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Mazda is getting ready to enter the raging mpg war in the compact passenger vehicle segment in the States with the launch of its facelifted 2012 Mazda3 that made its U.S. debut today at the New York International Auto Show.

While the exterior and interior refinements are modest, the updated Mazda3 debuts the first application in North America of the Japanese firm’s suite of SKYACTIV fuel-saving and performance-oriented technologies, achieving 40 mpg on the highway. Within it lies Mazda’s all-new SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine hooked up to either a new SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission or a SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual gearbox.

Mazda today confirmed what many of us already suspected – that the Minagi concept shown at the 2011 Geneva Salon earlier this year will form the base for a production model that will be called the CX-5. In addition, the Japanese firm also announced that the compact crossover model will make its international debut in production guise at the forthcoming 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show to be held in Germany in September.

At the heart of the 2011 Mazdaspeed 3's appeal is its turbocharged 2.3-liter engine. That said, it's easily managed and reminds you that this potent hot hatch demands respect from your right foot. Thanks to its decent-sized rear seats and 42.8 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity, the Speed 3 can handle just about anything life throws at you.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2011 Mazdaspeed 3 is a four-door hatchback available in one trim level known as Sport. Standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels, high-performance summer tires, a limited-slip differential, foglights, full power accessories, cruise control, keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, front sport seats, leather and cloth upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, a digital turbo-boost gauge, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, and a six-speaker stereo with CD player, auxiliary audio jack and steering wheel controls.

Safety
Standard safety equipment includes antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. Though the 2011 Mazdaspeed 3 itself hasn't been crash tested, the similar Mazda 3 five-door hatchback upon which it's based has been tested. In government testing, the Mazda 3 scored five out of five stars for driver and front passenger protection in a frontal crash, five stars for front side protection and four stars for rear side protection.

Interior Design and Special Features
The Mazdaspeed variant differs from the regular Mazda 3 with its upgraded gauges and sport front seats with standard black leather upholstery with cloth inserts. The front seat offers a wide range of adjustment (though no power adjustment is available) and the tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel is a welcome feature.

Driving Impressions
Routing 280 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels is usually a recipe for annoying amounts of steering-wheel-tugging torque steer. Impressively precise, the steering provides plenty of communication and faithfully transmits road information like few front-wheel-drive cars can.
The MAZDASPEED3 features an advanced torque management system, which minimizes torque steer by adjusting torque output based on gear position and steering angle. Combined with wide, high-grip 225/40R18 Dunlop SP Sport 2050 performance tires, the MAZDASPEED3’s suspension tuning marries unflappable control with a comfortable everyday ride.
Rigid high-speed steering feel can be accomplished without suffering heavy steering at low speeds.

For 2011, the MAZDASPEED3 Technology Package is expanded with rain-sensing front wipers, auto on/off headlights, Bi-Xenon headlights with auto leveling, Adaptive Front-lighting system (AFS), and LED rear combination taillights. The MAZDASPEED3 is the third model in the 2011 MAZDA3 lineup, joining the MAZDA3 5-door, and the 4-door sedan.

Inside the MazdaSpeed3 gets the sort of boy-racer stylings the bodywork suggests, mixed with Mazda’s unusually premium-for-its-class interior. Our Velocity Red Mica test car featured black and red interior patterned material on the doors, with the same design (in plastic) running across the dash. The Nav system, a part of the $1,895 Tech Package is humorously small.

Sure it’s a functional front-drive hatchback, but the MazdaSpeed3 delivers horsepower and handling, not to mention great looks and an interior well above many of its competitors. With few reasonably priced performance vehicles on the road, the MazdaSpeed3 is, thankfully, a hard-core hot hatch that delivers.

It’s been over a month since the first of a series of earthquakes along with a catastrophic tsunami hit Japan’s shores resulting in devastating destruction and flooding, but the country is still feeling the effects in more ways than one.

According to a news report, Japan’s big seven automakers have lost more than half a million units of output since the March 11 quake. To make matters worse, even though many factories opened recently, they have not yet reached their full production capacity due to a lack of parts.

Mazda has suspended all US orders for cars built in Japan as the carmaker is preparing to shut down its plants once again after a short reopening period. According to the automaker’s American spokesman Jay Amestoy, the decision will affect shipments of cars that were due to arrive in the U.S. in May. The Mazda official added that it was uncertain when normal activity will resume.

Mazda USA imports almost all its range from the Japan, except the U.S.-built Mazda6 and Tribute. The models produced in Japan are the Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda5, MX-5 / Miata, RX-8, CX7 and CX9. Mazda halted production at its Hiroshima and Hofu plants from March 14 through March 21, but three days ago, it resumed temporary production using parts it had in its inventory.

