Category: Mazda

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Mazda Subaru

VIDEO: Mazda MX-5 v Subaru BRZ

Mazda MX-5 v Subaru BRZ

US outlet Motor Trend hits the road in two of the car world’s best value buys, the all-new Mazda MX-5 and the Subaru BRZ. At 22 minutes this video has plenty of depth to it as well. There’s measured performance data, a road review as well as a track comparison (including this nifty side-by-side battle for the best lap).

So, which is the best budget rear-wheel drive you can buy, the “toylike” MX-5 or the “just as fast as you need” Toybaru?

A reminder, too, that the fourth generation MX-5 will be in Australian showrooms this month. Like, right now!

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Mazda

Mazda Australia slashes MX-5 pricing

2014 ND Mazda MX-5

Mazda Australia really wants you to buy the all-new fourth-generation MX-5. We know this because they’ve slashed over $15,000 from the price of the entry-level model.

The ND Mazda MX-5 will be in local showrooms from August and is priced from $31,990 plus on road costs.

The base model Roadster will feature a 1.5 litre SKYACTIV-G petrol engine producing a modest 96kW/150Nm. Let’s face it, this won’t be a quick car, but outright speed has never been the MX-5’s strength.

It’s what you don’t get with an MX-5 that helps to make it a special driving experience and that’s weight, or lack of it. The new MX-5 will weigh in at a miserly 1009kg, almost 100kg less than the previous NC model.

For those who do want more power a 2.0 litre model will be added to the range later in the year.

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Mazda Video

An early look at the new MX-5

2014 ND Mazda MX-5

Mazda has just thrown the keys to a base model pre-production MX-5 to a handful of motoring journos. The MX-5 is never going to win any horsepower wars and the test cars have been powered by a 1.5 litre/130hp normally aspirated engine which eschews the car’s raison d’être.

The MX-5 is about being nimble, basic and a hoot to drive. This fourth-gen iteration is smaller than its three brethren and weighs just 1000kg. So has Mazda put it all together and nailed its brief? Watch the clips below to find out.

[Thanks to Wayne for the tip]

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Mazda Motorsports

Mazda announces Global MX-5 Cup

Mazda Global MX-5 Cup car

For as long as there’s been an Mazda MX-5 owners have been taking the lightweight sportscars to the track. There’s still a very active following of MX-5 clubs around the world and that legacy will continue and be taken to the next level with the announcement of the Mazda Global MX-5 Cup.

This Global MX-5 Cup concept car, based on the fourth-gen roadster, was launched at SEMA during the week and it looks fantastic. Technical details are yet to be released, but as a one-make series with identical cars it doesn’t matter too much anyway.

The competition won’t launch until 2016, so next year will be a planning year and Mazda says announcements for the countries to take part in the global series will be made as they’re confirmed.

The series will end with a massive shindig and competition at Mazda Raceway in California, aka Laguna Seca. Like the car itself, this sounds like a lot of fun!

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Mazda Video

Watch the US launch of the new Mazda MX-5

ND Mazda MX-5 launch from Monterey, California

If you couldn’t watch the live stream of yesterday’s US launch of the Mazda MX-5 then you’re in luck, because it’s available for you after the break.

Hosting the event from Monterey in Calfornia was Derek Jenkins, Mazda Director of Design. As we’ve come to realise there wasn’t a lot of technical detail revealed in this launch but it’s still interesting to hear Jenkins talk through some of the design aspects of the new MX-5.

Besides, what could be better than watching a car launch with a bunch of whooping and hollering Americans!

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Mazda

Fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 revealed

2014 ND Mazda MX-5

So we now have our hands on all the press material Mazda has released with this initial launch of the fourth-generation MX-5. We can say that we do like the design quite a lot at first viewing in this two-dimensional form.

This ND MX-5 is the most different from its three predecessors, although Mazda will tell you differently. That’s no bad thing, though, because the company’s current Kodo design language is kicking goals across various product lines. Mazda’s cars do generally look very good and this new MX-5 is no exception. Perhaps more than ever this MX-5 looks as much fun as it should be to drive.

What we can’t bring you is any detailed technical specification. There’s 15 or so images, a brief press release and not much else. We know the new car will be around 100kg lighter than the old model. And we know it will have Skyactiv-G petrol engines “specially tuned for the MX-5.”

The new MX-5 won’t go on sale until 2015 so we expect full tech specs will be released in due course. We’ll bring them to you when we can. Until then take the jump to see everything we’ve got.

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Mazda

Yes, this is the new Mazda MX-5

2014 ND Mazda MX-5

The leak was right, this is the fourth generation Mazda MX-5. Full technical details and more pictures will follow later today. The good news is the ND MX-5 is 100kg less than the model it replaces and has the lowest centre of gravity of any MX-5 yet built. It will feature Mazda’s Skyactiv-G petrol engines and is the first rear-wheel drive model to use a Skyactiv-chassis.

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Mazda

Is this the new Mazda MX-5?

