2010 Mazda CX-9 Price and Specification

2010 Mazda CX-9

Mazda’s medium-size CX-9 looks a lot like its smaller stablemate, the CX-7. Blink and you wouldn’t pick it until you drive up alongside where the 9’s size becomes more apparent.

The whole differentiation thing got harder with a recent mid-life upgrade to both vehicles which ushered in the new smiley face, five-point grille and other changes inside and out.

A range topping GT version of the CX-9 has been added with everything except the kitchen sink for $63,186.

The GT is the only car in medium sports utlility vehicle territory to get 20-inch alloys as standard equipment. They make it look a little like “puss in boots” but big wheel nuts will like it.

The GT has plenty of kit for luxury motoring including satellite navigation, seven leather-clad seats in three rows, three-zone climate control, cruise control, a reversing camera, premium audio, large info screen and xenon headlights.

Bluetooth is also included in the package along with heated mirrors and keyless entry/engine ignition.

Nothing much has changed under the bonnet to the vehicle that was launched in 2007. It runs a 3.7-litre petrol V6 with 204kW/367Nm output driving mostly the front wheels through six-speed auto offering sequential change mode.

2010 Mazda RX-8 R3 Real Review

2010 Mazda RX-8 R3

The Mazda RX-8's chassis is superb; it honestly doesn't get much better. Precise turn-in, balance, and grip, the RX-8 has it all. The low torque numbers (159 lb-ft @ 5500 rpm) mean you need to rev the living daylights out of it for any power, but the rotary engine has no problem climbing the tachometer to numbers a conventional engine can only spit oil at.

This R3 package looks really, really good: nineteen-inch smoked-gray wheels, Recaro seats, and a body kit with rear wing. My only gripes: $33,000 is a tough pill to swallow, and as great as the engine is, it needs more power. Address these issues, Mazda, and you'd have yourselves a perennial Automobile Magazine All-Star in my book.

Mazda CX-7 finely tuned

Number crunching is one of those terms like business casual that is hard to define but often achieves the desired effect and a case in point is the 2010 Mazda CX-7 crossover utility vehicle.

The CX-7 was launched in 2007 aimed at the compact CUV buyer. With its turbocharged engine, it was (and remains) one of the fastest and best handling vehicles in the segment and sold well.

Mazda CX-7

But going through the sales data, Mazda realized it was losing out at the entry end against Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V because it didn’t have a similarly priced competitor.

That has now been addressed in 2010 by the addition of a 2.5-litre normally aspirated engine in addition to the turbo.

It has resulted in the GX model with front-wheel drive and five-speed automatic transmission, the only CX-7 with FWD offered.

The engine itself is a Mazda stalwart being also used extensively by Ford.

At 2.5-litres, it’s large for a four-cylinder so Mazda uses counter rotating balance shafts in the oil pan to quell the imbalance normally found in big fours. In this form it produces 161 hp and 161 lb/ft of torque.

Mazda Crafts Special Mazda2 Yozora Edition

Mazda has announced the launch of the 2011 Mazda2 Yozora, a special limited-edition version of its all-new Mazda2 subcompact.

The Yozora, which means “night sky” in Japanese, is finished in a brilliant black exterior paint and features a themed “2″ decal package on the front driver’s side bumper and fender. The design also includes a unique rear raised spoiler, short stubby antenna, chrome tailpipe, and special silver and black 16-inch alloy wheels with Toyo Proxes T1R performance tires.

The Yozora is based on the entry-level Mazda2 GX trim, either with five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, with air conditioning and a Convenience Package of body-colour heated mirrors, keyless entry with jackknife key, steering wheel-mounted cruise and audio controls, two additional speakers, trip computer, outside temperature gauge, and interior silver accents.

Exclusive to the Canadian market, the Mazda2 Yozora has a starting price of $19,280. Only 500 units will be produced and will go on sale in July 2010.

Mazda2 Yozora Edition

Mazda MX-5 car review

The MX-5’s Japanese roots are immediately obvious when you look at its interior – but things are none the worse for that. Clearly laid out and well screwed together, there’s a lot of black in evidence, with just the right amount of alloy (actually silver plastic) highlights to make things interesting, without looking over-designed.

What’s really impressive is the ease with which the roof can be raised and stowed. There’s no power assistance; you simply release a catch and flip the boot back. It then latches into place on its own, with the top of the roof also doubling as a tonneau cover. When you want protection from the elements, you simply press another button and the roof is easily raised and clipped back into place. All convertible roofs should be this simple.

Mazda May Fix Oil Hose Defect In Additional 190,000 Subcompact Cars

Mazda Motor Corp. (7261.TO) said Friday it may offer to repair an oil hose defect in an additional 190,000 Mazda3 subcompact cars with 1.5-liter engines in Europe and other regions, after the company said Thursday it would recall 90,000 of the vehicles in Japan and China.

Models sold in North America and Australia with 2-and 2.3-liter engines are not affected, a company spokesman said.

The problem in the company's best-selling model comes as Japanese automakers find their reputation for quality under pressure following Toyota Motor's global recall of over 8.5 million vehicles.