Mazda’s latest crossover concept revealed to the public

This week, Mazda unveiled the Koeru crossover concept for the first time to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The Koeru is built on the same wheelbase structure as the CX-5. However, when it’s compared to the CX-5, the Koeru’s body is 2.4 inches longer, 2.4 inches wider, and 6.6 inches shorter in body size. It also strongly resembles the rest of Mazda’s KODO designed lineup, such as the Mazda6 and CX-3.

That makes it too small to be the next three-row CX-9 SUV, which is set to debut at this November’s L.A. Auto Show.

Could this be the return of the CX-7?

Mazda ended manufacturing CX-7s in 2012 after a six year production run and modest sales numbers. A refresh with the KODO Soul of Motion design language after a brief hiatus could help Mazda have a strong contender in the highly competitive crossover SUV market.

Whatever Mazda plans for the Koeru will be known in the future, as for now, we can have an idea of what the future of Mazda’s crossover plans look like.

We hope to have more news to share from the Frankfurt Motor Show as it continues through the rest of the week.

If you’re interested in learning more about Mazda vehicle models, check out our online Mazda model research center.

Source:  CarandDriver.com

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.

Mazda’s next concept set to debut at Geneva Motor Show

The Takeri concept set Mazda ahead of its competition by injecting a bold assertive style reimagining the look of the Mazda3 and Mazda6, as well as bringing life to the CX-5.

On March 4^th at the 84^th Geneva Motor Show, Mazda will unveil the Takeri’s little brother, Hazumi, which means “bound” or “spring up” in Japanese.

The Hazumi concept is slated to be the next design language of the agile subcompact Mazda2 which has remained unchanged since its launch North American launch in 2010.

Another announcement that Mazda has planned is the unveiling of the small-displacement SKYACTIV-D clean diesel 1.5 liter engine which is anticipated to power the next Mazda2.

We’ll know more about the future of Mazda diesel and the Mazda2 next month in Geneva.

For more information about Mazda vehicles or parts, visit SportMazdaOrlando.com.

2014 Mazda3 hybrid announced for Japan

A hybrid Mazda3 is just on the horizon of launching next month in Japan with an impressive 72.4 mpg from a SKYACTIV-G 2.0 liter engine and an electric motor.

At Don Mealey’s Sport Mazda, an Orlando Mazda dealership in Florida, Mazda customers have been stopping by daily to see the new 2014 Mazda3 sedan and hatchback, walking away impressed by the great fuel economy. 

Mazda has big plans in Japan by banking on hybrid technology to add a new segment on their top selling Axela (Japanese name for the Mazda3).

There are no official detailed specifications released at this time other than it will only be available in a sedan which will have a smaller trunk.

It costs approximately $24,000 USD making it an affordable economic hybrid.

For more information about the 2014 Mazda3, visit our convenient research page at SportMazdaOrlando.com.

Source: WorldCarFans.com

Spotted: 2015 MX-5 Miata testing underway

The partnership between Mazda and Alfa Romeo will see a new generation of roadsters from both automakers in the next couple of years. The 2015 MX-5 Miata redesign has been in development for the past few years and a few lucky photographers managed to snap some shots of an early test vehicle at Chrysler’s headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

The Mazda Experts at Don Mealey’s Sport Mazda, an Orlando Mazda dealership in Florida, have heard from Miata customers about their anticipation of a new MX-5 roadster which is one of the strongest owner loyal models on the market.

When looking at the new pictures, it is apparent that Mazda has increased the length of the overhang and wheelbase on the new Miata. The pictures show certain areas marked with black tape indicating hotspots for possibly body changes.

We expect to see a finalized test Miata hitting public roads followed by sighting reports in spring 2014.

For more information on Mazda vehicles, refer to our Mazda research center on our website at SportMazdaOrlando.com.

Source: MotorAuthority.com

First impression and of the 2014 Mazda3 i Touring Hatchback

For the past week the Mazda Experts at Don Mealey’s Sport Mazda, an Orlando Mazda dealer in Florida, have been getting to know the 2014Mazda3 i Touring hatchback up close and on the road. This complete redesign of Mazda’s best-selling compact is easy on the eyes thanks to the KODO Soul of Motion concept styling and a fuel efficient, great performing vehicle thanks to the SKYACTIV technology. General Manager, Jay Mealey, gives his first impressions of the latest model in the video below including a little bit of Mazda insider knowledge.

For more information about the 2014 Mazda3, visit SportMazdaOrlando.com and schedule a test drive.

Up close with the 2014 Mazda3 Touring hatchback

Starting this week, the 2014 Mazda3 will begin to show up on dealership showroom floors across the country. The Mazda Experts at Don Mealey's Sport Mazda, a new Mazda dealer in Orlando, Florida, already had a chance to get up close with the base Touring version of the 2014 Mazda3 on Friday. It sees major re-imagining from the 2013 Mazda3 which sported a wide smile grille. Mazda Expert, Charles Powery, gives a basic walkaround of the newly redesigned compact sedan in the video below.

Take note that this is only the baseline version of the Touring hatchback that does not come equipped with the technology package which includes the heads up display that pops up behind the steering wheel from the dashboard and the brand new infotainment system. New car shoppers in Orlando can stop by the Don Mealey's Sport Mazda showroom to see the 2014 Mazda3 and get behind the wheel. For more information, visit SportMazdaOrlando.com.

Return to rotary, Mazda 16X rotary to launch in two years

Mazda has always been a big name when it comes to rotary engines but in recent years with their focus on fuel efficiency and performance in the SKYACTIV platform, there has been nothing new to show in rotaries. According to AutoBlog.com, a Mazda USA insider tipped that the 16X rotary engine that has been known to be in development for the past few years will finally launch alongside an all-new model in two years.