Meet the all-new MX5-GT, a featherweight race car with which Mazda will participate in the Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship 2011 taking on Aston Martin, Porsche, Lotus, and BMW. It may seem like a difficult task but Mazda, in cooperation with Jota Sport, the race engineering team that will run the cars in the 2011 series, have a few tricks under their sleeves.

For starters, the GT is claimed to be the lightest and most powerful MX-5 ever built. Jota Sport took some 400 hours to build the car’s shell to a specification that ensured it was 17 times stronger than required by the FIA. Weight-saving measures include the removal of interior parts, reducing component weight and dipping the shell in acid to shave 15kg. The end result is a total weight of just 850kg or 1,873 lbs.

In a nod to its memorable Le Mans victory in 1991, Mazda has launched a special edition version of its MX-5 roadster model in the land of smooth chocolates and punctual watches. The MX-5 ’55 Le Mans’ is named after the Mazda 787B No.55. Driven by Johnny Herbert, Volker Weidler, and Bertrand Gachot, the 787B No.55 won the 24-hours of Le Mans in 1991 claiming the first ever victory for a Japanese automobile and the rotary engine in the famed endurance race.

It seems that the petrol-sniffing Yellow Sac spider that forced Mazda to issue a recall on some 52,000 cars in the USA last week has a thing for mid-size Japanese sedans as the eight-legged arthropod also caused problems to Honda in the past. According to reports, Honda posted a Technical Service Bulletin in the summer of 2009 alerting its dealers to check Accords for possible infestation by the Yellow Sac spider, but had not issued a recall then.

Reviewers give the 2011 Mazda3 a thumbs up for its high performance and nice interior, but many grimace at its smiling front grill. Because the Mazda3 was just redesigned for 2010, the 2011 Mazda3 is almost identical to the 2010. Reviewers praise the 2011 Mazda3’s interior almost as much as its performance. Also, like the 2010 Mazda3, the 2011’s exterior isn’t perfect.

If you plan to buy a used model Mazda3, be aware that Mazda recalled over 200,000 model year 2007-2009 Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles. There are few small cars and hatchbacks that have the Mazda3’s level of sportiness or fun driving experience, but the Honda Civic is a another good option. Some reviewers call the Fiesta the best-driving car in the class. The base sedan starts below the "Mazda3" at $13,320, and buyers can opt for a five-door hatchback.

The Mazda 3 is also notable for the number of upmarket features that are available, including bi-xenon headlights, keyless ignition/entry and dual-zone automatic climate control. All models now have stability control, while the Grand Touring trims receive the formerly optional Bose audio system and sunroof.

For my family, the Mazda3 easily adjusted to our lives. While the Mazda3 seats five, it's a tight squeeze to do so. The child in the center seat probably would have been more comfortable had I used backless booster seats for my girls, giving the child more shoulder room.

While there's enough room in the backseat to fit a rear-facing infant-safety seat, there's not enough space for a rear-facing convertible child-safety seat without moving the front passenger seat really far forward.

The 2011 Mazda 3 is available in four-door compact sedan and hatchback body styles.
The 3i model (sedan only) is offered in SV, Sport and Touring trim levels. Standard equipment on the SV includes 16-inch steel wheels, a 60/40-split-folding seat, height-adjustable driver seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, full power accessories and a four-speaker stereo with a CD player, an auxiliary audio jack and steering-wheel controls. The 3s Sport (available as sedan and hatchback) adds the more powerful 2.5-liter engine, different front and rear fascias, 17-inch alloy wheels, foglights, dual exhaust tips, rear spoiler, aggressively bolstered front seats, upgraded upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, a trip computer and electroluminescent gauges. The 3s Grand Touring adds a sunroof, heated outside mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 10-speaker Bose audio system (with an in-dash, six-disc CD changer), heated front seats, leather upholstery and an eight-way power driver seat.

The Technology package (available for the 3s Sport and 3s Grand Touring) includes rain-sensing windshield wipers, automatic headlights, adaptive bi-xenon headlights, LED taillights, keyless ignition/entry, satellite radio and a navigation system (with steering-wheel controls and a small, high-mounted display screen).

The 2011 Mazda 3i comes with a 2.0-liter inline-4 that produces 148 horsepower and 135 pound-feet of torque. Estimated fuel economy is 24 mpg city/33 mpg highway and 27 mpg combined with the automatic -- the manual stands at 25/33/28. Estimated fuel economy is 22 mpg city/29 mpg highway and 25 mpg combined with the automatic (20/28/23 with the manual). Both fuel economy and acceleration are on par with similarly powerful small cars.
Standard safety equipment on the 2011 Mazda 3 includes stability and traction control, antilock disc brakes (with brake assist), active front head restraints, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. In government crash tests, the Mazda 3 earned five stars (the highest rating) in frontal impact protection for both driver and passenger.

