Autoblog

Amazing how $4-per-gallon gas can make us sit up and notice formerly innocuous economy cars. In all fairness, cars like the Mazda2 have always shown brightly on our radar. Sporty and stylish with a bargain-basement price tag and a fuel-sipping demeanor that will keep more of those dead presidents in our pockets, it sounds like a perfect fit. When you add in the Zoom-Zoom nature of your typical Mazda, the fun factor just shoots up to 11. We've already discussed this car a bit here at AB, and have even shown you 3- and 5-door hatches we've seen in the metal, but now we are starting to get more glimpses of the sedan version undergoing desert testing. Pictures like these from Fastlane Daily give us hope that this fun little car might finally be greenlighted for sales Stateside. The car might end up being identical to the sedan we saw in China, but all of that camo makes it hard to say for certain. Whatever we end up getting, it will probably be another fun option at the low end of the car market.

Catch the latest version of FLD, co-starring the BMW X1, Nissan GT-R and Cadillac CTS wagon, after the jump.

Click above for high-res gallery of the Mazda2 in the wild

Although we've seen the Mazda2 before in 3- and 5-door configurations overseas, the presence of it at a local car meet in Southern California had us once again speculating about its sales potential in the States. The fact that the meet was held at Mazda's SoCal HQ means that the car could simply be undergoing evaluation, but judging by the reaction of the crowd, we think this has better sales potential than the 2009 Focus that was parked at the other end of the lot. While the exterior looked pretty spiffy, the interior looked cavernous. Smart design, and a worthy competitor for the Yaris, Versa and Fit. While we've heard that Ford's version of this car, the Fiesta, will make it to our shores eventually, we still don't know for sure about this lovely little Mazda. Mazda keeps waffling. We'll keep our fingers crossed, especially knowing there's that Mazdaspeed2 in the mix, at least overseas. But that's where all of the magic seems to start nowadays so there is hope.

Click either image for a high-res rendering of each model from AutoExpress.

The Mazda Performance Series, or MPS, is what we've come to know in the U.S. as "Mazdaspeed." It's quickly becoming one of the defining characteristics of modern-day Mazdas, and with the releases of the new Mazda6 and its baby brother, the Mazda2, we've been anxiously awaiting Mazdaspeed's tweaked versions of both vehicles.

In addition to getting the scoop on the new Evo MR and STI Spec C, AutoExpress has got the goods on Mazda's two new hot offerings. A concept version of the Mazda6 MPS will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October, complete with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four, sending 280 hp to all four wheels, and sprinting to 60 in six seconds. Naturally, the Mazda6 MPS (or Mazdaspeed6 when it makes the trek to U.S. shores) will be sporting an aggressive front clip, spoiler, side skirts, bigger wheels, a stiffer suspension and upgraded brakes when it goes on sale in 2010.

Less information is available about the Mazda2 MPS, but expect a turbo'd 1.5-liter mill sending around 170 hp to the front wheels, a sport-tuned suspension and some exterior and interior tweaks to bring it up to Mazda Performance standards. If and when the Mazda2 makes it to the States, we'd expect the Mazdaspeed2 version to follow shortly thereafter.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Click above to view the Mazda2 sedan in hi-res

There are certain things we may never understand about Eastern cultures. Somewhere down on the list comes the notion that compact hatchbacks look better with diminutive trunks. Take for example this Mazda2 sedan, which the Japanese automaker has prepared especially for the Chinese market. The sedan was unveiled at the Guangzhou Auto Show, and joined the hatchback variant in China this month with prices equivalent to $12,400 for the base 86-hp 1.3 to $16,500 for the fully-loaded 104-hp 1.5.

Like the ironically-named Swift DZire launched by Maruti Suzuki in India, the four-door variant of the Mazda2, albeit considerably less gut-wrenching than the Suzuki, still leaves us scratching our heads. But apparently the Chinese market demands it. Take note, Ford: we don't. So please, if and when you decide to bring us the Mazda2, which has been such a huge success overseas, keep the trunk and give us the hatch. (Come to think of it, same goes for the Fiesta.)

[Source: Winding Road]

The fireworks are cold, the confetti cartridges are spent, and the 2008 World Car of the Year Awards have come to an end. Based on standards of merit, value, safety, environmental responsibility, significance, and emotional appeal, the three finalists were the Volvo Ford Mondeo, Mazda2/Demio and Mercedes C-Class. Don't read any further if, for some reason, you don't want to know what the 2008 World Car of the Year is and you haven't seen the photo above: the Mazda 2/Demio. What we earlier called the squat hatch with the aggressive wedge shape and swooping beltline showed its well-proportioned rump (also our term, and Mazda, feel free to quote us) to worthy competition.

