Mazda Mazda3

Potentially 187,798 are affected.

They're not far from the more powerful U.S. version we expect.

Cost is the main factor, but that might be a good thing for enthusiasts.

The life of the compact sedan party.

It's a price increase of about $3,000

Concept looks, five Skyactiv engines, all-wheel drive highlight compact package.

Mazda will also show the Japanese-market CX-8 and a special-edition MX-5.

Mazda is not trying to hide what it's testing.

Mazda updated the Mazda3 with the automaker's G-Vectoring Control, which will go on sale today in Japan and make its way to the US later this year.

The improved performance is invisible, and that's the point.

Mazda will focus its engineering resources on the next generation of Skyactiv engines rather than on building new Mazdaspeed versions of the 3 or 6. Those carswill arrive eventually, though.

It's an over-played trope that senior citizens are bad with technology. Its regular use as a comedic device, though, overshadows a more dire circumstance that comes when elderly citizens are paired with gizmos and gadgets they don't fully understand.

We may only be a third of the way through 2014, but for Japanese companies, March 31 marked the end of fiscal 2014, and it was a banner financial year for Mazda's global operations. The Japanese independent saw its highest global operating profits in its nearly 100-year history. Its global operating profits were up a huge 238 percent. Yes, a 238 percent increase over 2012 to 1.36 billion euros ($1.88 billion), eclipsing the brand's previous best year, 2008, by 12 percent. Net earnings,

UPDATE: Mazda USA spokesperson Beverly Braga confirmed that this is a voluntary recall, and that the issue entails, "the control program that is designed to protect the capacitor [is] reacting hyper sensitively when the alternator belt gets wet and slippage occurs." There are no physlical issues with the components of the i-ELOOP, like the capacitor or DC/DC converter.

What do the Dodge Dart, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Mazda3, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Jetta all have in common? Well, actually, lots. They are a

To say that the Mazda3 is a vital product for Mazda would be one heck of an understatement. In fact, the model line accounts for about 30 percent of the manufacturer's sales. Fortunately for Mazda, they're selling well.

Consumer

Almost by definition, affordable compact cars aren't supposed to be fun. Sure, hot hatches get our blood pumping, but not long ago, the terms "compact car" and "economy car" could safely be used interchangeably. A key exception for the last decade has been the Mazda3, a car that has consistently delivered more dynamic thrills and tactile feedback than its contemporaries. Competitors have picked up their game significantly in recent years, howe