2013 Mazda Mazda3 I Sv on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Mazda seemingly confirms turbo Mazda3, plus reveal date

Yes, you read that right, Mazda seems to have confirmed that a 2021 Mazda3 turbo is on the way. The company replied to multiple tweets asking about such a car, including one from yours truly, with a teaser video and the phrase "Power comes to those who wait." This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.   That context is important since the teaser doesn't say anything explicitly. It does have a soundtrack of a mean sounding four-cylinder. It also has a date: July 8, 2020. So we should see the car in just a couple of weeks. Many reports have circulated about the turbo Mazda3. The most recent asserts that it will be available in both sedan and hatchback variants, but that it may only come with an automatic transmission. The engine will probably be the same turbocharged 2.5-liter unit from the Mazda6, CX-5 and CX-9, which makes 250 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. That would put it in close proximity to the VW GTI and Subaru WRX. We'll be curious if Mazda also offers all-wheel drive, since it's available with the turbo engine in the CX-5 and CX-9. Odds are the car will also be tuned and marketed as a more mature vehicle than other hot hatches or the old Mazdaspeed3. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.      

Mazda could electrify the next Miata, is trying to figure out how

The next Mazda Miata is at the embryonic stage of development. The men and women in charge of the project are debating whether to electrify the roadster, or if it's better to keep it true to its roots. The Miata is not a high-volume model in any market, so it doesn't need a plug to help Mazda comply with looming emissions regulations. The company explained it's not a matter of compliance; it's about how the definition of a sports car and the expectations of motorists could change in the 2020s. "The preferences of people who enjoy driving sports cars might be changing, so we need to think about what direction society is going in. We want to look at the best powertrain to keep the vehicle lightweight, but because of the diversifying requirements and preferences, we need to explore various options," Ikuo Maeda, Mazda's global design director, in an interview with Autocar. Adding any degree of electrification to the Miata beyond a relatively basic mild-hybrid system is easier said than done. An unusually low weight and a compact footprint defined the original model introduced in 1989, and these attributes continue to characterize the fourth-generation car (pictured) sold in 2019. Electrification requires batteries, batteries add weight and require space, and Mazda doesn't want to end up with a 3,000-pound Miata, or one that's the size of a Mercedes-Benz S-Class Convertible. Keeping its chassis balanced is a delicate task, too. Overcoming this challenge is not impossible, however, and batteries are expected to become lighter and smaller during the 2020s. The next-generation Miata isn't expected out until the middle of the 2020s, so Mazda has time to figure out whether it should go hybrid, arrive as an electric car, or carry on with a rev-happy, naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine. Maeda stressed a final decision on the matter hasn't been made yet. "I don't have the answer right now, but we need to make a vehicle that people can own without worrying that they are not being eco-friendly," he concluded.

2019 Mazda CX-5 debuts with turbocharged engine and near-$40K price tag

We've seen a couple different leaks concerning the 2019 Mazda CX-5, but now Mazda finally has official word on what's coming our way. One exciting development is the addition of the 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine on higher trim levels. It's great to see Mazda sharing that engine to other models after originally debuting in the larger CX-9. In the CX-5, it makes 250 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque on 93 octane. To get the boosted engine, you'll have to opt for one of the two new trim levels Mazda has added for 2019: Grand Touring Reserve or Signature. Of course, with higher trim levels and more powerful engines come higher prices. The Signature trim comes in at a whopping $37,885 including destination charges. For 2018, the highest trim level available was the Grand Touring, and that car costs $30,640. Mazda adds a bunch of new features for the expensive Signature trim, though. You'll get brown leather seats, real wood trim, a uniquely stitched leather steering wheel, 360-degree view camera, a frameless auto-dimming mirror, LED lighting throughout the interior and dark silver 19-inch wheels. These options are in addition to the new and still luxurious Grand Touring Reserve trim level. This trim has heated and cooled seats, a heated steering wheel and power folding mirrors as its highlights. For comparison, the Grand Touring Reserve with the turbocharged engine costs $35,865. Making the CX-5 more luxurious wasn't the only aim for 2019 — Mazda also gave it a new version of its G-Vectoring Control handling system. The updated G-Vectoring (now called G-Vectoring Control Plus) helps when the driver is unwinding the wheel by "adding a hit of braking to the outside front wheel," according to Mazda. This, in addition to some suspension refinements, are supposed to make for a smoother and better ride. Specifically, Mazda says it re-tuned the suspension to reduce friction and adjusted the steering geometry to achieve more natural feeling handling. Sweating over these small handling and feel things is why we typically end up liking the driving experience of Mazda vehicles. Mazda increased prices on the CX-5 across the board, too. The Sport trim is $1,600 more than before, with other trims following suit at similar increases. We'll see how the changes affect the sporty and now more expensive crossover when we get our hands on a 2019 model. For now, you can build them on Mazda's website, and Mazda says they'll be available sometime this fall.