Auto News & New car review

Mazda BT-50 Dual Cab review.

SHARP pricing, an increased payload capacity, better performance, improved economy and a refreshed interior herald the main attractions of Mazda’s new BT-50.

The Japanese company has re-skinned its Thai-built light truck inside and out to make it seem as new as the Toyota HiLux, Nissan D40 Navara and Mitsubishi Triton (more…)

MAZDA HAKAZE CONCEPT review.

Hakaze is the third concept vehicle expressing Mazda’s ‘Nagare’ design language. Mazda Motor Corporation unveiled the new Hakaze design concept at the 77th annual Geneva International Motor Show, being held through Sunday, March 18, 2007. (more…)

Mazda6i 2008 Review

We hear reports that Mazda is fueling its growth by stocking American rental companies with product. Normally, this sales strategy is a sure way to run a brand into the ground; to ensure that factories build The Least Objectionable Automobile rather than something inherently worthwhile. Not in this case. In fact, you could say that Ford’s Japanese partner has created the world largest, perhaps best demo fleet for the four-cylinder Mazda6i. If you have a choice, make it your default option. (more…)

Mazda MX-5 PRHT 2008 Review.

Living in Southern California, it’s always a fun week when something with the ability to go topless arrives on your doorstep. With 20 years of top-down motoring chops under it’s familiar ‘soap bar’ shape, espying the bright red, ‘Power Retractable Hard Top’ MX-5 brings a smile to one’s face. (more…)

Mazda Biante 2008 review.

Meet the Biante, Mazda’s new Japan-only 8-passenger minivan. The funky oversized headlamps, expansive greenhouse, and stylish frenched taillamps are the work of Iwao Koizumi, designer of the original Atenza (Mazda6 outside Japan) and CX-7. (more…)

Mazda Tribute 2008 review.

The 2008 Mazda Tribute has been redesigned on the outside and inside, although the engines and chassis are the same. Built by Ford with Mazda tweaks, and a fraternal twin to the Ford Escape, the Tribute took model year 2007 off but it’s back for 2008 and offers more value than before. (more…)

MAZDA SPEED3 review.

The 2007 MAZDASPEED3 is one of the fastest and quickest front-wheel drive cars in the world. With a zero-to-60 time under six-seconds and an electronically limited top-speed of 155 mph, MAZDASPEED3 is the class of the sport-compact “pocket-rocket” crowd. (more…)

Mazda CX-7 2008 review.

The Mazda CX-7 fits neatly into the zoom-zoom mold: sporty but functional; roomy but svelte; snappy but comfortable. It has a surprisingly powerful, and fairly frugal, turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with a state-of-the-art six-speed automatic transmission, motivating a sporty-looking and sporty-handling five-passenger vehicle that will haul nearly as much stuff as it does people. (more…)

MAZDA RX8 2008 review.

First launched in 2003, the Mazda RX-8 series unveils the 2009 model at the 2008 North American International Auto Show. Mazda hopes it that the RX-8’s refreshed exterior and interior design, enhanced performance, and a new R3 sport package will further the evolution of the four-door, four-seater sports coupe. The 2009 model features Mazda’s twin-rotor “RENESIS (Rotary Engine genesis – or rebirth of the rotary engine)” rotary engine. (more…)

MAZDA CX-9 2008 review.

“It truly is an honor,” said Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO of Mazda North American Operations upon receiving the North American Truck of the Year Award for the 2008 Mazda CX-9 crossover sport utility vehicle (SUV) at the 2008 North American International Auto Show. Determined by 48 automotive journalists from the United States and Canada, the prestigious award recognizes the most outstanding truck of the year, a category that includes conventional pickup trucks, body-on-frame SUVs, and crossovers. Factors considered for the award include innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar. (more…)