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Mazda is showcasing a host of customised vehicles at the upcoming edition of the annual Tokyo Auto Salon in January, and among these are two versions of the CX-5 crossover, which is set to be introduced in its domestic market next spring.

Both CX-5s are standard models, but one has been given a special edition tart-up job, combining a red exterior body colour with alloy wheels painted in matte-black and slightly lower body height, and will have the honour of leading the dress-up party for the show.

I just realised that we haven’t had a proper all round look at the new Mazda CX-5, which was unveiled in production form at Frankfurt in September, so here you go. This gallery shows Mazda’s smallest SUV inside and out, allowing us to view the new Kodo (Soul of Motion) design from all angles, as well as the sedate business-like cabin that hints at BMW.

The CX-5 has a relatively lengthy wheelbase of 2,700 mm, which is 30 mm longer than the Mitsubishi ASX’s. Mazda says that it has class-leading rear seat legroom of 997 mm, while there’s 500 litres of useable luggage space (including a sub trunk) maximised by removing protrusions. The “Karakuri” rear seats split fold 40:20:40 (which is very unique) and there’s a remote fold-down function.

We also see a 5.8-inch colour touch screen monitor on the dashboard, which contains Mazda’s new new HMI system and a navigation system based on the latest from TomTom. A Bose stereo is on the options list.

The CX-5 will come with Mazda’s revolutionary Skyactiv engines. The Skyactiv-G 2.0 petrol boasts the world highest compression ratio of 14.0:1, with its 4-2-1 exhaust system preventing knocking and providing good torque from low engine speeds. In the FWD model, the 2.0 makes 165 PS and 210 Nm, and in the AWD there’s 160 PS and 208 Nm. Mazda says that a 2.0 FWD model with 6-speed manual and i-stop will only drink 6.0 litres of fuel per 100 km combined.

There’s also a Skyactiv 2.2 diesel with the world’s lowest compression ratio for oil burners at 14.0:1 and a two-stage turbocharger. Mazda says that this high tech engine can clear Euro 6 emission standards without the need of any NOx after-treatment systems. Two variants are available, a High Power 175 PS/420 Nm version and the standard 150 PS/380 Nm unit. With a 6/MT with i-stop, this engine needs just 4.5 litres per 100 km combined.

Transmission wise, Mazda promises double-clutch performance for the auto and a “light and crisp shift feel known from the MX-5″ for the manual. Both are six speeders, which is enough, really.

The CX-5 looks good and sounds impressive, especially the Skyactiv bits. Like what you see?

Mazda has released the first images of its Takeri next-generation midsize sedan concept, which is set to make its global debut at the Tokyo Motor Show. The vehicle, which effectively showcases the design direction the new Mazda6 will take, will feature a full array of SkyActiv tech.

With lines based on the company’s new Kodo design language, the Takeri is said to express “an intuitive sedan identity” and contain “an overwhelming emotional beauty,” aside from of course also being the latest platform to highlight SkyActiv.

It will wear a 2.2 litre SkyActiv-D turbodiesel engine and feature an i-stop idling stop system and Mazda’s first regenerative braking system among its kitbag of tech. The company says that the concept will deliver a balance of vigorous performance and a supremely comfortable ride feel as that desired in a sedan. That’s all the flowery spiel for now; expect more details on the rakish car when Tokyo comes about.

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Mazda has introduced the Roadster BLACK TUNED, a special edition version of its iconic lightweight, two-seat, open-top sports car, for the Japanese market. The special edition Roadster (or the MX-5, if you will) is based on the premium ‘RS RHT’ and ‘VS RHT’ model grades, replete with a power retractable hard top, or the RHT, which gives the models their suffix.

The BLACK TUNED theme means that this one gets a Brilliant Black roof and door mirrors, black fog lamp bezels, body coloured door handles as well as gun metallic-finished 17-inch alloy wheels. Meanwhile, the interior gets the black treatment, with the decoration panel in piano black and the seats and steering wheel dressed in black leather, contrasted with sand-colored stitching.

No changes to the 2.0 litre twin cam mill, which drives both the RS RHT (six-speed manual) and the VS RHT (six-speed auto) in the BLACK TUNED operation, though two exclusive colours are available for the edition, these being Spirited Green Metallic and Velocity Red Mica, with the ever popular Crystal White Pearl Mica on the list as well.

The Mazda 2 will be locally assembled in Vietnam from October 2011 in a newly constructed assembly plant in the Nui Thanh district of the Quang Nam province, with sales of the locally assembled cars to begin in the same month.