The 2011 Mazda 3 is a class leader in terms of interior design, quality and feature content. Most Mazda 3 hatchbacks and sedans sold won't be the upper Touring and Grand Touring models, but they'll still greet their owners with high-quality materials, comfortable front seats, ample space and easy-to-reach controls.

The beefed-up 2.5-liter engine in 3s models is the same one that powers the midsize Mazda 6.

This must be by far the most hilarious recall action we've ever heard about. It involves some 52,000 US-market Mazda6 cars from the 2009 and 2010 model years and a gasoline-loving spider. Yes, you read correctly; it's about a species of a spider that loves to build its web in the Mazda6 vent line, thus endangering the integrity of the gas tank.

Mazda lifted the wraps off its new Minagi concept SUV today at the Geneva Motor Show. The compact SUV study builds on the Japanese brand's new Kodo design identity first seen on the Shinari concept last year. However, unlike the Shinari, the Minagi, which previews Mazda's forthcoming VW Tiguan rival, looks to be more production ready.

“I wanted to convey something different from the Mazda SHINARI. I felt a compact crossover SUV was the perfect vehicle to express agility and focused movement the flexibility of four limbs moving in unison, and an upright posture,” said Masashi Nakayama, the designer of the crossover concept.

The 2011 Mazda Tribute is a compact SUV available in i Sport, i Touring, i Grand Touring and s Grand Touring. The Grand Touring trims add heated mirrors, a sunroof, heated front seats, leather upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel,
auto-dimming rearview mirror and satellite radio. The 2011 Mazda Tribute i models are powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 171 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque.
Front-wheel drive is standard on all Tributes, while all but the i Sport can be equipped with all-wheel drive. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 20/26/23 with all-wheel drive.
A six-speed automatic is standard. EPA-estimated fuel economy stands at 19 mpg city/25 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 18/23/20 with all-wheel drive.

The 2011 Mazda Tribute comes with standard antilock brakes (front disc, rear drum), stability and traction control, front-seat side airbags and side curtain airbags. Thankfully, the Tribute and Escape's crash ratings are strong.

In general, the 2011 Mazda Tribute is pleasant to drive.
The "2011 Mazda Tribute" ranks 21 out of 23 Affordable Compact SUVs. Reviewers say the 2011 Mazda Tribute pales in comparison not only to its platform-mate, the Ford Escape, but also to most compact SUVs.

Poor Mazda Tribute – it just doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere. It’s that re-badging that many reviewers say is the problem with the Mazda Tribute. While the Ford Escape has benefited from freshening and high-tech interior features that reviewers love, the Tribute has languished. The Tribute shares a platform with the Ford Escape, and reviewers say that if you like the Tribute, you’ll love the Escape.

For 2011, the Tribute is mostly unchanged. The Tribute comes in several trims: i Sport, i Touring, i Grand Touring, and s Grand Touring.

Double-overhead camshafts improve engine breathing and high-revving response, which in turn improves performance and fuel economy. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard.
Electric Power Steering (EPS), which improves vehicle sensitivity, is standard, and, improves NVH and fuel economy by eliminating the power steering pump.

Part of being a great sports vehicle is great sporty design, and the Tribute scores well here. Tribute’s interior is upscale and comfortable. Car-like front-wheel drive is standard. If extra traction is necessary – either for off-road driving or pulling heavy loads in slippery conditions – the Tribute is available with Mazda’s innovative Active Torque Control Coupling (ATCC) four-wheel-drive system. A sophisticated computer monitors the engine, wheel speeds and transmission, and automatically transfers torque between the front and rear wheels. Compared with less sophisticated four-wheel drive systems, ATCC improves driving responsiveness, handling and fuel economy.

The vehicle seats five adults in comfort. Both front doors have storage compartments, as do the backs of each front seat (Touring and Grand Touring models).

The rear seat is asymmetrically split 60:40, which improves carrying versatility. Standard features include automatic headlights, 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, air conditioning, AM/FM/CD audio system, ambient temperature gauge, remote keyless entry system and power mirrors, door locks and windows. Cruise control is standard on vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. A more sophisticated and cozy interior features leather-trimmed seats, heated front seats, garage door opener, electrochromatic mirror with rearview backup camera display and leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Named after “The way of the Sword”, which is said to be a form of modern Japanese martial art, the MX-5 Kendo is the latest special edition model to be released by Mazda to celebrate the 900,000 units produced since the introduction of the first MX-5 in 1989. The MX-5 Kendo has been created for the UK market and will be available from March 1 in two forms, the MX-5 1.8i Kendo soft-top priced at £19,255 and the more powerful MX-5 2.0i Kendo roadster coupe with a £22,320 price tag.

