Suv 3.7l Cd Front Wheel Drive Power Steering 4-wheel Disc Brakes Rear Spoiler on 2040-cars

Auto blog

2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata powered by a Jaguar-sourced V6 for sale

Cars & Bids, a relatively new site that specializes in auctioning modern enthusiast cars, is selling a 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata. While that's hardly unusual, this example lost its four-cylinder engine and gained a Jaguar-sourced V6. Pulling a 3.0-liter six out of a 2000 S-Type and dropping it into an unsuspecting Miata is apparently easier than it sounds. England-based Rocketeer offers a kit that makes the swap reasonably straightforward, though the listing notes the factory air conditioning system is not compatible with the new engine. Cold air aside, the installation is done so neatly that it looks like Mazda envisioned the Miata with a bigger engine. Jag's V6 inevitably adds weight to a roadster praised globally for its nimble handling, but it also brings a whole lot of horsepower to the table. Left stock, a 2002 Miata is powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder that makes 142 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque. The example listed on Cars & Bids puts 220 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque under the driver's right foot, figures that easily offset the weight gain. And, somewhat surprisingly, the six spins the rear wheels through a stock five-speed manual transmission. Flyin' Miata sway bars and Koni shocks improve handling. Close the hood, and this Jagazda looks like a run-of-the-mill 18-year-old Miata. The seller made no modifications to the body, it's still painted in its original shade of silver, and he kept the stock 15-inch wheels. The dual exhaust tips hint at the V6, but they're subtle enough to surprise more than a few racers at the next autocross event. The auction is live now, and bidding stands at $4,250 as of writing with about three days left before the hammer drops. If you miss your chance to bag it, several shops sell kits that let skilled shade-tree mechanics shoehorn Mazda's K-Series V6 (which powered the MX-6 and the Ford Probe, among other cars) into an older Miata. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.     Featured Gallery 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata with Jaguar V6 View 14 Photos Aftermarket Jaguar Mazda Convertible

Mazda's Tokyo concepts have us wishing for more Mazdaspeed

It's been a while since we've seen any new Mazdaspeed machinery, and we're sorry to report that today isn't the day the wait ends. But if you want to see what they might look like based on Mazda's latest models, the Tokyo Auto Salon will be the place to be in a couple of weeks. Turns out the Zoom-Zoom brand has a whole raft of performance models in store for the aftermarket expo. Most intriguing to our eyes is the trio of Racing concepts – one based on the MX-5 Miata roadster, one on the CX-3 crossover, and one on the Mazda6 sedan. Each is done up in black with full aero kit, new rolling stock, and Alcantara interior. An adjustable suspension is the big change to the MX-5 – known simply as the Mazda Roadster in Japan – which also features red trim. As does the CX-3, while the Atenza (which we know as the Mazda6) goes for a more monochromatic, murdered-out appearance. The rally-prepped Mazda2 (known domestically as the Demio) focuses on a stripped-out interior with bucket seats, racing harnesses and a roll cage. There's a spec racing MX-5 in white livery with roll cage and tow hooks as well to join the Global Cup roadster we've already seen. That also goes for the RX-Vision and LM55 Vision Grand Turismo concepts which have already made the rounds but will be on display at the Tokyo salon as well. But it's those three Racing concepts that leave us salivating for production performance models to come – and hopefully come to North America in the process. Related Video:

2019 Subaru Ascent vs. 2018 Mazda CX-9: Driving two class leaders side-by-side

As the de facto replacement for the family sedan, we expect a lot out of modern crossovers. They need to excel at family-hauling duties while delivering reasonable performance and fuel economy. They have to offer all-wheel drive and the latest safety technology. They ought to be ruggedly handsome, and they can't be so prohibitively expensive that the families they are targeting can't afford them. It's a tall order, and some automakers have hit closer to the proverbial bullseye than others. By some stroke of luck, we managed to snag a 2018 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring as our chariot to take the four-hour drive from Seattle to McMinnville, Ore., where we got our first drive of the 2019 Subaru Ascent. As one of our favorite vehicles in this class, the CX-9 would serve as a good comparison to the Ascent. And, on paper, the similarities are abundant: Both come from automakers with a clear, go-your-own-way approach to vehicle engineering, are powered by turbocharged four-cylinder engines, and offer three rows of seating in a relatively compact package. Put simply, we expect the Ascent and CX-9 to be cross-shopped by a lot of new-car buyers looking for a new family car. What we found is that the CX-9 is the better choice for the buyer who values a sporty driving experience above all else, while the Ascent is probably better for families looking for a healthier dose of practicality. Either option will ably serve the suburban American family they are targeting, but the ways they go about that life of servitude are quite different. It's worth noting that pretty much every automaker in America is selling a vehicle in this class, which means there are a heck of a lot of vehicles from which to choose. For a few other options, check out this spec-sheet comparison here, and for anything else, be sure to visit the handy Autoblog compare tool. With that out of the way, let's break it down a bit more granularly. Styling: View 36 Photos Looks-wise, we prefer the Mazda. A crossover is going to be generally box-shaped, but that doesn't mean it has to be boring. The CX-9's bodywork flows gracefully from nose to tail, with just the right amount of flashiness in the form of headlights that take the form of cat-like eyes, a five-point grille surrounded in chrome, and gently arcing bodyside lines. It all works to form what we think is the most attractive midsize crossover overall. We don't hate the Subaru Ascent's looks, but it's definitely more boring than the CX-9.