As you know, Mazda is about to drop the RX-8 sports car from its lineup. Although sales will end at the end of 2011 for the USA, Europe has already axed the RX-8 due to the sports car not passing the latest European emission regulations. Basically, one of the last chances consumers will have to purchase the Mazda RX-8 will be in the last shipment to come out of the UK with 100 units being available.
The last shipment will contain the RX-8 R3, a version powered by an improved version of the unique 231ps twin-rotor engine. This sportscar will be priced at £25,540 and will make the 0-60mpg sprint in 6.4 seconds.
The interior of the RX-8 R3 features new Recaro sports seats in the front, a new-style steering wheel with audio controls, Bluetooth connectivity, and cruise control. Consumers will be able to enjoy the ambiance of the vehicle with the use of the new BOSE premium audio system with an eight-channel amplifier, 6-CD autochanger, nine speakers, and an auxiliary (AUX) input jack for connecting an MP3 player.
Press release after the jump.
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Mazda’s lightweight, entry level hatchback will be getting an upgrade for 2011 with the same focus on low fuel consumption and reduced emissions as other models in the lineup. This focus is thanks to the Euro 5 standards for cars that have many automakers changing things up to progressively move forward. The Mazda2 will be unveiled at this year’s Paris Auto Show and will come with a bit of a facelift.
The facelift Mazda2 will get new front styling featuring Mazda’s unique family face, a new interior, upgraded Euro V compliant powertrain line-up, and an upgraded chassis for even better ride comfort. An automatic transmission will also be offered for the very first time.
Next to the Mazda2, the Japanese company will also be unveiling a Mazda3 and Mazda5, both powered by a a new, more economical MZ-CD 1.6 diesel engine with 115 HP. The new engine will be mated to a new lightweight 6-speed manual transmission and will come with a 15 percent CO2 emissions reduction in comparison to previous 2.0-liter diesel. It also has a fuel consumption of only 4.4 l/100km.
Press release after the jump.
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Now that the sedans have been taken care of, we are moving on to something a bit more fun. Sports cars may not be for everybody because of their limited interior space and minimal cargo room, but they do provide an excellent driving experience that most of the other car segments can’t match.
The sports car segment is littered with different makes and models, the terrible and the good, the fun and the not so fun. Luckily, TopSpeed is here to give you a unique look at the sports cars that we love. Like usual, we don’t care about sales or anything of that nature. We are looking for driving experience, comfort, power, handling, interior space, and something very important in the sports car segment, styling.
We have set a price cap of $30,000, which should be enough for any sports car lover. So, hit the jump to see our top ten sports cars.
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In the world of automotive journalism, it can be difficult to really love a car. We sit behind computers, making assumptions on new products that we have yet to drive. It’s easy to love a car or hate a car from a chair, but will we feel the same way when we actually get a go? This was our dilemma with the Mazda 2. We have been praising this little car for its quirky looks ever since it debuted in 2007. We were as excited as a child with a new toy for the chance to get to take one out on the road for the first time.
The Mazda will be hitting showrooms soon, but it wasn’t that long ago when the future of this machine was still up in the air. We hoped and prayed that we would finally get a good small car. So, does the little Mazda fulfill our every desire?
At first glance the Mazda seems to have kept its slender figure. Where as most cars gain weight when they make the trip to the U.S – as do most humans – the Mazda2 has kept its figure. Sure, there are larger reinforcements to help the car pass U.S safety standards, but, all in all, this is the same machine we saw during its debut.
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We have some new details for you on the new next-generation Mazda MX-5. This will be the last car – except for the new 5 - to carry the Nagare design language and it should hit dealers around 2012.
The current MX-5 has gained a bit of weight since its creation in 1989, but Mazda is putting the sports car on a diet. The company’s engineers are worried that the MX-5 is getting a tad too fat, so they will focus on reducing the car’s weight for the next-generation model.
Mazda has set a target weight of 2,200 pounds for the next MX-5. That is roughly 300 pounds off of the current car’s weight. The car will also drop the 2.0-liter motor in favor of a 1.6-liter and an optional 1.8-liter.
The standard gearbox will be a six-speed manual, but buyers who don’t want to use this car to it’s full potential can get a dual-clutch semi-automatic. We aren’t sure if a hardtop version will be available, but there will most likely be one. We can’t wait.