ND Mazda MX-5 rendering

The fourth generation ND Mazda MX-5 will be revealed with a special worldwide launch later today (well, early tomorrow morning for us Australians) and while renderings come and go, this one has a bit more behind it.

It was first posted to the miata.net forum’s California section on Monday by a user called sethofdeath with the words “2016 Mazda MX-5”. Some cyber sleuthing by forum members came up with the conclusion that the image was submitted by Seth Elson, currently a Production/Accessory Engineer with Mazda North Americam Operations. And where is the US launch taking place? Monterey, California. Hmm, makes you think, doesn’t it.

Moreover, the general shape tends to match that of a spy video captured early last month (see below). And while we think the Kodo-inspired rendering by Theophilus Chin is much nicer this rendering isn’t half bad, even if it does have a very BMW Z4-like rear end.

We’ll have the answer for you tomorrow morning.

[Source: miata.net]

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2014 Geneva Motor Show in pictures – part 2

2014 Geneva Motor Show

Here’s your second batch of photos from the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, that makes it 155 photos in all. We start part 2 with the very cool Maserati Alfieri concept and end with the very cool Volvo Concept Estate. Cool!

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Mazda

Is the Mazda RX-7 coming back?

Mazda RX-2 rotary engine badge

Word from Autocar in the UK says the Mazda RX-7 is on its way back and it will be on sale before the end of 2016.

It’s only 18 months or so since the world lost the rotary engine for good. Or so we thought. While Mazda officials are officially saying there are “no concrete plans” to revive the RX-7, unofficially they’re reportedly saying plans are well underway.

Adding to the nostalgia is the suggestion that Ikuo Maeda is the chief designer for the project. His old man was Mazda’s design chief back in the 1970s when the RX-7 was helping Mazda forge its name in the motoring world.

Maeda says he’s not sure what the 21st century RX-7 will look like, but does add: “I want it built before I retire!”

It’s predicted the new RX-7 engine will feature a twin-rotor arrangement of around 600cc per-rotor. Expected to be normally aspirated, peak power should be around 185kW (250hp).

Meanwhile, Mazda’s global marketing boss, Masahiro Moro, remains cautious, saying: “I just don’t see the right numbers in the equation yet.”

[Source: Autocar | Pic: Car Type]

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Mazda Motorsports Video

Waiting for the karma bus to arrive

Mazda MX-5 crash at Croft

More often than not track days are fun. If you like them the next step is amateur level club racing. That can be fun too. You get out on track, with like minded souls wanting to push themselves and their cars to the limits.

Sadly, sometimes some club racers confuse ambition for talent. Sometimes they confuse fun for win at all costs. And sometimes that ends up in arsehole moves like you can see in this video.

Thankfully, the affected driver walked away unharmed from this totally unavoidable incident which took place recently at Croft in the UK. Just make sure you watch the video again, and pay special attention to the head movements of the red baron.

This happened on lap three of a schedule which consisted of two 30 minute races. We’re only seeing one side of the story here, of course, but it’s pretty hard to mount a defence for the dickhead in the red MX-5.

Unfortunately the camera car ended up as a total write off. If you feel strongly enough about the plight of our unsuspecting victim, follow this link and lend a hand.

[Thanks to Pete for the tip]

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Mazda Motorsports

Like father, like grandson?

Matthew Brabham, 2013 Pro Mazda champion

Matthew Brabham, grandson of Sir Jack and son of Geoff, has added to the family trophy cabinet by taking out the 2013 Pro Mazda Championship. Young Brabs secured his latest title with a pair of victories at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières in Quebec on the weekend.

It’s a fitting result for the Andretti Autosport driver who has compiled an impressive haul of 11 wins this year, an all-time record for the category (previously known as the Star Mazda Championship). Included in his collection of wins this year Brabham had a run of seven straight victories as well.

“I am absolutely speechless. To get two wins and the championship makes this just an unbelievable weekend, and I couldn’t think of a better place to win the championship, it has been so much fun here in Trois-Rivières,” said a jubilant Brabham. “I can’t thank everyone who supported me enough—Mazda, for giving me the opportunity to have this wonderful year, Cooper Tires and AFS Racing for coming in at the end. Andretti Autosport has been fantastic all year, so a big thanks to them.

“At the start of the season, I couldn’t have predicted that I would have a year like this. I am just so, so happy.”

The Pro Mazda Championship is a third tier category sanctioned by IndyCar as an official pathway to the senior category. Thanks to his championship success, Brabham will progress through to the second tier Indy Lights series in 2014.

“I am definitely looking forward to the future,” Brabham added. “The United States has been wonderful for me. It was the perfect move for me at this point in my career and I am really looking forward to moving up to Indy Lights next year. I remember when I first went to St Petersburg and I saw the Lights cars on track and I thought these cars are really cool and I want to get in one of those.”

Brabham’s win was no fluke, either, in 2012 he was crowned USF2000 champion. We wish him well for 2014 and beyond.

[Source: IndyCar]