Generations of gearheads have come to fall in love with the Mazda MX-5 Miata for its combination of drop-dead good looks, punch-power performance capabilities, and overall affordable price. That’s why the model has been one of the most consistently popular lines in the industry for the better part of 20-something years.
At the 2011 SEMA Auto Show, Mazda is set to reveal the MX-5 Spyder, giving us even more reason to bat our eyelashes at the iconic Japanese roadster. Mazda opted to tease these photos without so much as giving any information about it so we’re left to our senses to see what kind of package the hot stuff sports car has.
Judging from the photo, it appears that the MX-5 Spyder was given an automotive diet of sorts. The lowered suspension, combined with the new set of larger Brembo brakes are both in the spirit of what a track-version MX-5 Miata could be packaged in. Add that to the sexy silver-and-red finish, a soft and skimpy top where the normal folding roof used to be, a low-lying spoiler, a bigger central intake, and cooling ducts for those front brakes and you have a car that’s ready to stretch its legs on a race tarmac real soon.
In terms of performance, your guess is as good as ours, but if it’s as impressive as the car’s overall look, then we’re about to be treated to a MX-5 that will undoubtedly leave some drool on the SEMA floor.
Updated 11/09/2011: We have added new images of the Mazda MX-5 Spyder from its official debut in SEMA. Check the picture gallery.
There’s no chance you can wipe the smile off of the Mazda 2Turbo’s face because quite frankly, this is the most awesome Mazda 2 we’ve ever seen.
Details behind the car’s specs have yet to be revealed - we actually found the photos on Mazda’s Flickr page - although the caption it came with pretty much sums up what this car is all about: “One of our most powerful turbocharged engines in our lightest platform. ’Nuff said!”
The name seems to suggest that the race-spec hatch will come with a turbocharged engine that could potentially be akin to something a lot more powerful than the car’s existing 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 100 horsepower.
Exactly what kind of powertrain lies under that hood? At this point, it’s anybody’s guess. But if we were to take a little stab at it, we’re guessing that it could be somewhere along the lines of a 2.3-liter unit that pumps out 244 horsepower. It seems a little outrageous given the car’s current capabilities, but then again, that’s what the SEMA Auto Show is all about.
Whatever the case may be, we’re itching to find out what the Japanese automaker has in store for us with this gnarly little beast that’s already looking like it’s armed and ready to tear up race tracks from here to Timbuktu.
Updated 11/09/2011: Check the picture gallery to see new images of the Mazda Turbo 2 from its official at the SEMA Show.
When Mazda unveiled their new ’Kodo’ design language, it marked a changing of the guard as far as the company’s new design philosophy was concerned.
The first two examples of this new chapter in Mazda design came in the form of the Shinari and Minagi concepts. And now, a third model is expected to join the fold with its debut scheduled for the Tokyo Auto Show in November 2011.
The third Kodo-influenced concept is called the Takeri and it’s being touted as the eventual successor and next-generation model of the Mazda6. The Takeri Concept successfully follows in the steps of both the Shinari and Minagi concepts in that it carries the same "expression of motion that focuses on the strength, beauty and tension found in the instantaneous movement seen in animals" - or as how Mazda describes its new Kodo-Soul of Motion design language.
Full details surrounding the Takeri Concept have yet to be revealed, although it appears that it will carry Mazda’s new SKYACTIV technology that is geared towards producing a range of hybrid versions for the next-generation Mazda6. Other rumored elements of the Takeri Concept include a high tensile, lightweight steel chassis, regenerative brakes, and start-stop engine technology
More details of the Takeri Concept are expected to be revealed at the Tokyo Auto Show in a little over a month’s time. For now, enjoy the photos of the concept that Mazda has just released.
The Mazda RX-8 is set to run off into the sunset in a year’s time, but for one of Mazda’s most popular models, the inevitable end only means being given a proper swan song before officially saying goodbye.
Before the curtain drops on the RX-8 next summer, Mazda is preparing one final special edition model called the Spirit R. The car will be based on the manual version RX-8 Type RS and the automatic Type E and will be limited to only 1,000 units.
The two model variants of the RX-8 Spirit R will carry distinct styling features, including unique badges, fog lights and rear combination lights decked with black bezels, red painted brake calipers, a piano-black trim for the transmission tunnel, and a choice of three exterior paint finishes: Aluminum Metallic, Sparkling Black Mica, and Crystal White Pearl Mica.
On top of that, each model will have their own features. For the RX-8 Type RS trim, the added goodies include Recaro bucket seats and a special set of 19" bronze alloy wheels. For the RX-8 Type E trim, the changes include a black leather treatment on the interior with contrasting red stitching, a new sports suspension, larger brakes, and a set of 18" alloy in gun metallic finish wrapped in 225/45R18 91W tires.
The special edition RX-8 will drop in dealerships beginning November 24, 2011. So if you’re a fan of the RX-8 and you want to give it the send-off it deserves, here’s your chance to prove it.
So soon after the Minagi concept was revealed at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, Mazda has come forth with details of the future production model. The Minagi was concocted as a preview version of the next CX model so the fact that the production model is called the CX-5 shouldn’t be too alarming to Mazda fans. The Mazda CX-5 will be the third model in the CX line-up, next to the CX-7 and CX-9, and will appropriately be the smallest one.
The CX-5 will be the first production vehicle to incorporate Mazda’s new design theme, ’KODO - Soul of Motion’ that was revealed with the Shinari concept. This new design theme includes a prominent new front view with a bolder family face and dynamic styling that conveys a strong sense of vitality and agility. The future SUV will also use the full range of breakthrough SKYACTIV technologies, including engines - both diesel and gasoline - transmissions, body, and chassis.
The future CX-5 will go on sale worldwide in 2012.
UPDATE 02/06/12: Mazda has finally unveiled the pricing details for the 2012 CX-5. Check out how much it costs after the jump!
Hit the jump to read more about the new Mazda CX-5.
Full story
