the 6’s biggest hurdle remains the Mondeo. For similar money, buyers can get a Titanium-spec version of the Ford. Although it makes do with a smaller 2.0-litre engine, performance doesn’t suffer greatly, and it equals the Mazda for involvement. Still, the company has ensured customers get plenty of variety in the line-up. As well as this hatchback, there’s a rakish saloon and a practical estate, as well as a choice of 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrol motors or a 2.0-litre diesel.

With prices starting from £15,100, the 6 represents decent value, while the smaller-engined models benefit from an even more composed chassis, thanks to less weight in the nose.

Rival: Ford Mondeo
The blue oval’s family hatch is the car to beat, with a refined chassis, premium finish and vast cabin. The styling is a little fussy when compared to the 6, while the 2.5-litre engine is potent but thirsty.

Mazda will launch its popular compact car the Mazda2 in China next month and aims to increase its overall sales in the booming market to 180,000 cars next year from this year's estimated 100,000, an official said.

Mazda2 hatchbacks will go on sale in China in January and the company aims to sell more than 55,000 of them there, said Ken Haruki, a spokesman for the company.

They will be produced at a joint-venture factory in Nanjing with U.S. automaker Ford Motor Co. and China's Changan Automotive Group, he said. Mazda is 33.4 per cent owned by Ford.

Japan's fifth-largest automaker also plans to launch the sedan type of Mazda2, known as Demio in Japan, early next year, he said.

Mazda's sales in China this year is expected to reach about 100,000 cars, Haruki said.

Mazda RX-9

The Mazda RX-9 is a hot topic at the moment. But first we will see the facelifted RX-8 at Detroit, while the sporty RS version will make its appearance at the Tokyo Auto Salon. We are not expecting the next generation to arrive before 2012. The Mazda Taiki Concept only made its debut at the Tokyo Auto Show last October, and now the first alleged RX-9 images pop up on the internet. If we are to believe the rumours, the next generation RX-9 will be (loosely) based on the Taiki Concept. Actually, it seems that only the curvy grille has made it into these images. Power will come from the next generation 1.6 liter twin rotor engine, the Renesis 16x which is claimed to be 20% more powerful and fuel efficient than the current 13B-MSP engine. We have our doubts about the authenticity of these images but they look good all the same.

MAZDA MPV LAPS LAGUNA

World Car of the Year for the 2007

Following up from the quarter-finalists announcement in January, now the 44 international judges that make up the World Car of the Year awards jury have let out their top-three lists in the categories Green Car, Car Design, Performance Car, and the overall World Car of the Year for the 2007 model year. The winners are to be announced at the awards ceremony held at the New York Auto Show on the morning of April 5.


2007 World Green Car finalists:
BMW Hydrogen 7
Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec
Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion

2007 World Car Design of the Year finalists:
Audi TT
Citroën C4 Picasso
Fiat Grande Punto

2007 World Performance Car finalists:
Audi RS4
BMW 335i
Porsche 911 Turbo

2007 World Car of the Year finalists:
Audi TT
Lexus LS460
MINI

mazda 2 1.3

Here is a collection of more photos of the upcoming Mazda 2 (or Mazda Demio depending on market) to be revealed at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show this week. The Mazda 2 will come with three engine options to begin with, a 75hp 1.3 liter, an 84hp 1.3 liter as well as a 103hp 1.5 liter. The stock Mazda 2 can be seen as the green car in this set of photos, but there is an optional Sports Appearance Pack which gives the car a little more sporty flair. You get new bumpers that appear more aggressive, for example the fog lamp inserts curve upwards in the Sports Appearance kit instead of downwards in the standard kit. The Sports Appearance grille is also one with a solid bar running through it, while the standard kit has a mesh grille, pretty much the same idea to differentiate trim level as most Mazda cars - in Malaysia the Mazda6 2.0 has a mesh grille while the higher spec Mazda6 2.3 has the solid bar grille.

The center console design reminds me a little of the Mazda RX8’s, with that circular design in the middle, and I can somehow see a Mickey Mouse head there with the two round airvents looking like Mickey’s ears. Weird design cues there.

