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 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.

RUMOR: Return of the Mazdaspeed3 in 2016?

Since the launch of the 2014 Mazda3 in September 2013, Mazda enthusiasts have raised their voices demanding a new Mazdaspeed3. Unfortunately, the launch of the redesigned 3 signaled the end of Mazda’s popular hot hatch.

The latest batch of rumors come straight from the Japanese motor magazine Holiday Auto which claims to have an inside scoop on Mazda’s plans for the relaunch of the Mazdaspeed3.

Recent rumors indicated that Mazda was aiming to outfit the Mazda3 with a turbo diesel engine which would be released as the new Mazdaspeed3. Word on the street, or at least Holiday Auto, now indicates Mazda has ditched the plan for a turbo diesel in favor of a turbocharged variant of the 2.5-liter gasoline engine currently found in the s Touring and s Grand Touring trims in the US for the 2014 Mazda3.

Mazda corporate in Japan has denied rumors about turbo, especially concerns that the high compression ratio of the SKYACTIV-G engine paired with a turbo would create problems. However, the source makes it clear that the problem “has been already solved.”

The source also told Holiday Auto that we can expect to see All-Wheel-Drive on the new Mazdaspeed3 which would be the first compact Mazda to receive the AWD treatment.

If the rumors are true, we can expect the return of the Mazdaspeed3 in 2016.

For more information about the current 2014 Mazda3, please visit our convenient research guides created by the Mazda Experts at Don Mealey’s Sport Mazda in Orlando, Florida.

Via: CarsGuide.com.au

The 25th anniversary edition Miata is (almost) here!

This year marks Mazda’s silver anniversary with the MX-5 Miata, the most iconic roadster ever created. Unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show in February 1989, the Miata quickly found its way into the hearts of auto enthusiasts around the world.

25 years after its debut, Mazda is still wowing crowds at auto exhibitions with the Miata. Recently at the 2014 New York Auto Show, Mazda unveiled the 25th anniversary edition 2014 MX-5 Miata and reactions have been unanimous. It’s beautiful.

The exterior illuminates class with its Soul Red Metallic body with Brilliant Black accents on the Power Retractable Hard Top roof, side mirrors, and A-pillars. Almond leather upholstery with red stitching makes for a comfortably classy ride inside the Miata. Not only does the car come with custom 25th Anniversary badges, but buyers will also receive a special edition Swiss-made, stainless steel Tourneau watch with a display winder box.

It is a fantastic must own for the most die-hard Miata enthusiasts and roadster aficionados but there is one small problem. Mazda only made 100 of these limited edition Miatas available for North America. Worse, you can’t pre-order it… for another week.

Next week on Tuesday, May 20 at 1:25 pm EST, Mazda will officially open up the 25th anniversary edition Miata for pre-order exclusively through their special anniversary website. Pre-orders will close after the first 250 deposits are submitted. These pre-orders will be processed to determine the first 100 qualified buyers.

For more information about the 2014 MX-5 Miata, check out our 2014 Miata research page created by the Mazda Experts at Don Mealey’s Sport Mazda in Orlando. Click here to go to the Miata pre-order site.

2014 Mazda3 named a finalist for the World Car of the Year

You would think what it takes to be considered a world class car is a price tag that would intimidate the fattest of wallets. That’s not the case this time as this year’s finalists for the World Car of the Year was announced last week at the Geneva Motor Show.

It’s not surprise that pricey powerful cars like the Audi A3 and BMW 4 series would secure a nomination, but finding its way on this prestigious list is the 2014 Mazda3.

Auto journalists from around the world has praised the design and engineering that was poured into Mazda’s mold of automotive excellence that has come to embody the latest generation of the Mazda3.

The selection committee for the World Car of the Year awards also acknowledged the beauty of the Mazda3 by naming it a finalist for the World Car Design of the Year, along with the BMW i3 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

It’s not every day that you see a $20,000 compact competing as a finalist against luxury cars that cost three times as much for a world title.

We won’t know if the Mazda3 is the World Car of the Year until next month when the winners will be announced at the 2014 New York International Auto Show.

For more information about the 2014 Mazda3, visit the home of the Mazda Experts at SportMazdaOrlando.com.

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.