Autoblog

Mazda MX-5 Miata is the ultimate Frisbee partner

Chris Paukert — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Mazda, UK

Playing a game of Frisbee is rarely about power - it's more about agility, precision and open-air enjoyment. Much the same can be said of the Mazda MX-5 Miata, whose charm has always originated more from its finesse and tactility rather than brute strength and outright speed, qualities the evergreen roadster has traditionally lacked.

So consider it a fine match that Mazda has taken a couple of its popular convertibles out with a handful of crack Frisbee players and put them on a closed circuit in Surrey, England for a stylish game of catch. It's a simple recipe for entertainment - check out the video by scrolling below.

Continue reading Mazda MX-5 Miata is the ultimate Frisbee partner

Mazda MX-5 Miata is the ultimate Frisbee partner originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 May 2013 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #280 LIVE

Dan Roth — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:14:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Chrysler, Dodge, Hyundai, Nissan, Scion, Subaru

We record Episode #280 of the Autoblog Podcast tonight, and you can drop us your questions via our Q&A module below, and chime in to direct our conversation. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #280

Dodge Dart
Scion FR-S vs. Subaru BR-Z vs. Mazda MX-5 Miata
Chrysler sales robust in Q1, especially in California
Nissan Altima redesign influenced by Hyundai Sonata

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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #280 LIVE originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Twin-engined, sixteen-cylinder Mazda MX-5 Miata, anyone?

Noah Joseph — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:59:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Videos, Mazda, Specialty

As far as two-seaters go, they don't get much farther apart than the Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 and the Mazda MX-5 Miata. The Mazda is as cheap as the Bugatti is expensive, and the Veyron has as many turbochargers - and digits in its output figures - as the Miata has cylinders. But this homegrown example aims to bridge the gap.

Someone, it seems, has stretched out their Miata's wheelbase and fitted a pair of eight-cylinder engines (which is essentially what powers the Bugatti) under the extended hood - or where the hood used to be, anyway. The result, as you can see from the brief clip after the jump, is rather rumblesome. Here's hoping the next vid has a bit more action...

Continue reading Twin-engined, sixteen-cylinder Mazda MX-5 Miata, anyone?

Twin-engined, sixteen-cylinder Mazda MX-5 Miata, anyone? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda MX-5 Miata Spyder and Super 20 Concepts land in Las Vegas

Zach Bowman — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Motorsports, SEMA Show, Convertible, Performance, Mazda, Design/Style

Mazda has given SEMA goers something to get excited about with a pair of MX-5 Miata concepts. The MX-5 Miata Spyder Concept has done away with the standard car's folding soft top or retractable hard top mechanism in favor of a lightweight grenadine-red canvas covering à la Porsche's Boxster Spyder. The look lends the already lithe roadster an even more svelte appearance, and the Spyder's 17-inch Advan alloys and Mazdaspeed coilovers ensure that the driver should have plenty of fun when the road turns twisty. Mazda has also rolled in quite a few excellent details, including etched brushed stainless Spyder badging on the front fenders and a clean MX-5 Spyder logo on the passenger-side dash.

While the 2.0-liter MZR four-cylinder underhood looks familiar, Mazda says the MX-5 Spyder runs on isobutanol, the same biofuel that powers in Mazda's/Dyson Racing ALMS car. To further the company's "Sustainable Zoom-Zoom" effort, the Spyder also has a lightweight lithium ion battery, among other changes.

Does the Spyder have a chance at production? Well, probably not the isobutanol powertrain, but a lighter model with a similar top configuration might have a shot. As Mazda's design director, Derek Jenkins, notes "...because the stock models are extraordinarily versatile, who's to say some elements of these SEMA concepts can't be ready for public consumption?" Sign us up.

The MX-5 Super 20 - which debuted last year - brings more of a motorsports flavor to the convertible. A fixed hardtop has replaced the standard folding mechanism and the interior has been stripped bare in favor of a full roll cage. Additional power comes courtesy of a DPTUNE ECU reflash, a 304-stainless steel header and exhaust. Racing Beat hollow front and rear sway bars, Mazdaspeed coilovers and a Mazdaspeed shock tower brace help lend sharper handling, too.