The last rotary engine developed by Mazda was the Renesis that powered the RX-8 which ended its production run for North American drivers in 2011 due to lack of demand and failing to meet emission standards in Europe.

The 16X will outperform the Renesis while maintaining better fuel economy that has become a staple in Mazda’s commitment to automotive engineering.

It is unknown what the new model will feature the new rotary engine but with recent rumors of a future reboot in the RX-7 to hit dealerships in the upcoming years, it seems likely that the new model will be a sports car.

For more information about Mazda vehicles, visit SportMazdaOrlando.com which is home of the Mazda Experts. For auto shoppers looking to try out a new Mazda, the Mazda Experts at Don Mealey’s Sport Mazda, an Orlando Mazda dealer in Florida, can help set up an appointment.

Via: AutoBlog.com

Rumor: Could this be the new RX-7 Mazda is working on?

Images of the upcoming re-imagined RX-7 that Mazda has been quietly working on have finally surfaced in the pages of a Japanese auto magazine and it is one stunning piece of automotive engineering.

The design of the vehicle marks another “Kodo” Soul of Motion, Mazda’s latest design language, to receive the full body treatment joining the 2014 Mazda6, 2014 CX-5, and soon-to-be released 2014 Mazda3.

The article hints at what is in store for the new coupe including an “ultra lightweight” structure, “direct injected 16X based RE with Hydrogen capability” and “razor sharp handling.” It’s been known that the upcoming RX-7 would be 16X based since Nobuhiro Yamamoto, Mazda’s MX-5 program manager, stated that they were working towards that goal.

It’s projected that the launch window for the all-new RX-7 will be in 2017 and be powered by a Wankel rotary engine with 300 horsepower.

We’ll know more about the new Mazda RX-7 in the coming years.

For more information about new and pre-owned Mazda’s, visit us on our website at SportMazdaOrlando.com The Mazda Experts are here to help you with all of your Mazda needs!

Via: CarThrottle

Mazda and Clemson’s collaboration brings life to a new concept

In a special collaboration with Clemson University, automotive engineering graduate students helped bring life to a student designed concept named the Mazda Deep Orange 3. Students from Clemson presented the chassis at last year’s 2012 SEMA automotive show. Earlier this week, they were finally able to show off the fully dressed concept at the Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing. The exterior design is based off a concept that was created by Frederick Naaman coming from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.

You can see a strong resemblance in the bodies of the Shinari and Deep Orange 3 concepts.

The Deep Orange 3 is strikingly similar to the Shinari concept car that Mazda introduced in 2010 that eventually evolved into the Takeri concept that influenced the 2014 Mazda6, CX-5 and soon to be released Mazda3. This student built concept is unique to any retail Mazda due to its special hybrid transmission that shifts between front, rear and all-wheel drive automatically. The Deep Orange 3 is able to switch to separate drive shifts with help from its gas engine to power the front and its electric engine to power the rear. While there is no plans to release a Mazda based on this concept, it is no doubt a piece of art for automotive engineers to draw inspiration.

For more information about new Mazda vehicles, visit SportMazdaOrlando.com.

2015 Mazda2 next in line for a major facelift

A Japanese auto magazine recently gave a glimpse at the future of the Mazda2. Auto shoppers looking to get behind the wheel of an affordable sub-compact have turned to places like Don Mealey’s Sport Mazda, an Orlando Mazda dealership in Florida, which carries the popular 2013 Mazda2. In the midst of a complete overhaul on all of their models, Mazda is looking at breathing new life into their popular sub-compact vehicle integrating the Kodo soul of motion concept which has been used to help shape the 2014 Mazda6 and 2014 Mazda3. 

The image above reflects the new direction they are taking their design philosophy with the five point shield grille and rounded front which is a warm welcome considering the 2 has not seen a significant update since 2009 in North America. Mazda’s revamp brings a welcomed stylish flair to the economically viable 2. The new Mazda2 is not expected to arrive until 2014 as a 2015 model. Speculation points to an early 2014 reveal in one of the international auto shows taking place in the first quarter of 2014. For more information about the technical specs and technology in the 2013 Mazda2, visit SportMazdaOrlando.com.

2014 Mazda3 test drive impressions

The 2014 Mazda3 is everything a car enthusiast would want in a compact and more. Don Mealey’s Sport Mazda, a new Mazda Orlando dealership, has begun to feel the effects of Mazda3 fever with several curious shoppers wanting to know when they can get behind the wheel of the new 3. AutoBlog.com recently had the opportunity to take Mazda’s newest SKYACTIV overhaul for a test drive which left a strong impression.

In their article, they mention that it “is good for plenty of smiles from behind the wheel, simply because of how willing it is to be driven hard.” From the 5-point aggressive grille and LED lights to the suspension and handling, their full analysis conclusively states that the Mazda3 is “the best-driving car in the segment.” Pricing details are beginning to emerge from Mazda which anticipates a starting price below $17,000. Another piece of information is the mileage specs for the 2.0 and 2.5 liter engines which will receive 30 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway for the 2.0 liter and 28 city/29 highway mpg for the 2.5 liter.

For more information on the Mazda3, keep following the Mazda Experts blog. If you’re interested in learning more about the current line-up of Mazda models, visit SportMazdaOrlando.com and visit our convenient research pages where you can learn more about the 2014 Mazda6, 2014 CX-5 and more!

Via: AutoBlog.com