2008 Mazda MX 5

The Mazda MX-5 Niseko comes in digit version: a 1.8i supercharged edition and a 2.0i. The Mazda MX-5 Niseko soft-top is supercharged by a 1.8 litre engine and module be acquirable in UK in 240 units at a play toll of 17,995 pounds. The Mazda MX-5 Niseko auto coupe is supercharged by a 2.0 litre engine and module be acquirable in 560 units at a toll of pounds. The stylish Mazda MX-5 can genuinely be described as an all-weather, all-year sports automobile with its enhanced vaporisation and air-conditioning systems. Now, to fete its continuing position as ‘Britain’s selection sports automobile brand’ this winter, Mazda is introducing a unify of primary edition ‘Niseko’ models, titled after Japan’s most prestigious skiing resort. As the stylish edition of the world’s prizewinning commerce roadster, the rear-wheel intend Mazda MX-5 Niseko boasts unrivalled direction and dynamical dynamics, and represents extremely combative continuance for money.












Mazda MX 5 Niseko-2Available from £17,995 on-the-road, the Niseko offers up to £2,000 worth of added or inner extras over and above the equal accepted models. On understanding from 1 Jan 2008, both the ‘entry-level’ 1.8i Niseko soft-top (126ps, five-speed) and the £19,995 2.0i Niseko auto coupe (160ps, six-speed) are acquirable in an inner newborn customized colouration ‘Icy Blue’ metallic, as substantially as Sunlight Silver antimonial – for no added charge.

As substantially as adding the primary Niseko features, the big accepted equipment of the helper vehicles ensures that buyers crapper enjoy: driver’s centre peak adjustment, automobile windows, bicentric locking, MP3-compatible radio/single CD contestant with six-speaker frequence system, status curb air-conditioning, stainless-steel wipe plates, match plate wear cut wind and a Thatcham Category 1 signal and immobiliser. Despite every of the added specification, both Mazda MX-5 Niseko primary editions rest in the aforementioned shelter groups as their accepted counterparts – 11E (1.8i) and 13E (2.0i).

Mazda RX-8

The official debut of the 2009 Mazda RX-8 facelifted is slated for the Detroit Motor Show. Above is the a photo from a Japanese magazine that show the facelifted Mazda RX-8, the model featured in this magazine is the 'Type-RS'. It seems Mazda are maintaining much of their highly acclaimed, award winning original design, with only subtle changes on the front and rear bumpers, a slightly modified grill and a revised lights.

Mazda Atenza

HIROSHIMA, Japan— Mazda Motor Corporation will showcase an intriguing lineup of 16 tuned-up and customized vehicles at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2008 with NAPAC. Mazda Atenza will exhibit the ' Mazda Atenza Mazdaspeed Concept' model, which is based on the new Mazda Atenza that is scheduled for launch to the Japanese market in spring 2008. The 2008 Tokyo Auto Salon will be held at the Makuhari Messe Convention Center in Chiba Prefecture from January 11 to 13, 2008. At this year's Tokyo Auto Salon, Mazda will present Mazdaspeed concepts which are based on the Mazda Atenza, Mazda Demio and Mazda Roadster vehicles currently available in the marketplace together with models co-designed with the popular KENSTYLE and DAMD afterparts brands.
In addition, last year's crowd pleasing demonstration of the disassembly and reassembly of the rotary engine will return. Additionally, a talk show featuring a famous journalist and engineers in charge of developing the new Mazda Atenza is scheduled for this year's Auto Salon.

Mazda 2 Receives

Mazda 2 Receives - Mazda Motor Corporation has announced that the new Mazda2 was awarded the five-star maximum rating in the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) adult occupant protection safety test. This is the second five-star score from Euro NCAP awarded to a Mazda vehicle; the first was given to the Mazda5 (known as the Premacy in Japan) in September 2005.

This Euro NCAP five-star rating for adult occupant safety is a validation of the Mazda2’s world-class crash protection in a compact car which also achieves outstanding fuel economy and boasts many user-friendly features.

The new Mazda2 Receives (known as the Demio in Japan) is nearly 100 kilograms lighter than the former model. Obtaining a lower vehicle weight was a key focus of the new model’s development, which aimed at achieving top class fuel economy, dynamic driving performance and superior safety protection—all at the same time. Mazda used high-tensile steel sheets in the Mazda2 Receives and its body shell was engineered using a structure which absorbs and disperses impact energy in the event of a collision and helps prevent cabin deformation. These attributes add up to a high level of safety protection for occupants in a vehicle that meets the world’s most stringent safety standards.

Under its Zoom-Zoom brand promise to customers all over the world, Mazda seeks to keep delivering exciting driving performance, inspiring design, eco-friendliness and safety features in its vehicles so they will ‘look inviting to drive, are fun to drive, and make you want to drive them again.’

Notes:
Euro NCAP is an independent agency consisting of a consortium of agencies responsible for road safety from countries in the European Union. Euro NCAP vehicle safety reports have been published since 1997.