Continue reading Mazda MX-5 Miata Spyder and Super 20 Concepts land in Las Vegas

Mazda MX-5 Miata Spyder and Super 20 Concepts land in Las Vegas originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda MX-5 Miata gets Black Tuned for Japan

Zach Bowman — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Budget, Performance, Japan, Mazda, Design/Style

Even the plucky Mazda MX-5 isn't safe from the temptation of a black edition. Mazda has just rolled out a Black Tuned Roadster in Japan, complete with a little more style than your run-of-the-mill convertible. The package is largely aesthetic thanks to the addition of a Brilliant Black retractable hard top roof and door mirrors as well as Gun Metallic 17-inch alloy wheels. Inside, both the seats and the steering wheel are covered in black leather with sand-colored contrasting stitching. Mazda is only offering the Black Tuned Roadster in three colors; Spirited Green Metallic, Velocity Red Mica and Crystal White Pearl Mica. But not... ummm... black.

As befitting a retractable hard top model, the Black Tuned Roadster comes as loaded as they get with standard gear like a Bose sound system and heated front buckets. Mazda isn't saying how many of the models it plans to build, but we do know that base models come with a six-speed manual transmission while a six-speed automatic is also available. Japanese buyers can expect to shell out ¥2,904,762 for the machine (around $37,896 at current conversion rates). Hit the jump for the press release.

Continue reading Mazda MX-5 Miata gets Black Tuned for Japan

Mazda MX-5 Miata gets Black Tuned for Japan originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How to lose the 2011 Targa Newfoundland in one easy step [w/video]

Zach Bowman — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Convertible, Mazda, Canada, Racing

Mid-stage is no time to let your driver know his navigator has no damn clue what's going on.

My helmet has just been crammed into the cross ribs of the roof of our Miata for the third time in less than a kilometer, driving a guttural "OOMPH" from my lungs mid-sentence at the same time. I regain my breath, look from the route book to the kitchen timer that's Velcroed to the rally computer on the dash, and start counting out the seconds on my fingers. My tiny brain is already too overloaded for simple math, and I've reduced myself to elementary school tricks for quick calculations. It's the fifth stage of the fourth day, and the verdict isn't good; we're a far cry from our target time.

"We are 17 seconds slow," I say into the mic, doing my best to stifle any tones of urgency.

"Seventeen seconds? Are you sure?"

The short answer is that no, I'm not sure. For the first time in a full week's worth of time-speed-distance rallying, our time intervals are making no damn sense. We'll pass one and be 25 seconds down only to pass the next and be within five seconds of our target. I'm all kinds of crossed up, but mid-stage is no time to let your driver know his navigator has no damn clue what's going on.

"I'm sure. Beat on this thing."

Always project confidence.

Continue reading How to lose the 2011 Targa Newfoundland in one easy step [w/video]

How to lose the 2011 Targa Newfoundland in one easy step [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flyin' Miata at Targa Newfoundland, Part 5: Stay on target

Zach Bowman — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Convertible, Budget, Performance, Mazda, Canada

It's a good day to be in the Flyin' Miata camp. As of the conclusion of Day 3 of competition, both the Targa Miata and the Supercharged 2006 MX-5 hold the top position in their respective classes. While Keith and Janel Tanner have managed to sling their 430-horsepower machine through Wednesday's nine stages to take the top slot, Brandon Fitch and I overcame a few small obstacles to zero all of our times through the day. Despite my fat-fingering the egg-timers ahead of the incredibly technical Greenspond stage, we came in just two-seconds outside of dead zero and well within our plus or minus nine-second window.

I also received a front-row showing of Fitch's driving prowess after the car stalled at the start of the third-to-last stage. In a desperate push to make up lost time, the Flyin' Miata engineer pushed the 240-horse Miata to 128 kph through a series of undulating turns. That figure is just two kph shy of our maximum allowable speed. Crossing that barrier brings all sorts of unsavory penalties.

