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    New Mazda RX-7 is a must! 

    by
    TieNN89
    Published on 2nd September 2010 05:50 PM
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    New Mazda RX-7 is a must!
    By Anthony Crawford | September 2nd, 2010



    At least that’s what Mazda’s Head of Design, Ikuo “Speedy” Maeda believes, when he recently spoke with Motor Trend and more or less, pleaded for a crack at a new generation RX-7 when he said, “Please ask Mazda to do a new sports car, please.”



    If “Speedy” can’t pull this off, then the odds are, no one can. His father designed the first generation RX-7, so he has a lifelong association with this model, which should be enough to get the ball rolling on this project.

    The only possible hold up could be the fact that Mazda is said to be developing brand new “Sky” technology, which will see the common rotary problem of heavy fuel and oil consumption essentially eliminated.



    If Mazda is able to mate this technology to the Rotary engine, then hybrid-like fuel consumption is said to be entirely possible.
    ...
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    Prototype Mazda3 with 2.0L Sky-G engine gets 30/40 mpg 

    by
    RSSRobot
    Published on 2nd September 2010 05:46 PM
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    Filed under: Budget, Technology, Mazda

    2010 Mazda3 - Click above for high-res image gallery

    Mazda gave us a glimpse of its next-generation Sky-G (gas) and Sky-D (diesel) powertrains at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, as well as its new Sky-Drive six-speed automatic transmission. These engines are currently running the testing gauntlet, as the first applications are expected to show up as early as next year in the refreshed Mazda6 sedan.

    Car and Driver was able to snag an early test of a 2.0-liter Sky-G engine, which will reportedly achieve 30 miles per gallon in the city and 39 to 40 mpg on the highway when used in a Mazda3. This puts it in the same territory as the Volkswagen Golf and Jetta TDIs, not to mention besting smaller offerings like the Ford Fiesta and Honda Fit.

    C&D also got the skinny on Mazda's 2.2-liter Sky-D diesel powertrain, which the automaker has confirmed for application in its "next-generation mid-size ...
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    Mazda Shinari Concept debuts new face of the brand in style 

    by
    RSSRobot
    Published on 31st August 2010 04:27 PM
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    Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, Mazda, Design/Style

    Mazda Shinari Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

    When Mazda invited us to Milan to see its new concept car, we knew it must be something important. Normally concept cars get their 15 minutes of fame at an auto show, and then it's off to the next press conference to see what the following automaker will introduce. Not so with Mazda's latest styling endeavor. The Japanese automaker wanted our full and undivided attention, with the center of international design and fashion in Italy as a fitting backdrop.

    The Shinari concept, which roughly translates to "resistance to being bent," will serve as a the basis for Mazda's new design language, and many of the styling cues will make it to future production vehicles. That means that the Shinari will essentially affect the design of every vehicle coming from the Japanese automaker for the next several years. An important ...
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    Rumormill: Next Mazdaspeed3 to go diesel? 

    by
    RSSRobot
    Published on 31st August 2010 03:16 AM
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    Filed under: Hatchback, Mazda, Rumormill, Diesel

    2010 Mazdaspeed3 - Click above for high-res image gallery

    File this in the drawer labeled "Only Remotely," but Mazda U.S. VP of product development Robert Davis allowed that the company is considering a diesel engine for the next Mazdaspeed3. Based on the report in Car & Driver, it looks like that's as far as this has gotten: a diesel is on the table. Beyond that, none of the 'pros' mentioned seem to make a case for it, and the 'cons' make a case against it.

    The idea is made possible by the fact that whippersnappers getting into a Mazdaspeed3 aren't against diesel engines, being more familiar with modern clean diesels than the particulate monsters of yore. But if Mazda boosted its diesel Sky engine for the purpose of being a high performance engine, the frugality benefits of the engine would be erased. Then there's that whole issue of additional heaps of diesel torque, and the additional ...
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    Paris Preview: Mazda debuts new Kodo design language with Shinari Concept 

    by
    RSSRobot
    Published on 31st August 2010 02:02 AM
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    Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Paris Motor Show, Mazda

    Mazda Shinari Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

    With the departure of Laurens van den Acker to Renault, Mazda's loved or loathed Nagare design language has been dispatched, and in its place is a new designer (Ikuo Maeda) a new theme, a new concept and a new name: Kodo.

    Set to debut at the Paris Motor Show later this month, the Shinari concept is our first glimpse at the future of Mazda styling. The four-door design exercise evolves the Nagare theme into a more cohesive and - dare we say - production-ready form, toning down the massive grin currently found on the Mazda3 and other models, while incorporating new aluminum accents that are expected to proliferate through Mazda's future products.

    Until the Paris show, these leaked image are all we have to go on, but judging by the hit-or-miss nature of Nagare, we like what we're seeing thus far. And if you're ...
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    Ford and Mazda to expand Thailand joint venture plant for pickups 

    by
    RSSRobot
    Published on 26th August 2010 04:59 PM

    Ford Motor Co. and longtime partner Mazda Motor Corp. plan to invest $350 million in a Thailand joint venture to build a new generation of compact pickup trucks.

