2012 Mazda5 Review

Way back in 1983, Chrysler shocked the world with the introduction of the Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager. The upstart family haulers took the auto industry by storm, driving a stake through the heart of station wagon sales while setting the table for Chrysler to own the minivan segment for decades to come. But that segment has evolved in the last several years, leading to a redefinition of family transportation.
First and foremost, the minivan has gone through an HGH-fueled growth spurt, adding a host of whiz-bang features like a second sliding door and ridiculously handy storage options along the way. The other big development has been a rising tide of SUVs and crossovers, which focused consumers’ attention away from minivans to the point where many automakers don’t even offer one anymore. But as America’s suddenly all-new or heavily refreshed batch of minivans illustrate (see: Nissan Quest, Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey), many automakers have responded by evolving the mundane van into the automotive equivalent of a family spa day. These new vans contain near-luxury levels of comfort and convenience, and it’s not at all uncommon for them to crest $40,000 or more.
 

If you can afford their monthly payments, the latest minivans to hit the market will likely suit your needs just fine. But what if you want something small, efficient and, perhaps most important, inexpensive? Something more like the original Caravan? Right now, there is only one choice on the market: the 2012 Mazda5. While the rest of the auto industry zigged with larger and more opulent choices, the Zoom-Zoom automaker zagged with a minivan that’s nearly the size of the original Caravan, and with a price tag starting under $20,000. We took the reins of a nicely equipped 2012 Mazda5 Touring to see if Mazda’s nifty little van has the chops to take on the big boys.
 

 

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Mazda lost money towards the end of 2010 News

The Japanese at Mazda gave us quite a lot of good cheer when they announced their new record with the production of the MX-5.

Sadly though, their situation isn’t really pink despite that, things at Mazda are actually in the red.

When the numbers were done and the books were published, the quirky Japanese manufacturer had registered a net loss of 2.7 billion yen.
That’s a significant amount and if you convert it into dollars it means there’s 33.1 million you have to worry about.

Even though it’s a concern as it is a loss it’s not that big a problem. The best part of the loss is related to how Mazda actually makes most of its cars in Japan.
Since recently the Japanese yen picked up some strength, when doing a vast amount of exports you are going to suffer.
I don’t think Mazda can really turn themselves around really quickly and change their production facility locations very soon.

Mazda is for now in a bit of trouble as they make about 70% of their vehicles being made in Japan which is the highest ratio of all the Land of the Rising Sun’s car industry.
We’re not really told much about what the leadership at Mazda plans to do to remedy it.

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Mazda MX-5 Special Edition for U.S Details

The Chicago Motor Show may be a bit damp when compared to the more impressive Detroit or Los Angeles events but it still holds a few surprises.

After Dodge released two interesting versions of the Challenger and the Durango and VW showed us the best version of the Jetta we now find out Mazda has a special edition MX-5 ready to be unveiled.

The stateside special edition Mazda MX-5 is actually the same special edition the Australians have been getting recently.
The car is based on a Mazda MX-5 that’s fully loaded in Grand Touring spec, with the retractable hardtop.

On top of all of the stuff this Mazda MX-5 special edition gets a suspension system from Bilstein and a limited slip differential.
Apart from that, the tech changes don’t exist as you get the same 2.0 liter engine that develops 167 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque.
As befits many of the special editions sold by Mazda of the MX-5 the most important stuff is to be seen within the interior looks and colors. This is where you get some leather heated seats with gray stitching, a leather wrapped handbrake lever and aluminium for the pedals.

The price has gone up more than slightly by $30.925 if you want a limited edition Miata with a manual transmission or $31.525 if you go for the automatic. Just as before with limited edition Mazda MX-5s, not really worth it as a package.

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2011 Mazda CX-5 Has Released

Mazda is working to improve energy efficiency, and hopes that the 2011 Mazda CX-5 for up to 43 miles per gallon on the highway. As this is an entirely new propulsion system and new vehicles, Mazda breaks the mold with the CX-5. Expect something completely different from its level four-cylinder engine offered in other vehicles. Mazda is also working to make the car lighter and therefore more effective in general.
The 2011 Mazda CX-5 seats five comfortably and has a wealth of features for both cargo and passenger room. The safety features on the Mazda CX-5 are antilock brakes, an antiskid system, traction control and airbags.