Thursday will bring forth a whole new set of challenges as our window narrows to plus or minus five seconds. While we used today to train ourselves to arrive at the flying finish well within our final day tolerances, fatigue is beginning to set in on both Brandon and I, greatly increasing the chance of a careless error that could cost us our lead. Regardless of how we wrap up on Friday, the fact that we can say that we tied for first across the first three days of the 2011 Targa Newfoundland is a story I'll be blathering at cocktail parties for years.

Flyin' Miata at Targa Newfoundland, Part 5: Stay on target originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flyin' Miata at Targa Newfoundland, Part 4: Off to Gander

Zach Bowman — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 10:33:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Convertible, Budget, Performance, Mazda, Canada

While I thought that I grasped just how unique and amazing the Targa Newfoundland is in the world of motorsports, the breadth of this event's character didn't hit home until I got here. We spent the majority of yesterday's morning and afternoon tackling stages in and around Gander, a small town about 206 miles north of St. John's. Despite my completely misinterpreting the route book on stage one and a near miss with an time control, we managed to zero every stage and avoid any penalties, but the two final stages of the day presented a challenge that we weren't exactly prepared for.

Though the stages we had covered so far had given me gracious periods of three, four and even five kilometers during which I could insert my own time and distance way points to keep the 2006 Flyin' Miata Mazda MX-5 on course and on time, the last two did not. Both stages took place on the same seven kilometer course that wound through a dense subdivision. That's right, kids. We would be attempting to carry a 57.5 kph (35.7 mph) average through a series of 29 90-degree turns. I would have no more than 300 meters at most to alert Brandon Fitch, my valiant driver, of the direction of and distance to the next turn as well as monitor our time as we passed each instruction.

I'll be honest; I didn't have much hope for our chances.

We lined up, the lights went hot and in a second, we were blurring through the subdivision. With Fitch's help, I was able to glean enough time to glance at our egg timers and equate the figures with our actual distance. We were going to nail it.

We zeroed Gander on the first run and managed a repeat performance for the second pass. As Fitch put it, "This is the most awesome thing. Ever. In the history of the world."

I'm inclined to agree. Our efforts today managed to place us in first for the second day in a row, but with days of 12-hour driving and calculating quickly stacking up, our chances for careless errors are increasing drastically. Stay tuned for more updates and keep an eye on the 2011 Targa Newfoundland site for our times.

Flyin' Miata at Targa Newfoundland, Part 4: Off to Gander originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flyin' Miata at Targa Newfoundland, Part 3: Welcome to the jungle

Zach Bowman — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Convertible, Performance, Mazda, Canada

The 2011 Targa Newfoundland is officially underway after three prologue stages on Sunday. As our first real taste of targa competition, the day was instrumental in alerting Brandon Fitch, driver of the number 1680 Flyin' Miata Supercharged Mazda Miata, and myself to the fact that we had no holy clue as to what we were doing.

As a co-driver in the Grand Touring class, it's my job to make sure that we arrive at the flying finish line as close to our target time as humanly possible. Early in the event, we get to enjoy nice, wide 30-second time windows. Later in the week, that gap will narrow to a slender six seconds. During the prologue, we either under- or over-shot our times by as much as 30 additional seconds outside of our window.

Mercy.

What was the problem, you ask? Our rally computer, the infamous Terratrip, seems to have been designed specifically to confound and infuriate. With Brandon doing his best to keep us shiny side up during a stage, I'm trying to call out the distances to the next instruction in descending intervals of 100 meters, the instructions themselves, monitor our time as we arrive at the instruction and hopefully keep an eye on our average speed to tell us whether or not we were close to hitting our time. It didn't work that way.

For starters, the Terratrip seems to have a preference for calculating average speed not from the time that the vehicle begins moving, but from the instant that you turn the machine on. Not helpful. If I cleared the screens in preparation for our start time, the computer began factoring two minutes of zeros into our average speed, rendering a completely useless number.

