Mazda » Australian Car Advice

Mazda Showroom win at Tasmanian Tarmac Challenge

October 6th, 2008 4 Comments

Mazda Australia has secured a convincing showroom win and a top ten finish at the Tasmanian Tarmac Challenge.

Finishing eighth outright, and first in the front-wheel-drive category, the 190kW Mazda3 MPS driven by 20 year old Brendan Reeves overcome an extremely wet second day - and a minor electricl fault (which cost the team 58 seconds) - to secure the impressive result.

Mazda Kiyora Concept

October 2nd, 2008 13 Comments

Japanese giant Mazda has a plan, it’s called the Sustainable Zoom-Zoom plan and the aim is to not only create more fuel efficient cars but to keep the passion alive.

Specifically, the Hiroshima based manufacturer wants to cut improve the average fuel economy of Mazda vehicles sold globally 30 per cent by 2015 (over 2008 levels).

In order to do that, Mazda will need to develop a new range of internal combustion gasoline and diesel engines as well as begin working on lighter cars and more intuitive technologies.

The first step is the company’s new unique Smart Idle-Stop System (SISS) and direct injection engines which will hit the market sometime next year. Moving forward, 2011 will see a whole new powertrain lineup, meaning new petrol and diesel engines and transmissions across the entire range.

Mazda hopes to achieve a 20 percent fuel efficiency improvement but this stage. This will be helped along by efforts in weight reduction of at least 100 kilograms or more per model.

Now, back to focus of the article, say hello to the Mazda Kiyora concept which will be on display at the Paris Motor Show very soon. The car is the future, according to the company. Not only is it more fuel efficient but, apparently, it’s still exciting to look at and drive.

“Mazda Design has been working hard over the past two years to develop an exciting new design message with its Nagare series,” says Peter Birtwhistle, Chief Designer, Mazda Motor Europe. “Mazda Kiyora is the latest iteration of that philosophy.”

Perhaps an indication of a future Mazda2 (the concept is 10cm shorter than the current Mazda2), the Kiyora is made from a rigid and lightweight carbon-fibre body structure powered by a tiny 1.3-litre direct injection engine (with CO2 emissions of under 90g/km).

The entire car has been designed with new ideas in mind. For example the roof of the Kiyora is transparent, for an open-air feeling on the inside and has photovoltaic solar cells which provide electricity for the car’s interior systems.

To save weight the doors and side windows are essentially one single unit (badly named as Windoors) and function as both. Mazda has given up on glass, instead choosing plastic, which provides the same transparency and refraction properties as glass, and the strength of a thin-panel door, but with far less weight.

From the inside the instrument cluster has turned to water. Mazda calls liquid-skin display technology, a system that mimics the rippling that water makes when you touch it with your finger. When the Kiyora is turned off, the interface looks like ice, frozen and hard. When the car is switched on, the display appears to turn into water!

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2009 Mazda MX-5 global details

October 2nd, 2008 24 Comments

Mazda has officially unveiled its next generation MX-5 Roadster at the Paris Auto Show today, boasting an all new look which reflects Mazda’s current design philosophy.

The new model continues to uphold the original “Jinba-Ittai” or “horse and rider as one” concept which made the original such a success.

Two models are available, the MX-5 and MX-5 Roadster Coupe which features the “origami” retractable hard top roof.

Aside from the obvious difference in the choice of roof material, these two models also boast several other distinct design differences.

Whereas the soft-top version has a fin-type grille, the Roadster Coupe has a mesh grille that is framed by a chrome ring - these subtle changes also extend to the headlamps, fog-lamps, door handles and rear brake light.

The Mazda has always been more focussed on balance rather than performance when it comes to the MX-5, as a result the new model produces an identical 118kW peak power and 188Nm for the 2.0-litre unit.

However, delivery and throttle response have been dramatically refined, with the rev limiter now set 500rpm higher to 7,500rpm and peak power kicking in 300rpm later at 7,000rpm.

The crucial 500 rpm increase in the rev limit has been enabled by a forged crankshaft (this ensures the required rigidity at high engine speeds), fully floating pistons and newly designed valve springs.

The engine note is equally as important to Mazda engineers, having increased the rigidity of the plastic surge tank in the intake manifold to produce a clearer note through the rev range.

