Archive for Mazda

Mazda has updated it’s Mazda 5 MPV for the 2008 model year and besides minor cosmetic changes, the new facelifted Mazda 5 now features a new 2.0 liter MZR engine with S-VT variable valve timing and an electronic throttle as opposed to a rather bare bones 2.0 liter unit previously. The automatic transmission has also been updated to a 5-speed unit, while the manual is now a 6-speeder.

On the interior, the center dash area has been redesigned to accommodate a new touch screen DVD navigation system with a 6-CD changer, Bluetooth handsfree system and aux input. The sliding doors are now optionally powered, and can open and close automatically in less than 5 seconds via a press of a button from either the driver’s seat, the door handles or the remote control key. They also stop automatically if obstructed.

The new facelifted Mazda 5 also gets new front dampers, new suspension settings and a new stronger brake booster. Other enhancements include a new multi-resonator around the fresh air intake duct for the climate control system that lowers engine noise, strengthened wheel rims and Thinsulate® insulation sheeting added to the roof liner to reduce road noise.

A few more photos are available after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of 2008 Mazda 5 Facelift

We first saw signs of the Mazda BT-50 earlier this year when a taped up unit with trade plates was spotted in Sri Hartamas. Earlier this week, the BT-50 pick-up truck was finally launched and is now an option for those who want a softer, sportier and more Japanese-looking truck than the Ford Ranger TDCi.

Mazda has picked the BT-50 name over the Fighter name carried by the previous generation. Mechanically it is pretty much the same as the Ford Ranger TDCi - a 2.5 liter turbodiesel with direct injection and a variable geometry turbocharger under the hood, double wishbone suspension at the front and a leaf spring setup at the rear. The leaf springs at the rear are 1,320mm long, making them the longest in the class, which enhances ride comfort.

The 2.5 liter engine is mechanically the same as the Ranger’s, which is nothing bad as it is truly a fantastic engine for a truck. The variable geometry turbo eliminates any turbo lag so power delivery is at maximum once you floor the pedal. It produces 143 PS at 3,500rpm and 330Nm of torque at 1,800rpm. The truck also gets a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed auto.

Early birds get a special introductory package - 50 months warranty (or 150,000km) and 50 months (or 80,000km) of free service. 50 months is equal to 4 years and 2 months, compared to the Ranger TDCi’s 3 years warranty. If you don’t want this, you can trade it for a RM3,000 rebate. Of course, this is for the first 100 early birds only. The normal warranty period is 3 years.

The following is the price list for Peninsular Malaysia, individual OTR with insurance. The prices are generally slightly cheaper than the Ranger TDCi. For the full price list click here.

• Mazda BT-50 2.5 Manual Solid - RM86,272.81
• Mazda BT-50 2.5 Manual Metallic - RM86,402.81
• Mazda BT-50 2.5 Auto Solid - RM90,961.79
• Mazda BT-50 2.5 Auto Metallic - RM91,091.79

More photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of New Mazda BT-50 pick-up truck launched in Malaysia

The new Mazda 2, or the Mazda Demio as it is called in the JDM market, is now available in a sedan body form. The sexy coupe-like 4-door sedan was unveiled at the 2007 Guangzhou Motor Show, and will be built and sold in China by Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co Ltd.

At the moment it’s not clear whether the Mazda 2 Sedan will be produced or sold anywhere outside the Chinese market, but I don’t see why not as B-segment sedans can be very very popular - like the Toyota Vios and the Honda City, especially in a South East Asian market like ours.

Click here to read the rest of Mazda 2 Sedan unveiled for the Chinese market

It’s been 40 years since Mazda introduced the first rotary engine in the Mazda Cosmo Sport in 1967. This year, Mazda puts another marker on the history of the Mazda rotary engine with the RENESIS 16X, the successor to the 13B-MSP in the Mazda RX8.

The new 16X rotary engine uses new trochoid-shaped chambers aimed at improving thermal efficiency and increasing torque across all engine speeds. Mazda has been continuously researching the best shape for the trochoid chambers ever since the first 10A rotary in 1967, followed by the 13A, 12A and now the 13B.

The new trochoid chamber has had its rotor housing width and thickness reduced while the trochoid outline has been increased, resulting in a displacement increase to 800cc per rotor - this means a 1.6 liter displacement as the engine’s 16X name indicates. This is despite exterior dimensions of the engine being about the same as the current 13B.