Mazda has dropped the first photos and details on its 2012 model year Mazda3 sedan and five-door hatchback models that are making their world premiere at this week's 2011 Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto. In addition to receiving a cosmetic pick-me-up, the refreshed Mazda3 gains the Japanese firm's new Skyactiv-G gasoline engine and Skyactiv-Drive automatic transmission.

The automaker has not yet released specific details on the new powertrain, but said that this is the first application of its Skyactive engine and transmission technologies in a production vehicle. All we know for now is that the engine will feature direct-injection tech and a high compression ratio, while the transmission is said to be compact in size and light in weight, with both contributing to an improved fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions.

The Mazda5 is Mazda's answer to the minivan -- its smaller, sportier answer that gets better gas mileage than most minivans. Though the Mazda5 has a lot of what families need in an efficient package, Americans haven't really gotten behind the Mazda5. Mazda is updating the Mazda5 in hopes of capturing more of the American market.

The "2011 Mazda5" features sharp creases in its body, as well as a large grinning grille. Keep checking back for more information on the 2011 Mazda5, or check out our review of the 2010 Mazda5.

The 2011 Mazda5 was unveiled today ahead of its upcoming debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Mazda calls it "Nagare", from the Japanese word meaning "flow". The 2011 Mazda5 is the first Mazda model to fully adopt this design theme.

In Europe, the new Mazda5 also gets Mazda's "i-Stop" stop-start system to further cut unnecessary fuel use and reduce emissions by up to 15 percent.

The current U.S.-market 2010 Mazda5 uses a 2.3-liter engine and yields up to 28 mpg on the highway in manual-transmission trim, so the 2011 Mazda5 could possibly reach above 30 mpg highway.

Standard features for the 2011 Mazda5 include dual sliding doors and reconfigurable seating arrangements.
The bulk of the Mazda lineup has recently been updated, and the Japanese carmaker has brought its Mazda 5 small minivan in line with the unveiling of the new 2011 model at the Geneva auto show.

Power-operated side doors will be optional in Europe, but won’t be available on U.S. models, Mazda says, in order to keep weight, complexity, and cost down. Improved materials and revised equipment keep the 5 on par with the updated-for-2010 CX-7 and CX-9. Mazda’s dash-mounted mini navigation screen, as seen in the 3, will be optional.

Our current 5 sports a 153-hp, 2.3-liter four mated to either a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic gearbox. The 2.5-liter will be paired in the 5 with either a six-speed manual or a five-speed auto.

Earlier today, we told you about the Australian market Mazda MX-5 Special Edition featuring a sports suspension kit and some exclusive styling touches. Well, we now learn that the same model will be offered in the States in a limited run of 750 units, albeit at a much lower price as the U.S. version starts at $30,925 with a manual transmission, and $31,525 when equipped with the six-speed Sport AT automatic. That's compared to US$47,800 for the Aussie market model.

A new special edition version of the MX-5 with some very minor styling and suspension upgrades has been added to Mazda's vehicle range in Australia. A total of 200 MX-5 Special Editions are being brought into the country with Mazda announcing that the upgrades are being added at no additional cost.

The world's most popular roadster model ever, the Mazda MX-5 (also known as Roadster in Japan and Miata in North America), is celebrating yet another milestone in its enviable history as total production reached 900,000 units on February 4, 2011. This latest milestone was achieved 21 years and 10 months after mass production of the first-generation MX-5 commenced in April 1989.

2011 Mazda Mazda6 Review

the 2011 Mazda Mazda6 is an affordable family sedan. Driving is a thrilling experience in the 2011 Mazda Mazda6, especially with the higher trim level’s V6 engine.

At a glance, the interior design of the "2011 Mazda Mazda6" is infinitely pleasing; upon closer inspection, though, it’s clear that materials quality could be better.

Competitors for the 2011 Mazda Mazda6 are the same as always, providing for a variety of options for shoppers:
Impeccable safety features are some of the biggest perks of owning the 2011 Mazda Mazda6. The powerful V6 engine is another major advantage on the 2011 Mazda6. One of the biggest issues involved in the 2011 Mazda Mazda6 involves fuel economy - it’s not very good.

