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Mazda expands heritage parts program to include the iconic RX-7

Mazda has added two more cars to its heritage parts program. Joining the first-generation MX-5 Miata will be the second- and third-generation Mazda RX-7. It's something fans of Mazda's rotary sports car have demanded for years, and now Mazda is making good with its loyal fans. According to Japanese Nostalgic Car, the program was kicked off today in Japan with a list of 91 parts, 30 for the second-gen "FC3S" chassis and 61 for the third-gen "FD3S". The list is in Japanese and includes basic bits like bolts and washers, as well as vacuum hoses, seals, and bushings. Such rubber parts are typically the first to deteriorate with age and can be difficult to find in the aftermarket. There's even a throttle position sensor for the FD3S. Mazda says more parts will be added as time goes on. The MX-5 has a catalog of 1,100 parts, so there's room for the RX-7 program to grow. There's no word on whether the program will be expanded to full restoration, as Mazda does with the MX-5 or like the program Nissan announced last week for the Skyline GT-R. Mazda also offers the Miata parts in the United States, but it's unknown whether the remanufactured RX-7 parts will cross the Pacific. However, Japanese Nostalgic Car notes that there are 24,000 RX-7s registered in Japan. Sales of the premium sports car were a fraction of that of the Miata, so it would make financial sense to send some parts our way. The Mazda RX-7 was a flagship of the Mazda brand for decades before its discontinuation in 1995 (2002 in Japan). Though known for its commitment to lightness and stellar handling, it's centerpiece technology was Mazda's rotary engine, making it a unique entry in the sports car world. It also has a rich motorsports provenance, having won over 100 IMSA races. The FC3S was sold in the United States from 1986-92 and a favorite of early tuners and drift racers, which means many were destroyed, making good examples quite rare now. The 1993-95 FD3S, famed for its sequential turbo and stunning design, has been appreciating as a collectible classic in recent years. Looks like they might be a bit easier to restore now.

Mazda books first yearly profit in half-decade, NA still a drag

Automotive News reports Mazda has posted its first annual profit in five years. The company made $364.3 million in the last fiscal year, following a $1.14 billion loss the year prior. Operating profit also jumped up by $91.3 million to $572.8 million, thanks in part to a revenue increase of 8 percent to $23.42 billion.
But the news isn't all rays of sunshine. North America continues to be a problem for Mazda where the automaker posted yet another loss. The manufacturer lost $519.1 million last year, up from $427.8 million the year prior. While the launch of the CX-5 helped see US sales increase by 2 percent to 273,000 vehicles, the region as a whole bought up 372,000 units. Mazda had predicted closer to 380,000 units.
Even so, Mazda says it should have North America back in the black by next year, with the company forecasting a sales increase of 11 percent to 415,000 units in the region. That's thanks in part to a boost from the redesigned Mazda6 sedan.

White House clears way for NHTSA to mandate vehicle black boxes

At present, over 90 percent of all new vehicles sold in the United States today are equipped with event data recorders, more commonly known as black boxes. If the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gets its way, that already high figure will swell to a full 100 percent in short order.
Such automotive black boxes have been in existence since the 1990s, and all current Ford, General Motors, Mazda and Toyota vehicles are so equipped. NHTSA has been attempting to make these data recorders mandatory for automakers, and according to The Detroit News, the White House Office of Management Budget has just finished reviewing the proposal, clearing the way. Now NHTSA is expected to draft new legislation to make the boxes a requirement.
One problem with current black boxes is that there's no set of standards for automakers to follow when creating what bits of data are recorded, and for how long or in what format it is stored. In other words, one automaker's box is probably not compatible with its competitors.