Mazda cars

Mazda to Debut a New Vehicle on Xbox Live

With the ever evolving landscape of the auto industry, it’s easy to get left behind on new developments that can be categorized as a "world first".

Mazda’s probably well aware of that, which is why it is taking the never-before-taken step of unveiling a new car - a global debut, in fact - through a video game system.

Believe it or not, that’s exactly what the Japanese automaker is set to do after partnering with Xbox to introduce a new global model as part of the first-ever global live stream of a new vehicle introduction through the Xbox.

“It’s a digitally connected world, so what better way to reach our customers than through a connected platform like Xbox,” Russell Wager, vice president of marketing for Mazda, said.

”We were looking for a way to launch a global product and tie together our five separate reveals. Xbox not only gave us the platform, but allowed us to leverage our digital assets to drive a global audience to view the event.”

Mazda is keeping a lid on what kind of vehicle it’s going to unveil, but fortunately, we won’t have to wait too long to find out. The ground-breaking unveiling is scheduled to take place on June 26th in New York with the festivities being streamed globally, courtesy of Xbox Live, beginning at 9:00 p.m. EDT.

To drum up interest for the talked about debut, Mazda is sweeping through social media, touring the hashtag #GameChanger, alluding presumably to a car that will redefine its market.

Perhaps Mazda is gearing up to unveil the next-generation MX-5 Miata.

For now, your guesses are as good as ours because the whole event is being shrouded in so much secrecy that would make the Pentagon proud.

If you want to be part of the unveiling - and score a chance to win $2,500 and create your own dream trip to a music event of your choice - you can participate in the live broadcast and the accompanying sweepstakes.

Click past the jump to read some history on the MX-5

Mazda MX-5 Sets a New World Record

Back in May, Mazda announced plans to break another world record with the largest parade of Mazda cars. Well, it’s now official, as Mazda entered the Guinness Book of World Records on June 15th with a total of 693 MX-5s joining the parade.

There were a total of 1,450 participants who contributed to the record attempt, shattering the existing record for the "largest parade of Mazda cars," which put together a total of 459 MX-5s back in 2010.

The parade was led by a third-generation racing model driven by Dutch TV presenter, Allard Kalff, and President and CEO of Mazda Motor Europe, Jeff Guyton, beside him. The official certificate was offered by Guinness World Records adjudicator, Pravin Patel.

The entire event took place at the RDW Test Centre at Lelystad and featured demonstrations by the Ribank Mazda MaX5 Cup racers and the three-rotor-engine-powered Mazda3. Participants at the event had the opportunity to test Mazda’s new i-ACTIVSENSE and the new Mazda SKYACTIV models.

At the end of the day, participants were offered a reward for the most beautiful and authentic MX-5. This award went to Pieter Staat from Meteren (NL).

Click past the jump to read more about the Mazda MX-5.

2014 Mazda3

Now that we have seen the new generation Mazda6, the Japanese company is focusing on the development of the new generation Mazda3. The model is set to arrive late in 2013 or earlier in 2014 and will benefit from the company’s latest Kodo design language already seen in the new Mazda6 and the facelift version of the CX-9.

This means the next Mazda3 will adopt a prominent black grille and a more aggressive headlamps, while that ugly Cheshire-cat grin from the current model will finally be dropped. It will be built on the same lightweight architecture as the recently announced CX-5 and will be powered by a 2.0-liter Skyactiv four that delivers a total of 155 HP, among other gasoline engine variants. Mazda also has plans on offering a diesel engine.

Clients who want a sportier alternative will still have the Mazdaspeed 3 to look forward to, but they will have to wait a few more months to see it on the market.

Updated 06/04/2013: A scanned Japanese magazine has surfaced online revealing what appears to be the first images of the new-generation Mazda3. As no surprise, the new model will feature the same design language as the Mazda6, with more angular lines and a more prominent grille. You can see the image after the jump(Autotribute)

Mazda MX-5 Aims for Another Guinness World Record

Mazda plans to enter the Guinness World Record Book one more time, as the company plans to organize the largest parade of Mazda cars on June 15, 2013. The event is called "IMAX-5 2013" and plans to smash the current record, which brought together a total of 459 MX-5 roadsters.

Mazda hopes to bring together a total of 800 MX-5s following a 15 km (9.32-mile) path through the fascinating Dutch polder landscape near Lelystad, Netherlands. Participants will be entertained with a series of other activities, like the opportunity to test drive Mazda’s new SKYACTIV models or test their driving skills on different race simulators. The event will end at Europe’s largest drive-in cinema.

Customers interested in participating in the event need to register online at www.imax-5.nl. The €30 ($39) admission per car (up to two people) includes a meal and two drinks per person.

Click past the jump to read more about Mazda MX-5.

Spy shots: Mazda3 Testing in Germany

Now that Mazda has dropped the redesigned 2014 Mazda6 sedan->http://www.topspeed.com/cars/mazda/2014-mazda-6-ar123717.html], it’s no surprise that the same treatment is going to be applied to the Mazda3. All we had until now were rumors, but today our spy photographers managed to catch the next Mazda3 testing somewhere in Germany.

The prototype caught testing is heavily camouflaged, but you should expect a design language similar to what we saw with the new Mazda6. Our spy photographers also managed to catch a photo of the interior, revealing a redesigned dashboard and higher-quality materials. As for the engine lineup, we expect to see some improved versions of the current gasoline and diesel versions.

