2017 Mazda CX-9 sightings reported weeks ahead of its debut

Next week Mazda plans to unveil to the public the newly redesigned 2017 Mazda CX-9 at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Some lucky auto fans were able to catch a sneak peek of it weeks ahead of the rest of the public by being at the right place at the right time.

The picture of the swirly zebra looking 2017 Mazda CX-9 below was taken at the end of August in California.

You can tell in the picture that it’s finally joining the rest of the SKYACTIV lineup with the similar KODO Soul of Motion design. However, this is actually based on the 2016 Mazda Koeru SUV concept that will debut alongside the CX-9 at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The CX-9 has deserved a much needed refresher for years. It’s remained virtually unchanged since Ford sold their financial stake in Mazda in 2008. With the CX-9 getting the SKYACTIV treatment, Mazda will finally have a strong competitor in the full size SUV class.

While we won’t know the specs of the 2017 Mazda CX-9 until next week, YouTube user Carspotter Jeroen caught a glimpse of what appears to be a test mule CX-9 that doesn’t have the new SKYACTIV body style yet but can still give you a little insight to how it performs.


We’ll have more about the 2017 Mazda CX-9 after next week’s debut.

If you're interested in learning more about the smaller siblings of the CX-9, check out our 2016 Mazda CX-3 and 2016 Mazda CX-5 research pages.

Source: TopSpeed.com

2016 Mazda CX-3 Loaded with Features Now at Sport Mazda

Now at Sport Mazda, is the all new 2016 Mazda CX-3, the fifth vehicle introduced to the U.S. with KODO-Soul of Motion design and the full suite of Mazda’s SKYACTIV Technology. It is also a vehicle that Mazda says will “create a standard for the next era”.  Designed for a new generation of car buyers, it combines style, driving enjoyment and efficiency at a price where it will attract buyers of all backgrounds.

The CX-3 is shorter and lower than Mazda’s award-winning CX-5 and is loaded with standard features like:

• Mazda CONNECT with Bluetooth, audio streaming, USB ports, Commander control knob, and a seven-inch color touchscreen interface with a built-in backup monitor and backup camera.

•  Push-button starter.

•  Entertainment connectivity to SMS text message audio delivery and reply, E911, voice command, and Aha/Sticher/Pandora/HD Radio.

•  A 146 horsepower/146 lb-ft torque, Skyactiv 2.0 Liter engine 35 mpg highway.

• 6 Speed Automatic Transmission.

Like the Mazda CX-5 the all new CX-3 compact SUV will be available in three trim levels; Sport, Touring and Grand Touring.  And while all of the trim levels have the full range of standard features, the Touring and Grand Touring have additional features that are only found in luxury cars with much higher price tags.

 

Check out our 2016 Mazda CX-3 Research Page to find out about all the features, specs, colors, and more.

Or click here to make an appointment to visit Sport Mazda and take a drive in this sporty new compact SUV from Mazda, the home of Zoom-Zoom.

Don Mealey’s Sport Mazda, 6239 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, Florida 32809, at the corner of Lancaster Road and S. OBT.  Main showroom phone is (407) 851-8510.

2016 Mazda CX-3 The Compact SUV Style Leader is Now at Sport Mazda

The completely new 2016 Mazda CX-3 has arrive at Sport Mazda. The auto industry websites are all saying the CX-3 is very stylish and is in a class of its own when it comes to design.  But don't take my word for it.  Check out what the New York Daily News had to say, and then check out the many new features that make this new small SUV the design leader.

“At first glance, there’s quite a bit to like. So much so, in fact that we’d say it’s the best-looking vehicle in the segment. Mazda’s “Kodo” design language has reached full maturity in the CX-3, and the beauty is truly in the details.”  New York Daily News, Friday, July 31- Click to read the entire review

• The beautifully designed exterior of the CX-3 presents a bold stylish look. The grille stacks seven fins with available silver-painted front edges that give the feel of energy waiting to explode. The signature wing grille has a strong border and forms the starting point for a powerful sense of speed that flows back through the entire body.

• The headlamps are a narrow, sharp design that reminds one of eyes gazing forward into the wind and the available LED illumination package connects the entire front and draws attention to the CX-3 taut lines.

• The front fenders peak and then push rearward to the base of the A-pillars which makes the side view look even longer.

• The license plate is on the upper part of the rear bumper to create a short overhand design that gives the rear a clean and solid look.

Careful attention to design and detail was used to create the rich feel of finely drawn changes in all body surfaces like:

• The front half of the body features a long nose with a flowing shape.

• The cabin section has a sleek look accented by blacked-out D-pillars.

• The solid rear body conveys a look of strength and power.