Keep reading to see how it turned out...

Continue reading Flyin' Miata at Targa Newfoundland, Part 3: Welcome to the jungle

Flyin' Miata at Targa Newfoundland, Part 3: Welcome to the jungle originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buy a turbo for your Miata, get a free... goat?!

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 09:56:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertible, Performance, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Mazda

Bill and Teri Cardell are the husband and wife team behind Flyin' Miata. That name should be instantly familiar to fans of the Mazda MX-5 Miata and Autoblog.com alike. Flyin' Miata is the go-to source for go-fast parts for the Miata community. Bill is also the driver for a Targa Newfoundland Miata that will be co-driven by our very own Zach Bowman. Before Cardell lines up to the Targa start line, however, he has a special offer he's extending to those looking for forced induction... and it involves goats.

For every order of the Flyin' Miata FMII turbo kit, Bill and Terri Cardell will buy a goat through Heifer International. What does that mean exactly? Heifer International provides animals, seeds and training to those living in particularly needy areas of the world. Rather than simply supplying them with food, Heifer provides them with the knowledge and tools to create their own food. The goats can provide milk, fertilizer and even more goats.

It's a rather unique promotion, but any Miata owner who takes them up on the deal should wind up with a faster car while someone in another part of the world will get some much-needed help. Click past the jump for the full press release and more details.

Continue reading Buy a turbo for your Miata, get a free... goat?!

Buy a turbo for your Miata, get a free... goat?! originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda UK's Black edition MX-5 and Mazda2 can be had in any color... as long as it's not black?

Noah Joseph — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Hatchback, Mazda, UK

You'd expect a car labeled Black Edition to actually be, you know...black. Whether it's a Porsche, a Hummer or a Unimog. But then again Mercedes-AMG's top line of performance models are called the Black Series, and you can get those in any color you want. So maybe it's a page out of that playbook that Mazda has taken with its latest special edition.

Mazda's latest specials are available exclusively in the UK, and celebrate the success of the MX-5 GT race car. It's available on both the MX-5 Miata hardtop roadster and the Mazda2 five-door hatch, and while either can be ordered in green, red or white, it's the black trim on everything from the roof to the wheels that sets them apart and gives them their name.

Only 500 examples of the MX-5 Sport Black shown above will be offered, while the Mazda2 Black will give birth to 618 offspring, each packing all the bells and whistles to go along with the darkened trim. Details in the press release after the jump, with images in the high-res gallery.

Continue reading Mazda UK's Black edition MX-5 and Mazda2 can be had in any color... as long as it's not black?

Mazda UK's Black edition MX-5 and Mazda2 can be had in any color... as long as it's not black? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog to compete in Targa Newfoundland with Flyin' Miata

Zach Bowman — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Convertible, Performance, Mazda, Canada, Racing

No matter what part of the world you hail from, there's really nothing quite like the Targa Newfoundland. Held on a beautiful island off the Eastern coast of Canada, the course is over 1,350 miles long and winds through small towns, open spaces and deep forests for some of the most challenging and varied stages of any competition on the continent. As a result, competitors come wielding sheetmetal from every conceivable corner of the globe and era of automotive history. It's a buffet of horsepower at wide-open throttle, and this year, we'll be in the hunt ourselves.

The good people at Flyin' Miata have been so kind as to offer us a much-coveted co-driver seat in their supercharged 2006 MX-5. Nancy, as our valiant stallion is affectionately known due to her NC chassis, started life as an abused orphan of the Mazda press car fleet. After a little massaging by the Flyin' Miata crew, the car now rocks a 2009 front fascia, the company's proprietary supercharger kit, springs and sway bars as well as a set of Tokico Shocks. All told, the car produces somewhere around 240 horsepower, which should be enough to help us keep up with the rest of the Grand Touring Class.

Yours Truly will doing his level best to keep from confounding Bill Cardell as he whips Nancy across the Canadian landscape. Those familiar with the Miata scene know Cardell as the founder and owner of Flyin' Miata, so if anyone knows how to properly cane an MX-5, it's this guy. I'm honored to have the chance to share the cockpit with him.

