Mazda Unveils New CX-5 Compact SUV

A little over a year after Mazda previewed the Minagi Concept at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, the Japanese company lifted the curtains off the production version of its compact SUV that we will come to know as the CX-5.

The world premiere of the CX-5 will take place at the 64th Frankfurt Motor Show that opens on September 13 and will go on sale in early 2012.
Mazda says the CX-5 is its first production model to adopt the new “KODO – Soul of Motion” design theme that we saw in the Minagi and Shinari concept cars. The highlights of this new theme are a prominent front fascia and a more dynamic styling which the company says conveys "a strong sense of vitality and agility”.
The CX-7’s smaller “brother” is also the first Mazda model to adopt the full range of the firm's SKYACTIV technologies.
Depending on the market, the CX-5 will be available with gasoline and diesel engines hooked up to manual and automatic transmissions.
The European version will be offered with the SKYACTIV-G gasoline 2.0-liter engine and the SKYACTIV-D 2.2-liter diesel in two configurations, Standard and High Power, which emit less than 120 g of CO2 per km.

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New Mazda MX-5 and Mazda2 Sport Black Editions

The 275-horsepower Mazda MX-5 GT racecar, which competes in the 2011 Britcar Production GTN Championship, has inspired the Japanese firm's UK division to develop a pair of limited edition models based on the MX-5 and the Mazda2 for the local market.

The word "inspired" should be taken very loosely as the Sport Black Editions of the two Mazda models do not feature any performance upgrades and are all about bespoke color choices and additional standard features.
Starting with the MX-5 Sport Black, the special edition model is distinguished on the outside by a Brilliant Black powered retractable hard-top and dark ‘gun metal’ 17-inch alloy wheels, while buyers can choose from three contrasting bodywork hues - Spirited Green metallic, Crystal White Pearlescent and Velocity Red mica.
Inside, the roadster model features a black leather interior with contrasting ‘sand’ color stitching, Piano Black steering wheel and deco panel, a uniquely numbered interior plaque and Limited Edition floor mats.
The MX-5 Sport Black is based on the Sport Tech model with the 160HP 2.0-litre engine linked to a six-speed manual transmission.
Mazda said it plans to produce only 500 examples of the limited edition MX-5, each priced at £22,995 (OTR), or £360 more than the Sport Tech model on which it is based.
Moving on to the limited edition Mazda2 Black, the five-door hatchback is available with the same two-tone color choices as the roadster (a black vinyl roof and Spirited Green metallic, Crystal White Pearlescent or True Red for the body), and also features matt black 16-inch alloy wheels.
Other highlights include the standard front fog lights, privacy glass and a rear bumper in sports trim, plus unique ‘Black Edition’ exterior badging, uniquely numbered interior plaque and Limited Edition floor mats.
Power comes from a 1.3-liter engine with 84-horses.
Production of the Mazda2 Black is limited to 618 units, with prices starting at £12,395 (OTR) for the True Red version and £12,815 for the other metallic and pearlescent colors.

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New Mazda BT-50

When the new generation of the 2012 Ford Ranger’s Japanese sibling, the Mazda BT-50 pickup truck, goes on sale in Australia later this year, it will be available with a wide variety of locally designed and built genuine accessories, the company said today.
Mazda noted that the 2012 BT-50’s Chief Designer, Ryo Yanagisawa and a group of the firm’s top-selling dealers in the country were involved in the design of the accessories, which will include among other parts, two fully ADR compliant bull bar options, a sports bar, a nudge bar and side steps.
The Japanese company stated that all exterior parts have undergone multiple crash test scenarios are “fully airbag compliant”.
The bull bars seen in these photos will be offered in both polished aluminium and powder coated black steel designs.

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New Generation Y Buyer Survey Spells Trouble for Detroit

Auto pricing website TrueCar studied the car buying behaviour of four million Gen Y (18 to 27 year-old) over a twenty-four month period and here’s what they found.

Scion took the crown for top brand, with 37.4% of the market and for top model (the tC coupe), with 21.2%, while second place went to Mitsubishi (32.1%) and their Lancer sedan (20.3%).

Mazda was the third most visited brand for Gen Y buyers, though only 17th in terms of model. The top four vehicle choices were Japanese, with a German in seventh place and a South Korean in ninth.

American carmakers secured fifth place in the model line-up with the Ford Focus Coupe, even though Ford only scored a mere 5.1% of the market overall.

