We've seen it happen a million times: a small car is successful, then the automaker ruins it by making it larger and heavier to satisfy what it thinks the average buyer is after. Fortunately, that hasn't been the case with the Mazda MX-5, which – retractable hardtop option notwithstanding – the Japanese automaker has always been careful not to spoil the core elements of the MX-5. So we'll take reports that Mazda is preparing an even smaller MX-2 with a grain of salt. But a small one.

According to the speculation, a future MX-2 would come in noticeably smaller than the full-size Miata, and therefore require smaller engines. Something between 700cc and 1.6-liter engines are reportedly in store, with a turbo at the top end delivering 160 horsepower. No word on layout, but we'd grudgingly expect a front-drive set-up when the purported MX-2 is unveiled as early as 2012.

[Source: Auto Express]

As unrepressed, unapologetic propellerheads, anytime someone takes two of our favorite things – cars and gizmos – and hacks them together, we take note. So when SparkFun's Nate decided he finally needed to get rid of the last key in his pocket, he took it upon himself to create a DIY solution.

Using an iPod dongle, a Nike+ shoe sensor, an Arduino Pro Mini (an open-source circuit board/software combo for electronic tinkerers), and far too many hours in the basement, he was able to create a key fob (or iFob, as Nate calls it) to unlock the doors on his Mazda3. Reading over his tutorial, the process isn't too complex, but it's not for the faint of heart, either. The only thing left for Nate to do is nix the ignition key entirely, so the next step is to install a push-button starter.

[Source: SparkFun via Engadget]

Last October, it seems that Mazda quietly filed a patent for a twin-spark, direct injection version of the automaker's iconic rotary engine. It's taken this long for anyone to actually notice application 20090101103, which appears to have been approved just last month, but it's still an interesting development in the ongoing saga of pistonless engine.

First developed and patented by German engineer Felix Wankel way back in the early 1950s, the rotary engine has always been able to make lots of power relative to its small size, but it has also proven extremely difficult to keep emissions and fuel consumption at acceptable levels. Adding direct injection may be one effective way to manage the fuel consumption issue, and it's long been assumed Mazda would go this route on the next version of its Renesis rotary.

Further, it seems the automaker is working to slightly change the dimensions of the rotor housing (increased displacement?) and the distance between the twin spark plugs, which may have desirable effects on the engine's tailpipe emissions. It's certainly no sure-thing that this engine is going into production, but it shows the Japanese automaker is intent on improving its rotary technology. Click here to see the actual patent application, and check out all seventeen diagrams in our gallery below.



[Source: U.S. Patent & Trademark Office via SWDELAW]

Participation at last year's SEMA show was notable for its absences, with the event's organizers struggling at the last minute to fill vacated floor space with companies that would have normally been shunned to the outer regions of the Las Vegas Convention Center. As the economic melt-down continues, last year's trend has extended from parts suppliers and mom-and-pop operations to big-name automakers.

Last year, Nissan formally announced that it would only attend one show per continent during its fiscal year (April 1 through March 31) and since Nissan considers SEMA to be one of the "major" shows in North America, it won't be attending the 2009 aftermarket extravaganza. Nissan's Darryll Harrison told us that the automaker wouldn't be participating in any more U.S. expos this year, and with its fiscal year ending in March of 2010, don't expect Nissan to appear at another event in the States until late 2010 (read: LA Auto Show).

Mazda's participation at SEMA will be significantly reduced this November, with the automaker deciding to forgo formal Mazda or Mazdaspeed stands in favor of releasing a few vehicles to select aftermarket firms to trick-out and display at their own booths. Mazda's Director of Communications, Jeremy Barnes, justifies the scaling back of its trade-show presence by saying, "We have chosen to focus our funds where we can directly access consumers" and SEMA isn't it. Barnes went on to say that the new Mazda3 will be prominently featured at this year's event, with at least two models being built for show duty with the automaker's full cooperation, along with a few yet-to-be-disclosed projects.

General Motors and Ford are expected to attend, although the jury is still out on Chrysler, and Honda is currently evaluating their presence, although it may be reduced compared to previous years. No matter what automakers pull-out of this year's show, expect less products on tables, fewer vendors on the floor and even fewer attendees as the aftermarket continues to struggle to keep its head above water.

