Archive for Mazda

This photo has been circulating around the internet and many have been posting it up claiming that these are leaked promotional images of the new Proton MPV. It does look very good. But no, this is not the new Proton MPV. This is actually an unknown person’s Photoshop job of the Mazda 8, which Naza World started selling in Malaysia recently. If you look closely, the alloy wheels still have the Mazda logo on them.

But still, response to this design as a “Proton” in the many forums around the internet so far has been very good, and alot of people seem to believe it is Proton. Kudos to Mazda’s designers for designing a nice looking MPV, and congratulations to the creator for producing a Photoshop job that many believed.

Have a look at more shots of the Mazda 8 MPV after the jump.

Related Links:
Mazda Hong Kong’s Mazda 8 page
Mazda Japan’s Mazda MPV page
First sighting of new Proton MPV-related test mule
Proton MPV due in early 2009

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The Mazda distributorship in Malaysia will be handled by Berjaya Corporation from the second half of 2008, through its company BerMaz Motor Sdn Bhd, formerly known as Berjaya Synthetic Fibre Sdn Bhd. BerMaz will acquire Cycle and Carriage Bintang Berhad’s entire shareholding in Hercules Automotive Engineers Sdn Bhd, which is the current Mazda franchise holder and a Cycle and Carriage company since 1983.

The Hercules shares will go for a total of RM16.8 million. BerMaz Motor’s Distribution Agreement with Mazda will begin officially on the 1st of April 2008 and will end 3 years later on 31st of March 2011.

Berjaya group currently has its foot in the automotive industry selling Skoda cars, ChangAn cars and Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles. The ChangAn CM8 sighted on public roads sometime in the past is most likely brought in by Berjaya for testing.

Click to enlarge

Naza World is now actively promoting 3 of their imported Mazda models as what they say are the ideal cars for the affluent family in a high earning neighbourhood.

Mazda CX7 - from RM248,999

The Mazda CX7 SUV is positioned at the dad, and the 5-seater SUV (ideally 4, Naza says) has a 2.3 liter turbocharged DISI L3-VDT engine under its hood, mated to an Activematic 6-speed automatic gearbox. The turbocharged engine puts out 245 horsepower at 5,000rpm and 350Nm of torque, equivalent to a high torque output normally aspirated 3.5 liter engine, peaking at 2,500rpm but with most of it available across a much wider spread of between 2,000rpm to 4,500rpm.

This specification level imported includes an audio system (Japanese radio frequencies of course, which are not usable in Malaysia), GPS navigation, a television, 6 SRS airbags, ABS, EBD, traction control, heated front seats, a reverse camera, 18 inch wheels, and the Mazda Radar Cruise Control system which is an adaptive cruise system that uses a forward radar sensor to measure distance and speed from both moving and stationary objects. In the case that a moving object in front of you suddenly decides to become stationary, MRCC will apply the brakes and audibly alert you.

Mazda 8 MPV - from RM198,999

Stereotypically, the mum gets to drive the MPV. The third generation Mazda MPV is officially available only in Japan and Hong Kong. It is called the MPV in Japan and the Mazda 8 in Hong Kong. Naza World has decided to call it the Mazda 8 here in Malaysia.

The Mazda 8 MPV has twin sliding doors for access into the rear, and can be opened electrically by the driver. It seats 7 and is powered by the same L3-VDT in the Mazda CX7, which has ample torque to haul the whole family plus luggage around on trips. It has a side view camera feature, which helps side-parking the large vehicle.

Mazda MX-5 - from RM199,999

Naza World is bringing in the 2.0 liter, 4-speed automatic version of the Mazda MX-5. Too bad this is not the new one with the folding hard top roof. The 2.0 liter normally aspirated engine puts out 158 horsepower and 188Nm of torque.

The cars come with a 1 year warranty. More photos of each of the cars after the jump.

Related Posts:
2007 Honda Stream CBU imported by Naza World

Click here to read the rest of Naza World imports the Mazda CX7 SUV, Mazda 8 MPV and the Mazda MX5 Roadster

The 3-door version of the Mazda 2, already available in 5-door form will be unveiled soon at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. It will be powered by the same engine range as the 5-door version - a 1.3 liter petrol, a 1.5 liter petrol and a 1.4 liter turbodiesel. A sedan bodystyle has also been unveiled previously in China, so that makes 3 bodystyles so far for the Mazda 2. More photos to be unveiled at the Geneva show.