The slick 6-speed manual transmission has also been refined, with the meshing surfaces of the 1st–4th triple-cone synchronizers are now carbon coated, and the 3rd–4th synchronizer diameter has been increased resulting in smoother upshifts.

A six-speed automatic gearbox is also available which now incorporates a paddle shift function and new Active Adaptive Shift (AAS) which monitors the gradient of the road and frequency of corners to recognise enthusiastic driving and change gears accordingly.

Inside the new MX-5, comfort has been improved with road noise dropping by 2.1dB compared to the old model; this is complimented by stiffer door modules and by newly added reinforcements on the No. 2 crossmember.

The new Mazda MX-5 is due to arrive in Australian showrooms by 2009; specific availability and pricing will be announced closer to the release date.

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Mazda considers 2009 ARC Campaign

September 29th, 2008 2 Comments

After its initial success in the Targa Tasmania earlier this year, Mazda will use its performance in the upcoming Tasmanian Tarmac Challenge to evaluate whether it will enter the full 2009 Australian Rally Championship (ARC) season.

Brother and sister rally combo Brendan Reeves and Rhianon Smyth will drive a near-standard 190kW turbocharged Mazda3 MPS in the event’s Showroom category.

Mazda to Moscow by rail

September 29th, 2008 10 Comments

In a historic move, Mazda will begin large-scale transportation of vehicles using the Trans-Siberian Railroad (TSR) in an effort to supplement existing vehicle delivery from Japan to Russia.

As one of Russia’s most popular brands, seeing double digit growth each month, Mazda will be the first car manufacturer to adopt the transport system for this use when things get under way on October 30.

2008 Mazda RX-8 GT review

September 22nd, 2008 37 Comments

2008 Mazda RX-8 GT review & road test

Model Tested:

2008 Mazda RX-8 GT - $57,625 (RRP)

Options:

None fitted

Stylish, quality, amazing grip and handling, well equipped

Notchy gearbox, firm ride, no torque, steering a bit slow

CarAdvice Rating: (3.5/5)

- Photography and words by Karl Peskett

The year 2003 brought a new sports car from Mazda. It had been years since the last version of the RX-7, and rotary fans were champing at the bit to see the latest RENESIS engine shoehorned into a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive car.

The RX-8 was brought forth with much fanfare and expectation. Five years down the track, and Mazda has freshened its halo car, with a raft of updates that aren’t immediately apparent, but certainly have refined it.

Stylistically, the original would have been a challenge. To bring it from concept sketch to full size clay model would have been fun. A geometric nightmare, to say the least, given the combination of straights, curves and angles.

2008 Mazda BT-50 range

September 17th, 2008 2 Comments

In a bid to boost its presence in the light commercial segment, Mazda has revitalised its new BT-50 range to be more versatile than ever.

The BT-50 now boasts a more comprehensive model range, mechanical and styling upgrades, and improvements to interior comfort and ergonomics - totalling 29 models across five drivetrains and three bodystyles.

2009 Mazda6 MZR-CD diesel

September 17th, 2008 20 Comments

Mazda is set to introduce a new version of the Mazda6 diesel into the Australian market. This time however, the diesel engine has grown by 0.2-litre and gained some much needed power.

The new Mazda6 MZR-CD sports will be available in both hatch and wagon body styles and land in Mazda dealerships towards the end of the year. Mazda says given the power upgrade and the new look, the diesel 6 will become a genuine competitor to the expensive European luxury cars.

Spied: All-new Mazda3

September 7th, 2008 23 Comments

Earlier today our spies got the first good look at the upcoming 2010 Mazda 3. This all‑new sport compact is expected next year, but won’t hit some markets till 2010.

Our tourist-shooter quickly found out that it’s not easy to shoot prototypes at highway speeds, but his first attempt landed him the most revealing pictures yet of the updated Mazda3.

Mazda Kiyora concept and new diesel models

September 4th, 2008 5 Comments

Mazda has gone concept crazy, with the brand set to showcase yet another addition to the growing Nagari concept range at the Paris motor show.

This latest instalment is a lightweight next generation urban compact concept dubbed the Kiyora - meaning ‘clean and pure’ in Japanese.

2009 Mazda MX-5 first official image

September 4th, 2008 13 Comments

Update: Official image released by Mazda

Following the release of renderings destined for the patent office onto the internet, a Spanish website has now published the first official images of the face lifted 2009 Mazda MX-5 roadster.