The trochoid shape has had its radius and eccentricity increased. Stroke has also been increased, this means better torque. Due to the change in shape, not only is an increase in displacement achieved but the surface area-to-volume ratio of the combustion chamber is reduced, enabling a reduction in cooling losses. Flame growth is also promoted. The engine uses side housings made of aluminium, and this together with other weight reduction methods make the new 16X lighter than the 13B.

The 16X rotary engine is also the first gasoline rotary engine to use direct injection. This was developed from the hyrogen injection system used in the hydrogen rotary engine. Gasoline is injected via a high pressure spray during the intake cycle. This spray also tends to reduce fuel adhesion to the chamber wall, promoting a more homogenous air-fuel mixture. This results in better torque and thermal efficiency. Power and fuel economy is expected to be 20% better than the technologies in the 13B can achieve.

A concept version of this engine is installed in the Mazda Taiki Concept, and in that car it drives the rear wheels through a 7-speed dry twin clutch gearbox.

Click to enlarge

Mazda’s latest series of concept cars seem like odd organic cars that do not look like it may make it’s way into production form anytime soon, and the latest is the Mazda Taiki concept which continues to follow the Nagare theme established with the first car in the new concept line, the Mazda Nagare. Nagare means flow, and Mazda turned to nature for inspiration - using cues from natural flow lines all around us - shapes in sand dunes etched by the wind, ocean waves, lava flow down a volcano, and etc.

All three design centers - US, European and Japan contributed to this series of concepts, with cars like the original Nagare coming from the US-based design center and the Mazda Ryuga from the Hiroshima Design Center in Japan. The Mazda Hakaze design concept came from the European Design Center.

The Mazda Taiki is the fourth in the series, and this one comes from the Hiroshima Design Center team led by Chief Designer Yamada Atsuhiko. Every concept car represents a different segment of future cars, for example the Mazda Ryuga was envisioned as a future compact car. The Mazda Taiki points to a possible future design direction for Mazda sports cars.

The stretched coupe has short overhangs and its interior has a liberating and free feel to it thanks to an all-glass canope. It has a drag coefficient of 0.25 and zero lift. Air is channeled through the front fender via a tunnel formed between the body and the rear fender - this creates downforce.

This design concept is also used to unveil some technical goodies. The 2-seater Mazda Taiki is conceptually powered by the next generation RENESIS rotary engine engine called the RENESIS 16X. The engine will be mounted at the front and will power the rear wheels, a proven formula for a sports car.

More details on that engine will come in a later post, but you’ll be pleased to know that Mazda is the latest manufacturer to jump on the twin clutch bandwagon. The RENESIS 16X engine will be mated to a 7-speed dry twin clutch transmission. Suspension is a double wishbone setup for both front and rear, and the car rides on 22 inch Enkei wheels wrapped with Yokohama Advan Super-E spec Prototype 007 tyres in 195/40R22 size. As for dimensions, the Mazda Taiki is 4620mm long, 1950mm wide, 1240mm tall and has a wheelbase of 3000mm.

More photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of TOKYO 2007 LIVE: Mazda Taiki Concept

Click to enlarge

When the new second generation Mazda 6 was launched, the press release specifically stated that particular car was the European model, and a separate North American model will be coming soon. Mazda unveiled the Mazda Atenza at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show today, which is essentially the JDM market name for the European second generation Mazda 6.

Unlike the European Mazda 6 which only seems to have one bumper and grille design, the Japanese market Mazda Atenza seems to have two different styles, perhaps representing a low spec and high spec model with different engines. The differences are small though, for example the rear lamp design one is red and the other is clear. There are also two different bumper and grille designs.

With these minor differences, is this considered a separate model and will be the one destined for North America? Or will the North American Mazda 6 be significantly different from the Japanese Atenza and the European Mazda 6? Well still have to wait to see what the North American one looks like, and then later wonder which model were going to get in our own market. Perhaps at the Los Angeles show next year or something.

The 2.0 liter baseline model makes 150 PS at 6,500rpm and 182Nm of torque at 4,500rpm and is mated to a 5-speed automatic gearbox. The new 2.5 liter MZR engine puts out 170 PS at 6,000rpm and 226Nm of torque at 4,000rpm. This particular engine is mated to a 5-speed auto for the front wheel drive versions, but the all wheel drive version is mated to a new 6-speed auto. Both 2.5 liter model gearboxes come with active adaptive shift control, a technology that first made its debut in the Mazda RX-8. The active adaptive shift control system has a slope control function and is able to evaluate both the gradient and winding of the road as well as driver intentions such as the acceleration and brake operation, enabling the selection of an optimum gear.