Nissan and Toyota scored big on Gen Y appeal, with Hyundai and Honda following close behind. Kristen Andersson, one of TrueCar’s automotive analysts describes the generation thusly:

“Generation Y buyers want vehicles that look distinct and can be tailored to their individual tastes. Buyers from this generation are also looking for vehicles that have the technology features they are accustomed to built into the vehicle at an affordable price.”

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Mazda’s Special Edition MX-5 Roadster Coupe Karai

Another week, and rather than just another Mazda, it’s another MX-5 special edition. This one is called Karai, which according to the company is Japanese for ‘sharp’, and it comes to us from Mazda’s European division.
The Karai is based on the MX-5 Roadster coupe, which means it is fitted with a retractable hardtop. It boasts a unique lime-green paint called “Metal Green Metallic” for the body and contrasting glossy black finish for metal top, exterior mirrors, trim accents such as the front grille and fog lamp surrounds, as well as the 17-inch multispoke alloy wheels that are shod in low profile performance tires.
On the inside, the MX-5 Karai features a pair of Recaro sport seats trimmed in black leather and Alcantara with white stitching, aluminum pedals, leather steering wheel with white stitching while Mazda says all the interior trim pieces that are usually finished in silver are now painted in a glossy black color.
Power comes from the stock 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol engine delivering 160-horses, with Mazda also offering an optional sport package that includes an exhaust system, a lowering kit for the suspension plus a few more goodies such an iPod and USB adapter, and an exclusive set of floor mats.
Mazda said it plans to build 165 examples of the Karai for Germany, with prices starting at €30,000 (US$43,500). The company didn’t say if and when it will offer the special edition roadster in other markets.

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Nissan Rebadges Mazda5 MPV for Japan," the New Lafesta Highway Star "

After preparing its customers with an announcement in January, Nissan today went ahead and introduced a re-badged version of the Mazda5 MPV (called Premacy in its home market) in the form of the new Lafesta Highway Star. The compact minivan is supplied to Nissan by Mazda on an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) basis, and will be sold exclusively in Japan.
The transformation of the Mazda5 into the Lafesta Highway Star was a rather straightforward process accomplished by adding Nissan’s logos inside and out, restyling the front end that gains a new hood, lights and bumpers, smoothing out the Mazda’s swoopy profile lines and adding a chrome strip between the tail lamps.
The 7-seater model is offered with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine coupled to an automatic transmission with five-speeds in the front-wheel drive model and four-speeds in the all-wheel drive versions.
In Japan, prices for the new Lafesta Highway Star range from 1,991,850 Yen to 2,483,250 Yen (US$24,650 to $30,700) with Nissan aiming to sell around 1,200 units per month.

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Mazda Introduces Revised 2012 Demio with new SKYACTIV-G 1.3-Liter Engine

Mazda has just released a refreshed version of its Demio sub-compact car in its home market of Japan. The big news for the 2012MY Demio, which we know here as the Mazda2, is the introduction of the brand new “13-SKYACTIV” model grade equipped with a suite of fuel-saving technologies most important of which is the “SKYACTIV-G 1.3” 1.3-liter direct-injection gasoline engine.
The four-cylinder powerplant features a record high compression ratio of 14.0:1 and puts out 84-horsepower at 5,400 rpm and 112 Nm (82.6 lb-ft) of peak torque at 4,000 rpm. It is coupled to a standard Continuously Variable Transmission and according to the Japanese norms, it’s fuel economy is rated at 30km/lt (equal to 3.33 lt/100 km or 70.6 mpg US).
The Demio 13-SKYACTIV comes equipped with an improved i-stop (start and stop) system and unique to this model aero-parts such as an engine under cover and a rear roof spoiler to control airflow above and below the body. Other bespoke features include a blue metallic engine cover, blue headlight rings and an exclusive rear badge.
On the more gimmicky side, Mazda developed a system named i-DM that monitors the movement of the steering wheel, accelerator and brake pedals, as well as the vehicle speed, to inform the driver about his skills through a gauge and colored lights on the dashboard. “The score from each trip is used to calculate a driving skill level, from Stage 1 to Stage 3. By progressing through the stages, drivers can feel that their driving skills are improving,” says Mazda.
Regardless of grade, all 2012 Demios feature increased body rigidity, retuned dampers, and improved bush characteristics for the rear trailing arm mounts, plus a new five-point grille and redesigned seats.
Mazda began taking pre-orders today for the facelifted Demio with first deliveries scheduled for June 30, 2011 Prices in Japan range from 1,149,000 yen to 1,621,750 yen (~US$14,400 to $20,300).

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