IAA 2011: European Debut for the 2012 Mazda3 Facelift

Making its European debut alongside the all-new CX-5 compact crossover in Frankfurt is the facelift version of the Mazda3.

The updated C-segment model, which is available in both four-door sedan and five-door hatchback derivatives, features some minor cosmetic touches in the form of a reworked front end with a different bumper and grille design, new alloy wheels and a restyled rear bumper.

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All-New Mazda CX-5 Crossover Makes its World Premiere in Frankfurt

The main attraction at Mazda's stand at the in Frankfurt is the brand-new CX-5 compact crossover that will spearhead the automakers efforts against the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

Mazda says that the CX-5 is the first of a new generation of models that will adopt the new KODO design philosophy and the full suite of its SKYACTIV technologies.

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Mazda Drops New Photos and Videos of CX-5 Compact Crossover

You've already had a quick sneak peek at the brand-new Mazda CX-5, but the Japanese automaker has published a new set of photos and videos of the small SUV while testing in Europe. While most images show the CX-5 in camouflage, we do get two new press pictures including a rear shot of the vehicle.

The new CX-5 replaces the Tribute, which itself was a rebadged Ford Escape, as Mazda tries to go against the likes of the Toyota RAV4 and the VW Tiguan in the small/compact SUV market with a more appropriate and modern proposal.

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Mazda Exec Says New CX-5 will Reach U.S. Shores in Early 2012 with Prices Starting from Around $20k,

It won't be long before we get our first intimate taste of the all-new Mazda CX-5 compact SUV at its world premiere in Frankfurt, but we now have some interesting news about the North American variant, courtesy of Hideaki Tanaka, manager of the CX-5 program.

During the first press test drive event of a pre-production model, Tanaka told Autonews that the CX-5 will arrive in the States early next year, adding that while Mazda has not finalized pricing and packaging, it will likely carry a base MSRP of around $20,000, close to $3,000 less than the larger CX-7 ($22,785 with delivery).

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It's the End of Mazda’s RX-8

Tis the end for Mazda's rotary-powered RX-8 sports car that has fallen victim to low sales and more importantly, stricter emissions standards. According to a report from Automotive News, production of the RX-8 stopped in early July while the remaining inventory will be sold by the end of this year.

The demise of the RX-8 was something we expected since Mazda stopped offering the car in Europe last year, after failing to meet the more strict EU emission standards. Last year, the Hiroshima-based company managed to deliver just 1,134 units, a 49% decrease compared to 2009, while sales in the first half of 2011 decreased by a further 21%.
In the States, dealers reported a stock of 300 units on August 1, which equated to a 118-day supply.
The front-mid-engined rotary sports car was launched by Mazda in 2003, and its best sales year was 2004 with 23,690 units. It was the last in the line of rotary-powered sports cars that started in 1971 with the RX-2, continued through the years with the successful RX-7, which lasted for three generations, and finally ended with the, much-admired for its driving characteristics, RX-8.
So is this really the end of the world's last mass-produced rotary-powered sports car? As we recently reported, there’s been a lot of discussion within Mazda about producing another rotary-engined sports car.
Kiyoshi Fujiwara, the brand’s executive officer for product planning and powertrain development, revealed that the company was indeed considering the cancellation of some projects due to economic reasons, and the successor to the RX-8 was one of them.
However, Fujiwara claims no final decision has been taken yet. “I have always said that rotary engines are part of our soul," said Fujiwara. "We have to continue the rotary evolution”. He also added that its future depends largely on the success of the newly introduced gasoline and diesel SKYACTIV engines: if they sell in big numbers, then Mazda will have the funds to go ahead with the project.

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Mazda2 First-Month Sales in Japan Exceed More than 100%

Mazda has announced that orders for the subtly revised Mazda Demio, or Mazda2 as is known overseas, in its first month of being available in Japan have far exceeded their initial target. Specifically, from June 30, when the Demio became available, until July 31, orders have reached 13,500 units, more than double Mazda’s initial estimate of 6,000.

And that’s only private customers, excluding rental or dealer test drive models. The Demio is also the first Mazda model to exceed 10,000 registrations in a single month since March 2004.
As expected, the new 13-SKYACTIVE model accounts for the vast majority of sales, since it has been the model of choice for 70% of the orders, surpassing initial projections of 60%.
Mazda's senior managing executive officer in charge of domestic business, Nobuhide Inamoto, said, "Mazda is extremely grateful for the strong support from so many customers who have pushed sales of the facelifted Demio well beyond our sales plan. Mazda's next-generation SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY is also proving popular and we are confident that it will have a positive impact on our overall sales in Japan."
“Following the Demio, we will continue the rollout of our breakthrough SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY with the facelifted Mazda Axela (Mazda3) this fall and the all-new Mazda CX-5 next year".
Demio’s customers are mostly single men and women, as well as people over 40 who are downsizing to a smaller, more efficient cars. They cite the reasons for their choice as the Demio’s fuel economy (as low as 3.33 lt/100 or 70.6 mpg in the Japanese driving cycle), its advanced technology and its quiet cabin.

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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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