Mazda has dropped the official details on the company's Minagi Concept. The sleek CUV is intended to give us all a little taste of exactly where Mazda's design is headed in the near future as well as show off the company's new Skyactiv drivetrain technologies. Mazda isn't telling us exactly what's under that sculpted hood other than to say that the Minagi gets its power from a Skyactiv engine and puts it to the ground via a Skyactiv transmission. In addition to those fuel-saving components, Mazda claims that the Minagi also uses a host of weight-saving tricks to boost fuel economy.
The concept wears the new Mazda design theme called Kodo, or soul of motion. From what we can see from the renderings, the look is a full galaxy ahead of the all smiles design the Japanese automaker is currently employing. We'll be interested to see how the lines translate to the real world when the concept shows up at this year's Geneva Motor Show in March.
[Source: Mazda]
Officially Official: Mazda Minagi Concept headed to Geneva
Spycam: 2010 MazdaSpeed3 Caught at the 'Ring
With its winning combination of pleasing looks, high-end features, and fun-to-drive dynamics, the present Mazda3 continues to win comparison tests despite being on the market mostly unchanged since 2004. Even so, going on five years is a long time in the car world, and now Mazda is readying its all-new, 2010 Mazda3 to keep the compact fresh. Official photos of the new 2010 Mazda3 sedan hit the Web recently, stirring up a lot of excitement, but lacking any specs or additional info many enthusiasts were left wondering -- what about a new 2010 MazdaSpeed3?
2008 Paris Motor Show: Mazda Kiyora concept
Like so many shows in recent memory, part of the theme in Paris is "green." So in addition to the Nissan Nuvu micro EV, Mazda took the wraps off yet another Nagare-themed concept, the Kiyora.
Taking inspiration from past design studies and its Japanese name, which translates to "clean and pure," the Kiyora will influence Mazda's next city car, due to replace the Mazda2 in the middle of the next decade. Measuring in at 3,770mm, the four-seat city car features a 1.3-liter gasoline-powered engine with direct injection and more efficient combustion chambers mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox. Weight and aerodynamics are two key elements of the Kiyora, and with a body made almost entirely of carbon fiber and a drag reduced by 10 percent over the current Mazda2, the diminutive city car would put out less than 90g/km of CO2... if it goes into production.
Mazda 2
The 2’s compact size, light, accurate controls and tight turning circle are great in town, while the quick-witted chassis is well balanced and agile. This is an everyday supermini that’s great fun to drive. The fide is firm, yet because the damping is impressive, it never becomes jittery or loses its composure. Body control is superb – it may not be as grown up as some rivals, but it’s very enjoyable. Both 1.3-litre and 1.5-litre engines feel energetic too, thanks to the low kerb weight, while the gearshift and brakes have impressive feel.
Mazda’s designers chose to make the latest 2 40mm shorter than its predecessor; most rivals are longer, taller and wider, which gives the Japanese hatch a distinct weight advantage. This is great for economy and performance. It doesn’t even look like a heavy car, with athletic, dynamic styling that’s very attractive. There’s a very small range of three trims; 1.3 TS, 1.3 TS2 and 1.5 Sport, all in the single five-door bodystyle. All are very well-equipped – and the company’s straightforward pricing policy means your only option is whether to choose metallic paint. Related to the Ford Fiesta, other rivals include the Renault Clio III, Vauxhall Corsa, Honda Jazz, Toyota Yaris and Peugeot 207.
Despite its compact, sporty appearance, the 2 is practical. The boot has a lift-out lining, reversible floor and 250-litre capacity. What’s more, the 2’s rear legroom is very impressive, and the high, domed roof plus a large glass area enhances the sense of space. The simple yet elegant dash is good, while ergonomics are top-drawer and the driving position faultless (despite the lack of steering wheel reach adjustment). The only drawback is the quality of the plastics; the dashboard is shiny. At slow speeds, the Mazda is quiet, thanks to the smooth and well-insulated engines. However, road noise is an issue at speed, although it’s not harsh. As for economy, it’s very impressive, while servicing costs are low and retained values predicted to be impressive.