In the other categories, the BMW 118d with Efficient Dynamics took home the World Green Car of the Year Award. In what should have been a surprise to no one, the Audi R8 walked off with trophies from both categories in which it was entered: World Performance Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year. Having taken the awards in both categories last year as well (with the RS4 and TT), Audi knowS how to get the judges on its side. Now if it can get one million buyers on its side this year, that will really be a trophy it can brag about.

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Mazda2 three-door.

After serenading us with the indie sounds of an obscure band from Europe, Mazda pulled the covers off the new Mazda2 three-door, the next obvious evolution of Mazda's compact offerings. What the squat hatch lacks in presence it makes up for with an aggressive wedge shape, a swooping beltline and a well-proportion rump. While Mazda hyped some of the sporting pretenses of the 'lil hatch, the automaker also focused on it low coefficient of drag (0.31) and it's minuscule emissions. Power is provided by either a MZR 1.3-liter four-cylinder producing 75 hp, the "High-Power" version that shovels out 86 hp or the 1.5-liter four which makes 103 hp. All models are sold with a five-speed manual transmission, including the 1.4-liter MZ-CD diesel.

All the details are available in the press release after the jump and check the gallery below for a host of live and press shots of the Mazda2 three-door.

Click above for more high-res shots of the Mazda2 sedan

As Mazda watches the North American auto market become more like the European market, we just may see the Mazda2 itself on our shores, in addition to the Ford Fiesta. And there is a good chance it may arrive with a diesel powerplant. These revelations spilled from the mouth of Jim O'Sullivan, president of Mazda North American, while sharing sandwiches with reporters over lunch in Detroit.

The Mazda2 four-door, introduced in Geneva last year, has been a hot seller overseas. The three-door Mazda2, set to debut at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show tomorrow, is expected to be just as well received. O'Sullivan rightfully pointed out that the passenger car market in the United States is showing signs of evolving. Smaller cars are becoming more widespread and accepted (witness the 20,000 pre-orders for the Smart fortwo), and the compact Mazda3 has historically sold very well. While we welcome a Mazda2 in gas or diesel trim, bring us a Mazdaspeed2 like this, and if it is anything like the Mazdaspeed3, we'll be first in line.

[Source: The Car Connection]

Click image for a high-res gallery of the Mazda2 Extreme

On display at Mazda's booth in Melbourne is this pint-sized mudslinger-in-progress dubbed the Mazda2 Extreme. The show car began its life as a regular Mazda2 5-door, but has since been gutted, caged, and fitted with all the expected race equipment. Underhood, the engine mods should bump its output to around 120 hp when completed. Power will be sent to the front wheels via the stock transmission, and the racer's emissions exit a 3-inch exhaust. A tri-tone livery, roof vent, rally wheel-and-tire package, and a substantial set of off-road lights punch up the car's visual impact. Like last year's Mazda3 MPS Extreme, the Mazda2 Extreme's suspension has been tuned by Murray Coote. Put it all together, and you have a tidy little package that you want to strap yourself into for a run through some forest stage. For added realism, have a co-driver bark directions at you in Finnish.


[Source: Mazda]

Click image to enlarge

Add another ride to the list of cars we'd love to have, but can't. Mazda has confirmed that it will unveil the 3-door Mazda2 at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Dimensionally equal to the 5-door and offering the same selection of powertrains, the sporty Mazda2 3-door hatchback definitely takes the win over its sibling in the looks department and is sure to garner a following in Europe. More photos and info are likely to surface as we get closer to Geneva, but to tide us over, Mazda has released the rear three-quarter shot you see here. You can read the automaker's press release after the jump.

[Source: Mazda]

The CX-9 was Mazda's first vehicle designed specifically for US consumption, and one Motor Trend SUV of the year award later, Mazda may be on to something. Sales momentum has increased steadily for the seven-seat utility vehicle, with 3,000 units flying off dealer lots in October alone. Mazda's flexibility allowed the automaker to transform in 18 months a minivan that would likely retail for less than $30,000 into a hot CUV with a price tag reaching $40,000. The Hiroshima-based automaker will leverage those lightning-fast production capabilities and its Ford-shared global architecture bin to produce more vehicles for US tastes, and we're happy to hear it.

Since Mazda seems to have a handle on CUVs (it has four in the US already), we can only guess what exclusive product the development team in Irvine, CA will give us next. A zoom-zoom version of the Honda Ridgeline would be interesting, as would a US-unique Mazda2. We'd like to put in a vote for Mazda utilizing the RX-8 platform to create a sporty RWD sedan, but we're sure everyone the world over would want that.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]