For 2011, the Mazda 6 receives minor updates. The headlights and foglights have been restyled and the sideview mirrors on the Touring Plus and Grand Touring models now feature integrated turn signals. Mazda has discontinued the base SV trim level and dropped manual transmission availability for the Touring trim. Fuel economy sees a slight increase for models with automatic transmissions.

The i Grand Touring model adds leather upholstery, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a rearview camera, a multi-information display and a 10-speaker Bose sound system. The s Touring Plus model is outfitted identically to the i Touring Plus, except for the engine, transmission and some exterior trim. The s Grand Touring adds 18-inch cast-aluminum wheels.

The "2011 Mazda 6" i versions are powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 170 horsepower and 167 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed automatic with manual shift control is offered on the i Sport and is the only choice available on i Touring, i Touring Plus and i Grand Touring models.

Standard safety features for all 2011 Mazda 6 models include antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags.
The 2011 Mazda 6 features an interior that is attractive and modern in design--Among competing family sedans, the 2011 Mazda 6 is notable for its nimble handling.

The 2011 Mazda Mazda6 ranks 5 out of 18 Affordable Midsize Cars. The 2011 Mazda6 is the mid-size sedan for consumers on the lookout for an enjoyable driving experience. The Altima is similarly sized and priced but offers better EPA rated fuel economy of 23/32 compared to the Mazda’s 22/31 in four-cylinder models, and fuel economy ratings of 20/27 to the Mazda’s 18/27 in V6 models.

Four-cylinder models are designated as “i” models and are available in Sport, Touring, Touring Plus and Grand Touring. Six-cylinder models, designated as “s,” are available in Touring Plus and Grand Touring trims. New for 2011, the Mazda6 sports revised headlights and fog lights, new 17-inch wheels and a revised steering wheel.

2011 Mazda 2 Reviews
Now you can add the 2011 Mazda 2 to that list of price-conscious hatchbacks. On the plus side, the Mazda 2 is quite sporty to drive, and indeed this is one area where Mazda is quite proud of its new entry-level car. The list of standard and available features for the Mazda is quite short, too.

The 2011 Mazda 2 is a five-passenger, four-door subcompact hatchback that is available in two trim levels -- Sport and Touring. The Sport comes standard with 15-inch steel wheels with wheel covers, air-conditioning, full power accessories, a tilt steering wheel and a four-speaker CD/MP3 audio system with an auxiliary input jack.

The EPA estimates fuel economy at 28 mpg city/35 mpg highway for the manual transmission and 27/33 mpg for the automatic.
Standard safety features for the 2011 Mazda 2 include antilock brakes (discs in front/drums in rear), front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags and stability and traction control.

The 2011 Mazda 2's interior is comparable to other hatchbacks in this economical price range. With those rear seats in place, cargo capacity is 13.3 cubic feet, which is small for a hatchback.
Among the most hotly anticipated (at least among Car and Driver staffers) is the 2011 Mazda 2, Mazda’s first America-bound B-segment vehicle since the 323 and arguably the best such car Mazda has ever built.

Unavailable, for example, even on Touring models, are a telescoping steering wheel, a sunroof, integrated navigation (a portable Garmin system will be available from dealers), a USB port, and a hands-free Bluetooth system. Ditto the front-disc, rear-drum brakes. Meanwhile, fuel economy is good if not worldbeating, at 29 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway for the five-speed manual and 27/33 for the four-speed automatic.
The Mazda2 press junket was shaping up to be one of those trips. Old-tech 4-speed automatic.

Mazda's stylists applied scaled-down versions of their latest styling cues -- the big smiling grille (link goes to photo), the strong front fender line, the trapezoidal rear window -- and while those same details stick out like sore thumbs on the bigger Mazda3, they somehow manage to blend right in on the little Mazda2.

At the front of the room, the Mazda staffers were talking about the virtues of the new Mazda2: refinement, light weight, price.
I picked a bright-red "Mazda2" Touring with a manual transmission and settled in. I certainly didn't feel like I was sitting in Mazda's cheapest car.

As much as I liked the Mazda2, my heart belongs to the Ford Fiesta. It's great to drive and its high-tech twin-clutch automatic delivers better fuel economy than the Mazda2, plus it offers features that the Mazda doesn't such as leather seats and iPod integration. Still, the Fiesta lacks the Mazda's quiet engine and smooth ride -- not to mention its proven Japanese build quality.
The car that poses the biggest challenge to the Mazda2 might well be the Nissan Versa, which has a roomy, well-trimmed cabin and a very attractive price tag but lacks the Mazda's good looks. Considering what the competition offers, I think the Mazda's mix of attributes will serve it well.