The assembly plant where the Mazda 2 will be assembled is owned by Vina Mazda Automobile Manufacturing Co, a 100% Vietnamese owned assembly and sales company with no capital ties to Mazda. The plant plans to produce 2,000 units o the Mazda 2 per annum. Mazda plans to assemble other models at the plant in the future with a target total annual production of about 10,000 cars.

This will be the first Mazda to be locally assembled in Vietnam since Vina Mazda started officially distributing the marque in Vietnam in March 2011. As usual, the reason for local assembly is to avoid high import tariffs.

Mazda, the Zoom-Zoom brand famous for its rotary engined sports cars, has decided stop making the RX-8, the only rotary powered model in its current range.

Factors linked to the death of the RX-8 are falling sales and stringent global emissions standards, which are only going to get tougher. Production has already stopped in early July, and global sales will end later this year.

This comes after the Hiroshima based carmaker pulled out the RX-8 from Europe last year, as the high-revving 1.3-litre, twin-rotor rotary engined car failed to meet EU emissions standards. Without European volume, Mazda couldn’t justify selling the four-seat RX-8, a Mazda source was quoted as saying.

Sales has been diving – Mazda sold just 1,134 RX-8s last year, 49% less than in 2009. July 2011 year-to-date fugures dived a further 21%. The Japanese Yen’s rise vs the USD doesn’t help matters.

However, the RX-8′s demise may not be the death of the rotary engine. Sources say that Mazda engineers are still working on the next generation 1.6-litre rotary engine, code-named 16X. It will have lower emissions, better fuel economy, more power, and for the first time – direct-injection.

“The rotary is alive and well within Mazda. We are studying what’s the best way to come back to the market with the rotary,” said Jim O’Sullivan, CEO of Mazda North America.

However, with Mazda’s full focus now on its SkyActiv range of efficient tech, it remains to be seen when, if at all, rotary will be back. Farewell for now, and have a smooth spinning journey!

Rumour has it that the proponent of the Wankel rotary combustion engine, Mazda, may be planning to drop the tech it first adopted nearly five decades ago. The next-gen Renesis rotary has been in development since 2007, but economic hardship is ever slowly pushing the Japanese automaker towards ending things on that front.

According to reports, there’s a huge, ongoing discussion within the company on whether it should continue pursuing movement on the Wankel front. So says the automaker’s executive officer of product planning and powertrain development, Kiyoshi Fujiwara.

Fujiwara states that the development of the rotary has been halted at the moment, and not just because of technical issues – three major problems were identified with the current rotary engine generation, though two of these three blocks have been overcome. Seemingly, with the need to cut costs, Mazda leadership is cutting back on programs, and the one with the engine happens to be on the list.

The reports add that much of the rotary’s survivability will depend on how the company’s SkyActiv fuel-saving technologies take off. If they do, and brand sales pick up, then there’ll be the necessary dough to invest back into the rotary’s development, Fujiwara says. He hopes that such a move will take place, since the tech is very much part of the company’s DNA. Don’t hold your breath for anything to happen for a good four to five years at least, though.

The name is not a surprise, nor its looks. That’s because Mazda came up with the Minagi Concept earlier this year in March, before confirming that the production car will be called CX-5 a month later. Now, the Mazda CX-5 compact crossover is previewed ahead of its world debut at September’s Frankfurt show, and it retains much of the Minagi’s looks.

To slot under Mazda’s CX-7 and CX-9 SUVs, the CX-5 will be a milestone model for the Hiroshima based carmaker. This is because it will be the first of a new generation of Mazda products that will adopt the full range of Skyactiv tech, and also the brand’s new design theme, Kodo.

Kodo, which means Soul of Motion, was first shown via the four-door coupe Shinari Concept of 2010, replacing the Nagare look of today’s production Mazdas.

Mazda’s Skyactiv tech encompasses fuel efficient gasoline and diesel engines, manual and automatic transmissions, as well as body and chassis. They try to think out of the box for Skyactiv – an example is the record high 14:1 compression ratio in direct-injection petrol engines, accompanied by a range of anti knock measures, that delivers 30 km/l in a 1.3-litre Mazda 2.

Sitting on a new modular platform and suspension set-up, the CX-5 will feature a Skyactiv-G 2.0L gasoline engine and a Skyactiv-D 2.2L diesel, available in “Standard Power” and “High Power” variants. Both engines also sport the magic 14:1 compression ratio for ideal efficiency, a very high figure for petrol and a very low figure for diesel. The CX-5′s oil burner puts out 173 bhp and 420 Nm of torque.

“Exceptional environmental performance” was a main focus here, and the 2.2 diesel is set to emit less than 120g/km of CO2, which is a very good figure for an SUV.

The CX-5 will be progressively introduced to global markets from early 2012. More pics after the jump.
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