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Latest Mazda Shinari Cars Previews Next-Gen Mazda 6

Shinar Mazda concept gives us a clear idea of what the next Mazda 6 will look like. The first vehicle with a new Mazda design language called Kodo (“Soul of Motion”), the concept Shinar is a fantasy, but a bit exaggerated, four-seat coupe with children of similar laws of a Maserati Gran Turismo and Jaguar XF. The proportions cabin, swoopy lines and huge 21-inch wheels give the impression that Mazda might be going after people like Mercedes, BMW and Audi.

New chief designer Ikuo Maeda told us that the intention of his first concept was to “build the car I want to buy and drive.” It is far from the current, the Nagare design theme inspired by nature, a gentle philosophy which led to the open jaws of the current Mazda 3. Kodo is a philosophy more expressive than the average, Maeda said, evoking the musculature of a cheetah at full speed you like Shiro Nakamura, Nissan recall, ever used the same animal as a source of inspiration, which describes the Infiniti FX “bionic cheetah.”

The Sinar is based on a new architecture that can be rear-wheel drive, front or four wheels. Further evidence of the future of this car comes in 6-Ness confirmation that the concept of the underlying architecture of the next generation of vehicles in the segment C and D of Mazda (Toyota Camry and Honda Accord). We looked at the concept and found a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (probably a paradise Society Center again) with front-wheel and suspension design of front lower control arm.

And if you click on the windshield a little further, you must remove the goofy concept-car, and to minimize the size of the wheel and front and rear light elements, you have next-gen sixth Although watered down from Shinar, it will be dramatic. And they, unlike the giant smiley face that characterizes the current Mazda should be assured that the lighting grid and the Front Shinar will define the brand vehicles, both Maeda-san, whose father designed the first RX- 7, is responsible.

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Mazda Minagi Concept 2011Details

It is the official photos of the new Mazda Minagi Concept. The design study will make its world debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show in March,. The 2011 Mazda Minagi Concept styling has clearly been derived from the Shinari, which we all know will influence the automaker’s future models–we got that confirmation from Mazda’s chief designer, Ikuo Maeda, last September.

The Mazda Minagi Concept showcase Mazda’s next-generation of fuel-efficient powertrain and chassis technologies, branded under the [new] SKYACTIV name. View detail that the Minagi “is equipped with a SKYACTIV engine and SKYACTIV transmission fitted to a SKYACTIV-Body and chassis that merge comprehensive weight reduction with the assurance of ample safety features.

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2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata hits 900K, one million

 
Mazda has announced that the automaker has turned out 900,000 units of its MX-5 Miata since the car first put tire to pavement in 1989. Of that astronomical number, a staggering 45 percent were sold here in North America, which means that 388,000 of the droptops have been shipped to our continent over the past 22 years.
 

Mazda attributes the vehicle’s success to its ability to adhere to what made the convertible a sales winner in the first place – offering basic sports car appeal with one of the highest fun-per-dollar ratios of any vehicle out there. Since 1989, the convertible has undergone two complete redesigns and a slew of minor updates along the way. The MX-5 crested the 500,000 unit mark back in 1999, and sales of the winsome roadster continue to march on impressively. Click past the jump to check out the full press release on the occasion for yourself.
 

 

 

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Mazda to supply Nissan with its own version of Mazda5 Nearly

Mazda has officially announced that it will supply the Mazda5 minivan to Nissan beginning in May of this year. But before you go dreaming of a Nissan micro-minivan here in the United States, know that this will be a Japan-only affair. As of this writing, mum’s the word on what the Nissan-badged Mazda will be called in the automaker’s home market. The Mazda5, or Premacy as it’s known in Japan, will “enrich [Nissan's] minivan lineup in the Japanese market” – a place where small MPVs are sold in great volume.

This is not the only collaboration between Mazda and Nissan in Japan. Currently, Mazda provides its Bongo Van/Truck to Nissan under the name Vanette. Likewise, Nissan supplies its AD/AD Expert to Mazda, sold under the name Familia Van. Follow the jump for the official press release.

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