This year, Flyin' Miata is actually campaigning two vehicles. While Cardell, myself and Nancy are set to go the distance in the Grand Touring category, Keith and Janel Tanner are also taking to the Targa. The husband-and-wife team will once again helm the same 1994 MX-5 Miata that they drove in the 2008 Targa Newfoundland, with one big change. This year, the car rocks a General Motors L33 V8 conversion that cranks out 400 horsepower to the rear wheels thanks to a set of LS6 heads and a trick cam. All of that power is funneled through a T56 six-speed transmission and a Getrag differential with a clutch-pack limited slip. Needless to say, the Tanners will be taking on the Open Class to do battle with the quickest metal of the event.

Interestingly enough, Flyin' Miata wouldn't have been able to head to the 2011 Targa Newfoundland at all without the help of the company's fans and supporters. The team tried to seduce large sponsors to help fund the trip to Canada before turning to the Miata nation for help. To date, they've raised over $14,500 to help put the cars on the first stage. It's a testament to just how faithful Miata owners can be.

Given that my navigation experience is limited plotting the quickest path to the Dippin Dots stand at the local amusement park, I've got some serious work to do before the race gets started on September 10. Stay tuned for updates on my Targa education.

Autoblog to compete in Targa Newfoundland with Flyin' Miata originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda targeting 1,760-pound target for next Miata - 400 pounds lighter than first-gen

Zach Bowman — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Mazda, Rumormill

2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata - Click above for high-res image gallery

The future is looking bright for the next-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata. According to Inside Line, the head honchos at the Japanese automaker have instructed the company's engineers to strip a whopping 720 pounds from the vehicles already comparably light 2,480-pound curb weight. If successful, that would put the new comer into the feathery 1,760-pound range, which is 400 pounds less than the first-generation roadster. How do they plan to do it? Engineers are turning to high-strength steel for the vehicle's chassis and contemplating a smaller-displacement engine.

A turbocharged, direct-injection 1.4-liter four pot could work its way under the hood, though IL reports that the vehicle may also be considerably narrower than the current car. Other clever weight-saving moves include the deletion of the dashboard glove box and the replacement of the traditional paper owner's manual with an electronic copy on a USB stick.

Here's hoping you've got your laptop on you the next time you need to check your service intervals.

The report claims that the engineers at Mazda aren't entirely sure they can hit the weight target, but the vehicle will be much closer to the waif-like 2,178-lb 1989 Miata than the heftier 2011 model.

Mazda targeting 1,760-pound target for next Miata - 400 pounds lighter than first-gen originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Mazda takes the MX-5 to the ice

Zach Bowman — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Convertible, Europe, Videos, Mazda, Racing

Mazda MX-5 ice racing - Click above to watch video after the jump

Bentley isn't the only company that's been busy on the ice lately. Mazda just wrapped up a four-hour race in Åre, Sweden, that brought 20 MX-5 roadsters out on the open ice for a little fender-to-fender action.

Teams faced temperatures that dipped as low as -24 degrees Fahrenheit and stiff competition from racers from around the world. Spiked tires were standard equipment for all of the vehicles, though it's worth noting that the talent behind the wheel wasn't professional by any stretch of the imagination. Mazda invited fans and automotive journalists from a total of 26 countries to participate in the event.

While early on it looked as if a team from Australia would take home the checkered flag, a late-race spin allowed a Russian team to pull ahead and complete the most laps around the three-mile circuit within the four-hour time frame. Hit the jump to check out video from the event as well as the full press blast.

Gallery: Mazda MX-5 Ice Racing

[Source: Mazda]

Continue reading Video: Mazda takes the MX-5 to the ice

Video: Mazda takes the MX-5 to the ice originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda MX-5 Miata hits 900K... next stop, one million

Zach Bowman — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Etc., Plants/Manufacturing, Mazda

20th Anniversary Mazda MX-5 Miata special edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

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. Thanks for the tip, The Typical Guy!

