Mazda MX-5 Named UK’s Best Sportscar

Since its launch 20 years ago, Mazda MX-5 has been one of the UK’s most favourite cars. So no wonder that in the 2010 JD Power survey it was awarded as Britain’s ‘Best Sports car’. This little Japanese is probably the only successful copy of a true British roadster. It’s a very desirable car not for things that is has, but because of things that it doesn’t have!

The MX-5 is simple and honest and most importantly affordable. It offers unmatched level of driving fun in its class, mainly thanks to its lightness. It doesn’t ask what you need, it asks what you can live without! Of course these days it’s got caught up in the game and comes with retractable metal roof and all other stuff you won’t need, and that has made it heavier ans less fun, but still comparing to its rivals, it’s a true British sportscar, except its Japanese!

Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen To Race At 24 Hour Le Mans

Mazda is making a big return to LeMans 24 Hours race in 2010 19 years after their memorable victory with a rotary-engine race car. This time too, they are coming with a groundbreaking car, the Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE sports coupe, powered by a petrol/hydrogen rotary engine. The car will get a special demonstration at “Le Mans vers le future” (Le Mans into the Future).

Mazda considering hybrid rotary for MX-5 replacement

Mazda MX-5 Superlight Concept

According to reports coming out of Japan, Mazda is developing a hybrid
rotary powered roadster for 2012. The model is said to be a smaller and lighter replacement for the Mazda Miata MX-5.

Japan’s BestCar magazine reports that Mazda is looking fit its newly developed Sky-G Hybrid Rotary Engine in a 1.2L or 1.3L engine capacity for the Roadster. The magazine said that the move makes since the industry is being pulled towards a “Hybrid Sports” movement (yes, it’s pretty sad for us to hear that too).

MAZDA B2500 Pick-up Truck (2000) diesel 4WD

Mazda B2500 pick up truck from 2000. 4WD and diesel engine. Regular cab. I have bought the truck 5 yrs ago from International Motors. Car is in fairly good condition. 30000 miles

I'm looking for $6500 OBO

Mazda MX-5 Roadster four drive wheel

There’s a certain allure to the prospect of piloting a car without a roof down a twisty road: The slipstream buffeting your face, the exhaust note rudely ringing in your ears, the smell of hot metal and burning rubber confirming that you’re giving it stick. It’s the ultimate expression of freedom on four wheels.

Sports cars come in many flavours. For many, the exotics from Ferrari and Lamborghini count among the most desirable. Arguably more rewarding are the everyday, easy-to-drive supercars like the Audi R8 V10 and the Porsche 911 Turbo.

Hardcore sports cars? Think Lotus Exige S, or Aerial Atom. Sports coupés? Audi’s TT, and the impressively affordable VW Scirocco come to mind. And let’s not forget sport sedans such as the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, or the Subaru Impreza WRX.

Though the roof is undoubtedly clever. It stows away in a dedicated receptacle behind the seats, and doesn’t encroach on boot space at all. Which is just as well: at a shoebox-sized 150-litres, there isn’t much of a boot to start off with.

The interior is everything you’d expect of a roadster: snug, comfortable and well equipped. The heated sport seats are shaped for support, the small, fat-rimmed steering wheel looks and feels just right and the analogue instrument dials are clearly legible.

Sporty look gives Mazda CX-7 its edge

2010 Mazda CX-7 unique? Styling, I guess — it's sleek and reasonably contemporary, updated considerably for this model year, but those swoopy lines cost the CX-7 some cargo space and rear-seat room. If a lot of rear space is your central concern, you might be better with something more, well, angular, such as a Toyota Highlander.

Indeed, with the five-passenger CX-7, and its larger seven-passenger sibling, the CX-9, Mazda has tried hard to position itself as emphasizing "sport" over "utility" in its bigger SUVs. Just as important as styling is the CX family's stiffer-than-usual suspension and, with the CX-7, at least the option of a powerful engine.

That suspension and larger-than-average tires and wheels also mean a mildly rougher ride, especially on uneven pavement, and quite a bit of tire noise on coarse concrete. Even so, I'll happily take the rougher ride to get the CX-7's crisp handling. It doesn't feel like an SUV, and that's a compliment.

In a straight line, though, the thrill is gone if you have this 2.5-liter, 161-horsepower four-cylinder engine, mated to a plucky five-speed automatic transmission that tries hard to help the slightly coarse engine motivate the 3,500-pound sport-ute. At least mileage isn't bad, with an EPA-rated 20 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, on regular-grade gas. This engine, shared with the Mazda6 and Mazda3, is new to the CX-7 this year. Previously, you could only get the now-optional turbocharged engine, which gave the CX-7 an abnormally high base price.

You can, of course, get that 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that pumps out 244 horsepower, and rides on 18- or 19-inch tires and wheels, instead of the standard 17-inchers. That model is also offered in all-wheel-drive, as well as the standard front-wheel-drive. With all the options, the turbo version of the CX-7 can hit almost $33,000, pricey in this class.

Mazda Biante 20s NAVI SPECIAL Introduced

Mazda announced that it will release a limited edition version of its mid-size, tall roof Biante minivan, destined for the Japanese market.


The vehicle is dubbed Biante 20s NAVI SPECIAL and offers additional equipment including a navigation system that uses a hard disk drive and a park assist system, while only having a price premium of around $800 (73,500 yen) over the standard 20S model. As the vehicle aims to offer a special image, it does not feature the flexible hook that is standard equipment on the model it is based on.

The vehicle can be ordered in a two wheel drive or a four wheel drive version, with the first one featuring Mazda’s idling stop system, i-stop. Both versions are equipped with a 2.0 liter DISI (Direct Injection Spark Ignition) gasoline engine, with the two wheel drive one using a 5 speed automatic gearbox and the four wheel drive one featuring a four speed automatic gearbox.

The front wheel drive minivan also qualifies for Japan’s eco-car incentive program and 75 percent tax reductions under the government’s tax reduction program. The vehicle has a starting price of $27,000 (2,572,000 yen), with the tax reduction included.