Mazda North America CEO Jim O'Sullivan couldn't have had a great year, considering the overall state of the U.S. auto industry. Given all the challenges, though, the Zoom Zoom automaker has fared very well. Mazda is one of the few companies that hasn't decreased research, development or design spending. The Japanese automaker has also replaced its entire lineup over the last 18 months, including its top-selling models, the Mazda6 and Mazda3.

Those accomplishments have conspired to give O'Sullivan a prestigious honor; Auto Executive of the Year. The award is voted on by a committee comprised of automotive industry media, industry analysts and automotive supplier CEOs. O'Sullivan, who has been CEO at Mazda North America since 2003, gives much of the credit to his co-workers at Mazda. Some past winners of the award include Carol Shelby, Jim Press, Bill Ford Jr., and Lee Iacocca. Hit the jump to view the Mazda press release.

[Source: Mazda USA]

The hotly-awaited Mazda3 is only now filtering into U.S. dealerships after hitting other markets, but there's already a snag – more than 25,000 units are being recalled.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the safety concern stems from a small tolerance issue: the clearance between the underside of the engine and the starter motor housing is apparently too narrow, which could result in a short circuit, leaving the car at risk of stalling and perhaps being unable to kick over again. As a result, NHTSA has issued a recall for the 25,400 new Mazda3s in the United States to have a simple clip installed and, if necessary, to have the problematic engine harness repaired.

Full details are available in the press release after the jump.


[Source: NHTSA - Office of Defects Investigation]

As late as last year, Mazda declared it wouldn't offer alternative powertrains in order to meet its goal of reducing the fuel economy of its vehicles by 30% by 2015. Now, Mazda CEO Takashi Yamanouchi has announced the automaker will begin offering both hybrids and electric vehicles in the future, but would only say that the vehicles would be in the Mazda line-up come 2015.

However, Mazda's goal of creating more fuel efficient vehicles won't stop at hybrids and EVs. According to Yamanouchi, "Our new gasoline engines will achieve the same fuel economy as current diesel engines, and our diesel engines will achieve similar fuel economy as existing hybrids." This new engine tech will be unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show this October.

Yamanouchi said that Mazda "will be able to offer affordable eco-friendly vehicles to 90 percent of the car-buying public, not to just a limited segment of the market." This line of eco models will feature reduced weight, improved aerodynamics, start-stop engine technology and lower rolling resistances. Mazda hasn't decided to begin offering a diesel engine in the States, but it could be in the cards, and Yamanouchi made it clear that the new engines and their corresponding technology wouldn't be shared with Ford, although Mazda is open to selling the technology to the Blue Oval.

[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]

Amidst a wave of reshuffles at several automakers' design departments recently (including Hyundai, Volvo, Ford and BMW), Laurens van den Acker's departure from Mazda earlier this month caught people by surprise. The talented Dutch designer, only 43, had steered Mazda's distinctive styling language for the past several years, after having designed for Ford in Dearborn, as well as Audi and a handful of independent design houses before that. The picture, so to speak, appears to be coming into focus now, however, as reports indicate that van den Acker will be taking over as head of design at Renault.

The French automaker's 64-year-old styling chief, Patrick le Quement, will be retiring from the post he's held for 22 years, from which he lead Renault's controversial design department to varied effect. Although many of his designs were successful, quirky products like Avantime and Vel Satis were dismal failures, while the pillbox-tailed Megane II was a source of controversy despite achieving market success. It'll be interesting to see the direction van den Acker takes Renault's design in over the course of his tenure. Follow the jump for the press release; thanks to Pete for the tip.

[Source: Renault]

Mazda's new CEO introduced the CX-9 and its raft of changes to a U.S. audience at the New York Auto Show today. The swoopy lines picked up from the Nagare are said to be "the embodiment of emotion." And that's right, if you get can worked up for the new 20-inch wheels, bigger side mirrors and "red garnish, which compliments the look of the front fascia." Inside there's new fabric, new stitched leather, piano black inserts and no shortage of chrome accents. Power to haul your loads remains at 273 hp and 250 lb-ft from the CUV's 3.7-liter V6. You can read about all it and more in the press release after the jump, and see it in the gallery of high-res photos below.



Photos Copyright ©2009 Jonathon Ramsey, Alex Núñez / Weblogs, Inc.