Gallery: Geneva 2010: Mazda MX-5 20th Anniversary

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Mazda]

Continue reading Mazda MX-5 Miata hits 900K... next stop, one million

Mazda MX-5 Miata hits 900K... next stop, one million originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Get a high-res look at the other stars of the Top Gear holiday special

Jeff Glucker — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 15:56:00 EST

Filed under: Humor

Top Gear spends Christmas in the Middle East - Click above to view high-res image gallery

The three wise~~-asses~~-men of Top Gear were handed a new challenge for their 2010 holiday special: Travel 1,200 miles west to Bethlehem, driving through northern Iraq, Syria and a few other Middle Eastern countries and deliver gold, frankincense and myrrh to a newborn in a manger. Easy enough, right? But what vehicles to take?

The producers required each host to pic a compact convertible, so Clarkson went with the reasonable choice - a Mazda MX-5 Miata - featuring his "car of many colors" paint scheme. Just like Joseph. Hammond goes with a Fiat Barchetta fitted with a Bedouin tent while James May decides to go with something German and outfits a BMW Z3 for desert duty.

Their journey was filled with the typical Top Gear-tomfoolery including James May knocking himself unconscious. The entire escapade can be viewed online... for now, but in the meantime, check out all three vehicles in the gallery below.

Gallery: Top Gear 2010 Christmas Special

[Source: Top Gear]

Continue reading Get a high-res look at the other stars of the Top Gear holiday special

Get a high-res look at the other stars of the Top Gear holiday special originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 15:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Limited-edition Japanese postage stamp set honors iconic Mazda vehicles

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 13:33:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Japan, Mazda

Mazda has produced some iconic sports cars throughout its history, and now those vehicles have been immortalized in stamp form. Released as a limited-edition on November 1st, the Japan Post Network Chugoke Regional Office has created a 12-stamp set officially titled History of Mazda Motor Corporation Hiroshima.

The stamp set is limited to just 3,000 units and each one comes with a 1:64 scale model of a white Mazda Cosmo Sport 110S. Images on the stamps range from the past icons such as the 1950 Mazda-Go three-wheeled truck and aforementioned Cosmo to modern ones like the MX-5 and Mazda5. It's not just cars though, as one of the stamps features an image of Mazda's infamous rotary engine.

Unfortunately, those of us outside of Japan will not be able to purchase this stamp collection, as Mazda is only offering it in its home market. The price is 2,800 Yen per set, which is about $35 USD based on current exchange rates. The stamps are shown in the image to the right, which you can expand by clicking on it, and Mazda's official press release is available after the jump.

[Source: Mazda]

Continue reading Limited-edition Japanese postage stamp set honors iconic Mazda vehicles

Limited-edition Japanese postage stamp set honors iconic Mazda vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2010: Mazda Miata Super20 makes two decades even more worth it

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: SEMA Show, Convertible, Mazda

Mazda MX-5 Miata Super20 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Both the UK and Europe got 20th anniversary edition Mazda MX-5s earlier this year, and we now have our own version... in concept form. Speaking to the same color and materials designer who gave us the skinny on the hip and evil Mazda2s, we were told that the brief with this one was to make the Miata a little tougher without going too hardcore. A hard top goes in the place of the canvas roof and the form is draped in dark gray speckled with gold metallic. The orange accents in the darker stripes are tuned to that metallic hue, and they are matched by the orange roll cage and orange contrast stitching inside. Other notable details are the suede inserts on the interior, the first-gen door handles, the reworked grille area sans Mazda's smiley face and a badge-less nose.

Under the hood is a reflashed ECU controlling a supercharged Cosworth motor, an ACT clutch, Mazdaspeed coilovers and shock tower brace, and Racing Beat hollow anti-roll bars. StopTech and SpeedSource throw in braking hardware behind 16-inch Enkei wheels on fat rubber. As for the chances of us anything like it in real life, you've heard this one before: "There are discussions..." Spy it yourself in the gallery of high-res photos below.