Mazda designed the Atenza’s paddle shifters to work the same way BMW designed their non-M car paddle shifters to work, the paddles on both sides of the steering wheel do the same thing, but you push either paddle away from you to downshift and pull the paddle towards you to upshift. I’ve already blogged about the car, so please check out the car’s details in this previous post to find out more information about available engine options and equipment.

The Mazda Atenza or the Mazda 6 as we know it looks pretty gigantuan in product shots but in reality when I saw it in person I felt that is not really that big, though it matches its D-segment peers like the new Accord and the new Camry in size, unlike the previous generation where the Mazda 6 looked more like a big C-segment instead. The interior looks like an evolution of the first generation Mazda 6. In fact, I suspect the trip computer multi-info display is a carry over component.

More photos after the jump, including new product shots.

Related Posts:
2008 Mazda 6 - 2nd generation zoom-zoom: Photos
2008 Mazda 6 details and specifications

Click here to read the rest of TOKYO 2007 LIVE: second generation Mazda Atenza

Click to enlarge

Reader thechef spotted these cool Mazda 3 hatchbacks in Thailand sporting Coca Cola paintjobs and he wishes to share it with fellow readers, so here they are!

I think they look pretty neat, in fact it’s always interesting to see how companies do up their fleet if a custom paintjob is required.

More photos after the jump.

Related Posts:
Mazda 3 2.0 sedan and hatchback review

Click here to read the rest of Coke-themed Mazda 3 hatchback in Thailand

Mazda is currently holding the MAZDA Design Challenge, which Mazda touts as a way for you to be able to “shape the future of Zoom-Zoom” - not sure how that is but the idea is interesting.

Basically the MAZDA Design Challenge is a competition where users submit their own design interpretation of how the Mazda 3 will look like in the 2018 model year. The contest has actually been going on for quite sometime now and 284 submissions were received. Now this isn’t really an art competition but more of an idea competition - the initial portion of the competition only required a 150 word idea of what the car should be.

Mazda has picked the top 10 and have decided to feature them on Facebook, where Facebook users will be able to vote for their favourite designs. These Facebook user votes will determine the top 5 winners. These 5 winners will then work with Mazda’s design team to further develop their idea concepts, then the updated concepts with sketches will be posted again for voting. The winner’s concept car will be shown live at the Los Angeles Auto Show! He or she will also get US$1K cash, airfare and accomodation for the show.

It’s quite interesting really, Mazda leveraging on the viral nature of a Facebook App to promote their contest, as well as building on the Facebook API for their voting platform.

If you’re on Facebook, check out the MAZDA Design Challenge Facebook Group. I’ve also set up my own paultan.org reader community group there, so if you read my blog and you’re on Facebook, join up!

Related Links:
MAZDA Design Challenge Facebook Group
paultan.org Reader Community Facebook Group

We might just be getting the next generation CBU Mazda 6 from Thailand instead of Japan, once Mazda and Ford’s second plant in Thailand goes online in 2009.

The US$500 million plant is a 50:50 joint investment between Mazda and Ford and it will build cars from the B and C-D segment. It will be built on the same site as the existing pick-up truck plant, which is currently pushing out 175,000 trucks a year.

Cars from this plant will be sold in Thailand and exported to other countries in Asia, Australasia and Africa. B and C-D segment cars will mean the Mazda 2, Mazda 3, Mazda 6, Ford Focus, and many other cars.

This is the largest foreign investment in Thailand ever since last autumn’s army coup - this shows investors still have much confidence in Thailand.

Source

Mazda’s latest Mazda Taiki Concept will be making it’s international debut at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, and is the fourth concept car int he Nagare design series.

Taiki means atmosphere in Japanese, and this concept coupe is meant to create the feeling of the flow of air in the atmosphere protecting the earth. This is achieved via the full-glass canopy which gives the car a liberating feeling, yet you are protected from the elements within. The rest of the car is inspired by a pair of Hogoromo, which are flowing robes which in Japanese legend supposedly enable a celestial maiden to fly.

Under all that design execution lies a front engine rear wheel drive layout that uses the next generation RENESIS 16X, which has it’s displacement enlarged to 1.6 liters for the first time in a long history of production rotaries that were 1.3 liters in displacement.

Two more photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Mazda Taiki Concept featuring RENESIS 16X engine