The 2016 Mazda CX-3 is also available in the newly developed Ceramic Metallic body color, recently introduced on the 2016 Mazda Miata MX-5.  It looks like a finely honed metallic surface and changes in appearance depending on the angle and intensity of light hitting it.  The color joins the Soul Red with show-car-levels of paint quality.

For more information on the CX-3 and it’s many features, check out Sport Mazda's 2016 CX-3 Research Page.

It is hard to write about designs without sounding like an advertisement, so I will just close by inviting you to visit Sport Mazda and see and drive the new 2016 Mazda CX-3, crossover SUV, for yourself.  To check availability and make an appointment to take it for a drive, click here.

2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Has Arrived at Sport Mazda Orlando

The newest generation of the car that rewrote the record book for sports car sales worldwide , the Mazda Miata, HAS ARRIVED at Sport Mazda in Orlando.  The 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata is redesigned from the ground up and has a full-suite of Skyactiv technologies.  

Already the Auto Industry periodicals are full of praise for the Miata with comments like “a modern day reincarnation of the original Miata that stole our hearts in 1989….It’s comfortable. It looks great. And it drives like a Miata should. In other words, it’s perfect.”  Or, “the more time I spend with the new Miata, the more I like it.”  And, “I cannot stress it enough: The relationship between car and driver is stronger in the new Miata than perhaps any vehicle I’ve tested in recent years.” And finally, “I’ll cut right to the chase, it’s brilliant.”

Want more information on the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata.  Stay tuned as I will be bringing you a series of blogs on features that set this car apart from the competition.  If you want to read more right now, check out these articles.

AutoGuide.com,2016 Mazda MX-5 Review

Edmunds .com,2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Convertible Review    

             

Sport Mazda is the highest-rated Mazda dealership in the U.S., based on customer testimonials and is a full-service, new Mazda and quality used car dealer at 6239 S. Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando, Florida.  Contact us at (407) 851-8510.

2016 MX-5 Miata is the roadster the world has been waiting for

Mazda is on a hot streak.

Over the past few years, Mazda has been thriving in its Renaissance of SKYACTIV technology and modern elegance with the overhauls on the award winning Mazda3, Mazda6 and next year’s Mazda2.

On September 3, 2014, Mazda unveiled the latest model to join the ranks of SKYACTIV built vehicles, the iconic MX-5 Miata roadster.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the Miata has gone through three generations of overhauls since its debut at the Chicago Auto Show in 1989. The next two decades and a half saw 940,000 of these hot convertibles produced and making it the most popular roadster ever created.

It only makes sense that a vehicle with such an iconic importance for Mazda would deserve the SKYACTIV treatment with an exterior overhaul inspired by the KODO – Soul of Motion design language developed by Mazda and used in the CX-5, Mazda3, and Mazda6.

What do we know about the new 2016 MX-5 Miata?

Not too much, but the details that have surfaced is surely set to get the hype train rolling for next year’s launch.

We do know that the fourth generation Miata will take on similar technology offerings found in the 2014 Mazda3 including the 5.8” touchscreen and commander switch.

Some of the improvements in the newest Miata over the third generation is the fully redesigned interior and a significant weight reduction by approximately 220 lbs according to Mazda.

The front of the 2016 Miata resembles high performance sports cars like the Dodge Viper, while from the side, it looks like a BMW coupe. The tires will come in 16 and 17 inch rims and are held on by 4 bolts.

Mazda will be adding sport mode to the automatic transmission version of the newest Miata while the manual transmission will be in sport mode, all the time.

A newly designed SKYACTIV-G engine that hasn’t been fully detailed by Mazda will be powering this roadster around curved roads across the world when it launches next year.

We’ll know more about the North American specifications of the 2016 MX-5 Miata at the Chicago Auto Show in February 2015.

Automobile Magazine ranks the 2014 Mazda3 as king of the compacts

“Compact” is not another way of saying “cheap.” At least that is how things are nowadays seeing how every major manufacturer is throwing their hat into the compact ring.

Automobile Magazine recently pitted the top 8 selling compacts in the market against one another to see what stood out as the best over the course of a week.

Day-by-day contenders dropped from the race until the 2014 Mazda3 and 2014 Volkswagen Jetta remained standing.

Automobile Magazine declared the 2014 Mazda3 the champion due to its “Goldilocks” like feel. Not too sporty. Not too small. It’s just right.

Reviewers praised the Mazda3’s ability to channel BMW’s personality by being a luxuriously designed with a smooth sporty feel that makes a $20,000 compact feel like a $200,000 car.

On top of the BMW feel, reviewers noted the diminishing line in tech options that have clearly favored mid-sized sedans in the past are now becoming more common in compacts with the 2014 Mazda3 being the strongest example.