Gallery: SEMA 2010: Mazda Miata Super20 and MX-5 Cup Car

SEMA 2010: Mazda Miata Super20 makes two decades even more worth it originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2010: Mazda brings some serious Zoom-Zoom to Las Vegas

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 19:02:00 EST

Filed under: SEMA Show, Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Mazda

Mazda showcases track-ready sports cars at SEMA - Click above for high-res image gallery

Mazda builds plenty of sporty cars that incorporate a fun-to-drive feeling, but calling something a sports car does not automatically equate to a vehicle that is ready for the track. For the 2010 SEMA show, Mazda tweaked a handful of cars to show us just how quickly fun can turn into ferocious.

Looking into its stable, Mazda reached in and pulled out a few Mazda2s, a couple of MX-5s, a pair of Mazda3s and an RX-8, then turned them over to its North American design director, Derek Jenkins.

"The versatility of Mazda vehicles is extraordinary. With just minor modifications to a stock Mazda, it can be ready for the track or a car show. Our SEMA cars demonstrate this ability; taking a vehicle from the dealership and making it a truly unique piece."

The subcompact Mazda2 was given two personalities for the show: a track-ready, lightweight racer and a sporty street car. The track version is called the Mazda2 Evil Track while the other is simply called the Mazda2 Street. Both are great examples of how relatively underpowered cars can still be a total hoot to drive.

Mazda's iconic roadster also arrives in two souped up versions. The MX-5 Super20 celebrates the 20th anniversary of the droptop sports car. Under the hood lies a supercharged Cosworth engine and the paint scheme is black on gray, both of which give this MX-5 a substantially meaner aura. The other Miata at SEMA is the MX-5 Cup Car, which is a full-on spec racer outfitted with a plethora of racing equipment.

Turning its attention to a four-door, Mazda has brought a turbocharged Mazda3 and the Mazda3 Red Line Time Attack car. Both feature a similar paint scheme, but the turbo Mazda3 is a modified street car while the Red Line Time Attack vehicle runs in the Super Modified class of its series and is capable of hitting 180 miles per hour on a long straight. That's awfully quick for a C-segment vehicle.

Mazda has also brought an RX-8 along to serve as a well-deserved pat on the back. The Grand-Am GT Mazda RX-8 just completed its 2010 season and utterly dominated the competition. Of the 12 races run, the RX-8 won six of them. More information on each vehicle is available in the full press-release waiting after the jump.

Gallery: Mazda at SEMA 2010

[Source: Mazda]

Continue reading SEMA 2010: Mazda brings some serious Zoom-Zoom to Las Vegas

SEMA 2010: Mazda brings some serious Zoom-Zoom to Las Vegas originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: More details about Mazda's next MX-5

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 13:42:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Mazda, Rumormill

2009 Mazda MX-5 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Mazda is hard at work on the next-generation MX-5. We know the automaker has set a target weight of 2,200 pounds for the forthcoming roadster, and it plans to keep weight distribution at the magic 50/50 figure. A new report from Autocar, however, reveals a bit more information about what's in store for the new MX-5.

Mazda showed off a concept vehicle back in 2003, called the Ibuki, that previewed the styling of the current generation car and many believed that was all it revealed. However, the Ibuki concept featured a twin-backbone frame that can be found in the current Mazda RX-8. This layout allows for vital components, such as the powertrain, gas tank and exhaust system, to be placed between the front and rear axle. The twin-backbone setup also enables the automaker to produce an open-top car with the rigidity of a fixed-roof vehicle. If the next-generation MX-5 receives these updates, it will allow Mazda to take its iconic two-seater to new heights.

Takao Kajima, who was in charge of the suspension on the first generation car and then promoted to program manager for the second, says:

"The MX-5 must always be lightweight sports. The car has got bigger and heavier over the past decade, but it's now time to reverse the process and get back to basics."

Those words are pure symphony to the ears of Miata owners around the world. As for what Mazda is planning for the next-gen MX-5, consider us on the edge of our seat.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Rumormill: More details about Mazda's next MX-5 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 13:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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