1998 Mazda B-series Pickup B4000 Se on 2040-cars

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Turbo Mazda6 starts at $30,090, only base trim gets manual

We learned last fall that the 2018 Mazda6 is getting a slew of updates to its appearance and refinement, as well as introducing this generation's first turbocharged engine (may we never forget the old Mazdaspeed6). Now we know how much it will cost to get that 2.5-liter four-cylinder's 250 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque: $30,090. This is the base price of the Mazda6 Grand Touring, which is the entry trim level to this engine. In fact, the Grand Touring will only come with the turbo engine, as will the new Grand Touring Reserve and Signature trim levels. The base-level Sport trim and higher-level Touring will only come with the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder (187 hp, 186 lb-ft of torque) that now comes with cylinder-deactivation. Every Mazda6 will receive a comprehensive series of updates when it arrives at dealerships this April. The revised Sport, which comes with cloth manual seats, dual-zone climate control, 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, blind-spot warning, rear-cross traffic assist and low speed automatic emergency braking, is only $5 more than the outgoing 2017.5 model for a new base price of $22,840. The optional automatic adds another $1,050 to the price. Moving up to Touring limits you to only the automatic transmission and adds 19-inch alloy wheels, leatherette upholstery, a power driver's seat, heated front seats, a sunroof, and rear air vents. It starts at $26,590, $455 more than the outgoing model with the optional automatic. Moving up to the Grand Touring brings us to the turbo engine. It also adds an 11-speaker Bose sound system, navigation, heated side mirrors, and an auto-dimming driver's mirror. It also gets shift paddles on the steering wheel, so although the turbo engine won't be available with a manual, there will be a way to conveniently shift gears. Its price is $30,090, and as a point of reference, the cheapest Honda Accord with the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine starts at $31,200 with either a manual or automatic transmission. The Grand Touring Reserve comes in at $32,590. This trim adds a heads-up display, rear spoiler, windshield wiper de-icers, heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, real leather upholstery, and power adjustment and ventilation for both front seats. The range-topping Signature starts at $35,640 and adds Nappa leather, UltraSuede trim, parking sensors, 360-degree camera views and a configurable instrument screen. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party.

Range Rover Sport SVR, Mazda CX-3, this week's news | Autoblog Video Podcast #533

On this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Associate Editor Reese Counts. We'll talk about the latest news and discuss a couple of the cars we've had in the office, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR and the Mazda CX-3. We also have a look behind the scenes of a video we shot in Iceland. And of course, we'll help choose a new vehicle for a listener in our "Spend My Money" segment. Autoblog Podcast #533 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown This week's news Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR Mazda CX-3 Iceland behind-the-scenes look Spend my money Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Podcasts Land Rover Mazda Crossover SUV mazda cx-3

The Mazda MX-5 Miata and saving a marriage

I've had the privilege of knowing Zach Bowman – former Autoblog scribe, now penning great things over at Road & Track – for nearly a decade. We met at the Detroit Auto Show when we were both relatively new to the business, and joked about how someday, we'd work together and eventually conquer the world as big shots in the industry (we're still figuring that last part out, by the way). Thus, I was thrilled when Zach joined Autoblog in 2010, just a couple of months after I was hired, and was equally saddened when I learned he'd be leaving us. Zach is someone I'm proud to call a colleague – nay, a friend – and I've enjoyed the voice he's brought to this line of work. I tell you this on a personal level because Zach has just published what you could arguably consider his most heartfelt piece of automotive work to date. It's a charming, emotional story about his relationship with his wife, and how they, like so many young couples, learned to make marriage work through the many ups and downs found in any solid relationship. I call this "automotive work" because Zach intertwines this tale into a story about driving his 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata across the country, his wife by his side, learning about love and life from the cockpit of a two-seat roadster. I can honestly say it's one of the best things I've read in a long while. Rather than continue to wax poetic about Zach's latest piece, I'll let his own words speak for themselves. Head over to Road & Track to read the full piece.