    Production of the new Mazda and Ford trucks at AutoAlliance Thailand is scheduled to begin in mid-2011, Ford and Mazda said in a statement released today. The $350 million investment will cover plant upgrades, supplier tooling and employee training, the automakers said.

    “The new production line… will raise the bar in flexibility, efficiency, quality and environmentally-friendly production at AAT,” Joe Hinrichs, head of Ford's Asia Pacific and Africa operations, said in the statement.

    Thailand, Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy, has become a major hub of light vehicle production and export -- notably small pickups -- because of government incentives, its location and large agriculture industry, and a population of 67 million.

    With the latest improvements, Mazda and ...
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    Mazda Australia offers Special Service Program for steering recall 

    by
    RSSRobot
    Published on 23rd August 2010 03:55 PM
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    After the recent worldwide Mazda3 recall, Mazda Australia has announced it will offer its Special Services Program (SSP) for vehicles fitted with the Electro Hydraulic Power Assist steering system. Associated with the recall, it predominately affects the previous generation Mazda3s produced between 2 April 2007 and 30 November 2008.



    The problem and recall was issued because residue was found in the power steering gearing lubricant, which could lead to a failure of the power assist. Mazda Australia says if this occurs an indicator light on the dash cluster will illuminate.


    Owners of the potentially affected vehicles will be contacted by a Mazda dealer, where repairs may be made free of charge. ...
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    Mazda to recall 500,000 cars for power-steering flaw 

    by
    RSSRobot
    Published on 19th August 2010 09:52 PM

    TOKYO (Reuters) -- Mazda Motor Corp. expects to recall more than half a million vehicles worldwide due to power-steering flaws, a company spokesman said, its largest recall ever.

    The automaker has filed applications with local authorities to recall 215,000 vehicles in the United States and more than 10,000 in China, and now plans to broaden the net to include major export markets such as Europe and Australia, the spokesman said.

    The recalls, estimated at 514,000 vehicles, target the Axela and the Premacy, known in some markets as the Mazda3 and the Mazda5, manufactured in Japan from 2007 to 2008.

    The vehicles could experience a sudden loss of power steering, increasing the risk of a crash.

    The spokesman said there had been three accidents reported in the United States in connection with the defect but no deaths or injuries.

    The company said rust could break lose from a high-pressure pipe, straining the power steering
    ...
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    Mazda mid-year review 2010 

    by
    RSSRobot
    Published on 18th August 2010 09:40 PM
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    Mazda mid-year review 2010
    By Tim Beissmann | July 22nd, 2010

    Mazda Australia’s Steve Maciver spoke with CarAdvice about the first half of 2010 and looked ahead to the rest of the year…

    The year so far

    Mazda sales have risen 11.1 percent in 2010 to 42,871 vehicles, slightly below the industry average increase of 16.7 percent. The Hiroshima-based brand’s best first half-year on record means it maintains its position as Australia’s top-selling importer narrowly ahead of Hyundai. The Mazda3 has its nose 718 units ahead of the Toyota Corolla as the highest-selling small car after six months and trails only the Holden Commodore on the overall charts. CX-7 has been 2010’s biggest improver (up 160 percent year-to-date), while sales of the mid-sized Mazda6 and MX-5 and RX-8 sports cars all softened in the first half.





    He said the introduction of the front-wheel drive naturally aspirated 2.5-litre Classic ...
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    July 2010 Sales Results - Top Ten Marques, Top Ten Models and Mazda Breakdown 

    by
    Mazda Guru
    Published on 18th August 2010 09:30 PM

    Top Ten Sales By Marque (Marque - Monthly Sales - YTD Sales)
    1. Toyota - 17,250 - 124,720
    2. Holden - 10,648 - 79,305
    3. Ford - 7,375 - 56,571
    4. Mazda - 7,374 - 50,245
    5. Hyundai - 6,531 - 48,902
    6. Nissan - 4,646 - 37,476
    7. Mitsubishi - 5,029 - 37,401
    8. Honda - 3,150 - 25,355
    9. Subaru - 3,253 - 24,362
    10. Volkswagen - 2,922 - 22,228
    Total Market - 82,376 - 613,544 Top Ten Sales by Model (Marque/Model - Monthly Sales)
    1. Holden Commodore - 3,783
    2. Mazda Mazda3 - 3,464
    3. Toyota Corolla - 3,375
    4. Toyota Hilux - 3,106
    5. Ford Falcon - 2,342
    6. Hyundai i30 - 2,333
    7. Holden Cruze - 2,179
    8. Mitsubishi Lancer - 2,177
    9. Toyota Camry - 2,095
    10. Toyota Yaris - 1,697
    Mazda Model Breakdown (Model - Monthly Sales - YTD Sales) Mazda2 - 1,305 - 8,198
    Mazda3 - 3,406 - 22,883
    Mazda3 MPS - 58 - 416
    Mazda6 - 634 - 4,875
    MX-5 - 36 - 277
    RX-8 - 18 - 156
    CX-7 - 764 - 5,595
    CX-9 - 370 - 2,617
    BT-50 4X2 - 431 - 2,549
    BT-50 4X4 - 352 - 2,679

    Source: VFACTS

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