The impressive safety features including blind-spot monitoring, forward obstruction warning, and lane departure warning, to name a few, gives the 2014 Mazda3 more safety options than its competitors.

For more information about the 2014 Mazda3 including tech specs, pictures and videos, visit SportMazdaOrlando.com. Home of the Mazda Experts.

Via: Automobile Magazine

Mazda’s Hazumi concept gives Geneva a glimpse at the new Mazda2

It’s time to move on. Ford’s 31 year partnership with Mazda ended in 2010 but there are still remnants of that past still ingrained in some of their models, especially the Mazda2.

Enter the Hazumi concept. The newest design concept by Mazda was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show this week and introduced as the new look of the second generation of Mazda2 subcompacts.

Images and details from the Geneva Motor Show has indicated that the 2015 Mazda2 will be similar in tech loadout like the 2014 Mazda3. Present on the concept model at the show was an active driving (heads up) display, new infotainment system, commander switch, and a backseat commander switch with miniature screen. The new 2015 Mazda2 will be equipped with Mazda’s newest car connectivity system called Mazda Connect 2. There is enough tech to make any driver that craves comfort and convenience envious.

Along with the introduction of the Hazumi concept was the announcement of a 1.5 liter small-displacement clean diesel engine named the SKYACTIV-D 1.5.

Currently there is no launch date for the Mazda2 but the launch window is anticipated for a Fall 2014 release.

For more information about the 2014 Mazda2 and other Mazda vehicles, visit the home of the Mazda Experts at SportMazdaOrlando.com.

Mazda celebrates their 4-millionth Mazda3

Since June 2003, Mazda has built 4-million Mazda3s to date. To put that in perspective, there have been more Mazda3s built than there are people living in Oregon, the 27^th largest US state, by about roughly 70,000.

It’s been an impressive ten years and seven months of milestones since production first began on the first generation of Mazda3s. The first Mazda3 rolled off the assembly line in June 2003 at the manufacturing plant in Hofu, Japan. A fun fact about the Mazda3 is that in Japan it is not called the 3 but actually named the Mazda Axela.

In 2009, the second generation of Mazda3 debuted with an architecture formed from a collaboration with Ford and Volvo. By 2011, Mazda first debuted the SKYACTIV platform of technologies in the 2012 Mazda3. With fuel economy reaching 40 mpg while still maintaining a fun-to-drive sporty feel behind the wheel helped the Mazda3 grow in popularity over the next few years.

Last September, the 2014 Mazda3 released ushering in the third generation of Mazda’s best-selling compact.

Production is in full swing across the world in Japan, China, Thailand, and at Mazda’s brand new state-of-the-art plant in Mexico. At the rate the 3 is being built today, in the next 10 years Mazda might be celebrating the 10-millionth Mazda3.

For more information about Mazda3 specs and details, visit the Mazda Experts at SportMazdaOrlando.com.

Consumer Reports strongly recommends the 2014 Mazda3

The verdict is in. Consumer Reports has added the 2014 Mazda3 to their recommendation list of must buy vehicles.

Consumer Reports used a midtrim sedan and a higher-end hatchback 2.0 liter engine models to conduct their road tests.

The 2013 Mazda3 was a recommended model last year due to its fuel economy, smooth transmission, and safety. Consumer Reports sings the same song with the 2014 Mazda3 stating that the fuel economy, which averaged 33 mpg during the test, is the best they have ever seen on a compact that was not a hybrid or diesel.

Road testers found the manual transmission to be one of the slickest shifters in the car industry making it an agile daily driver that comes alive on a track.

For more information about the 2014 Mazda3 specs and videos, visit us at SportMazdaOrlando.com which is home to the Mazda Experts.

Via: Consumer Reports

Kelley Blue Book gives Mazda the 5-Year Cost to Own Award

It’s easy to forget about maintenance and fuel costs when you are infatuated with a vehicle. New car shoppers usually think about affordability in terms of monthly payment, APR rate, and total cost paid at the end of the financing or leasing period without thinking of the long term costs over the years.

Kelley Blue Book has announced their annual recipients of their 5 Year Cost to Own Award which recognizes the top brands that retain the greatest value over the first five years of ownership.

The 2014 model lineup by Mazda earned them the 2014 5-Year Cost to Own Award as the best overall non-luxury brand for a second year in a row. This repeat success can be attributed to the rising quality of Mazda vehicles especially the reinvention of the Mazda3 which launched in September this past year in North America.

With depreciation, estimated fuel costs, finance and insurance fees, and maintenance and repair costs taken into consideration, the Mazda brand is at the top of the list.

Mazda ranked the lowest in fuel and insurance costs out of all the brands taken into consideration during the judging.

For more information about Mazda vehicles and the benefits of ownership, please visit us at SportMazdaOrlando.com.