Related Posts:
Mazda 2 Sedan
2008 Mazda 2 Preview
More photos of Mazda 2 1.3 and 1.5

Mazda has given the RX8 a mid-life facelift, admittedly while only a mild evolution of the current model, it’s still worth a lookover to see what has changed.

The facelifted Mazda RX8 gets new front and rear bumpers on the outside, as well as new wheels. The chassis has been made more rigid through extra bracing. It also has a new rear suspension geometry. On the inside, the instrument panel now features an RPM meter with a variable red zone, much like what BMW has implemented for their M cars. This redzone starts at a low engine speed when the engine is first started up, and slowly moves up as the engine warms up.

Under the hood, the twin-rotor RENESIS 13B-MSP puts out 232 horsepower with a 6-speed manual transmission (with a new 4.444 ratio, down from 4.777), or 212 horsepower with a 6-speed Sport AT automatic. The engine revs all the way up to a 9,000rpm redline for the manual model, and 7,500rpm for the automatic.

There is an upgrade package called the R3 package which adds a rear spoiler, 19 inch forged aluminium wheels, Recaro seats, Bilstein shocks, a 300-watt Bose audio system, keyless entry and start, side skirts and fog lamps to the new facelifted RX8. The R3 name is a homage to the R1 and R2 packages offered on the RX7 FD.

More photos after the jump.

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The Mazda Furai Concept unveiled at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show recently was basically a rebodied 2005 Courage C65 racecar chassis, given a closed-cockpit fiberglass body that complies with 2008 American Le Mans Series rules.

The new body can generate 80% of the original race-spec body’s downforce, a respectable feat considering it was designed without the use of a wind tunnel. The Mazda Furai Concept is powered by a three-rotor Mazda 20B rotary fueled by E100, which is basically ethanol. Normally aspirated, it puts out 450 horsepower.

A few more photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Triple rotor Mazda Furai Concept

These are supposed to be leaked product images of the upcoming successor to the Mazda RX series of rotary coupes - the Mazda RX-9. Under the hood will be the new RENESIS 16X, a 1.6 liter twin rotor engine.

It looks like a much more toned down version of the Mazda Taiki, with the only similiarity remaining being the coupe shape and the rather extraterrestrial-looking front grille.

One more rear shot after the jump.

Related Posts:
Mazda RENESIS 16X Rotary Engine
Mazda Taiki Concept

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This kitted up Mazda Demio Mazdaspeed Concept will join its bigger sibling, the Mazda Atenza Mazdaspeed Concept at the 2008 Tokyo Auto Salon early next year. The Mazda Demio is the car’s Japanese market name, and it is known as the Mazda 2 everywhere else in the world. A Mazdaspeed 2 with a 2.0 liter turbocharged engine would be nice - or perhaps an even smaller turbocharged engine to save weight and help with the car’s balance. One more photo available after the jump.

Related Posts:
Mazda Atenza Mazdaspeed Concept

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Mazda will be showcasing this concept called the Mazda Atenza Mazdaspeed Concept at the 2008 Tokyo Auto Salon, to be held at the Makuhari Messe in January 2008.

The Mazda Atenza is the Japanese Domestic Market name for the Mazda 6 that we and the rest of the world know, and this new Mazdaspeed Concept hints at the styling of the upcoming high performance version of the second generation Mazda 6.

It’s mostly aesthetics - large rims and a lowered body, with nothing special under the hood. There has been no firm decision by Mazda to make a new Mazdaspeed 6 (also known as the Mazda 6 MPS in some markets).

This exhibit will be used to gauge public reaction. But given that buyers of high performance models usually do care about the technologies in the drivetrain, I’m not sure how realistic of a gauge of consumer interest that will be.

One more rear shot after the jump.

Related Posts:
2008 Mazda 6 - 2nd generation zoom-zoom
2008 Mazda 6 details and specifications
TOKYO 2007 LIVE: Second generation Mazda Atenza

Source

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Mazda will have two new attractions at the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), to be held in Detroit from January 13 through January 27, 2008.

First up is the new Mazda Furai concept. Furai means “sound of the wind” and the car is inspired by the fact that (according to Mazda) there are more Mazdas and Mazda-powered cars road-raced in the United States than any other brand. It is another car in the series of the Nagare design language. The Furai concept will be built on the Courage C65 Le Mans car chassis and will be powered by a 450 horsepower triple-rotor rotary engine.

Next up is the 2009 model year mid-life facelift for the Mazda RX-8 which will feature a freshened design, improved handing, acceleration, quality and features.