The new Mazda3 will be unveiled in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The first to arrive will be the hatchback version and it will be followed by a sedan a few months later.

Click past the jump to read more about the upcoming Mazda3.

Rumormill: 2015 Mazda Miata MX-5 to Receive a SkyActiv Diesel Engine

At the beginning of 2013, Mazda and Alfa Romeo signed an agreement that will bring a new roadster to each company: a new MX-5 for the Japanese company and a new Spider for the Italian one. Both models will be built at Mazda’s Hiroshima plant starting 2015, but each model will offer its own engines.

Until now, it has been rumored that the MX-5 would use a 1.3-liter turbocharged engine that features SkyActiv technology. However, new details suggest that the tiny roadster could also get a diesel engine. you read that right; we said diesel…

However, because a diesel roadster could be a tough sell to traditionalists, Mazda will still offer a gasoline alternative. Rumors suggest that this diesel engine will be a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter SkyActiv engine that produces approximately 130 horsepower. This would give the Miata its lowest horsepower output since it bumped the standard 1.8-liter four-cylinder to 133 horsepower in 1996.

As for the Spider version, it could be offered with a turbocharged 1.4-liter ‘TB’ engine with power ranging from 120 horsepower in the base model to 296 horsepower for the top versions. Both models will be offered with a six-speed manual gearbox.

Mazda will focus on offering modern materials and design techniques that could help keep the total weight down to about 1,760 pounds.

Click past the jump to read more about the next MX-5.

1990 - 2009 Mazda MX-5 Habu by Flyin’ Miata

The Mazda MX-5 is already a fine piece of machinery. It is balanced, nimble and is capable of making for quick laps on the most twisty of track. While the MX-5 is fun to drive, one thing that nobody will say is that it is powerful.

Flyin’ Miata, a top MX-5 Miata tuner, decided to change all of this with their Habu conversion kit. The Habu upgrade works on any 1990-2009 MX-5 with a big difference under the hood. They swap out the small four-cylinder engine for a fire breathing V-8.

If this sounds familiar it is because Carroll Shelby made it popular by putting a large V-8 engine into the small AC Ace. The result of this was the Shelby Cobra, a small roadster capable of scary performance back in the ’60s.

With an eight-cylinder engine in the small Japanese roadster, you get a high-powered performance car that can keep up with many of the high-priced supercars built today for a fraction of the cost.

The performance comes dangerously close to the 2014 SRT Viper and it is because of this swipe at the Viper that the kit is called the Habu, which is Japanese for a small venomous snake.

Hit the jump for more information about the Mazda MX-5 Habu by Flyin’ Miata

Mazda RX-7 Successor is Once Again Under Discussion

We haven’t heard any details on a possible Mazda RX-7 successor for quite some time now, but new details have surfaced on the internet suggesting that such a rotary-powered successor to the RX-7 could be offered as a competitor for the next generation Nissan Z.

The new RX-7 will sit atop the current Mazda lineup and, unlike the RX-8, it will not come as a four-door coupe. It will, however, again come in the same front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout.

Rumored to be called RX-9, the new sports car will likely be powered by a new rotary engine developed by the company and is set to be put into production within the next five years. This RX-9 will likely be initially offered in naturally aspired version, but a turbocharged version is also a possibility.

According to Mazda officials, a final decision hasn’t been made just yet because the company wants to investigate the economic situation before deciding if to offer the new sports car or not.

We’ll keep an eye out and let you know when we hear more details.

Video: 2013 Scion FR-S and 2013 Mazda MX-5 Club Head to Head

In the latest episode of his "Head 2 Head" show, Carlos Lago from MotorTrend put two of the coolest sports car on the market — the 2013 Mazda Miata Club Edition and the 2013 Scion FR-S — head to head. Of course, for this test you will have to forget the numbers and understand it is just a fight made for fun.

The Scion FR-S will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.2 seconds and the Miata Club Edition in 6.1 seconds. The quarter-mile times are pretty much identical, as the MX-5 runs it in 14.7 seconds at a speed of 92.8 mph and the FR-S in 14.8 seconds at a speed of 95.1 mph. With these numbers aside, which car is more fun to drive?

Watch the video to see which of the two models impressed Carlos Lago the most! Also, let us know in the comment section below if you agree with him!

2013 Mazda MX-5 Venture Edition

Mazda UK is adding four new special editions to its lineup, one of them being a MX-5 Venture Edition. The new special edition is on sale now with prices starting £18,895 (about $28,800 at the current exchange rates) for the 126-horsepower, 1.8-liter-powered Venture Edition soft-top version and up to £22,295 (about $34,000 at the current exchange rates) for the 160-horsepower, 2.0-liter-powered Venture Edition Roadster Coupe with powered folding roof.

The new MX-5 Venture Edition will be distinguished by a new set of 17-inch Bright Finish alloy wheels on the outside. On the inside, Mazda is offering heated tan leather sports seats and tan leather door inserts.

The new Venture Edition will be offered in four exterior colors: Brilliant Black, Copper Red Mica, Meteor Grey Mica and Stormy Blue Mica. Each color will be combined with a set of “Venture Edition" badges, while the soft-top models will be offered with a tan fabric roof.