2023 Mazda Mazda3 2.5 S Premium Package on 2040-cars

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2021 Mazda3 to gain a turbocharged engine, finally, probably

Buckle up, Mazda fans. The Mazda3 turbo might really be happening, says a report from Jalopnik. Some details from Mazda’s dealership extranet system observed by Jalopnik suggest weÂ’ll see a 2021 Mazda3 turbo in both sedan and hatchback form. We donÂ’t have eyes on the documents ourselves, but the report says both the sedan and hatchback versions will be all-wheel-drive only with no option for front-wheel drive. In addition to that, it looks like the turbo models will be exclusively automatic, as theyÂ’re both only listed as “6A” in MazdaÂ’s system. Sorry to break the hearts of those who were hoping for a manual turbo. The hatchback manual with the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter from the modelÂ’s first two years appears to be sticking around for a third, in case you were worried. There is one minor mystery that's a possible glimmer of hope for someone wanting more performance, though. The report says that a “MAZDA3 HB PP TURBO” is listed in the docs. Our hearts are yearning for the PP to stand for Performance Package, but it probably stands for “Premium Package.” ThatÂ’s the name of MazdaÂ’s highest trim Mazda3 right now, and itÂ’d make sense to offer the turbo engine on the upmarket model. The last we heard on this front was from a report published over a year ago. It suggested MazdaÂ’s 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder as a possible drop-in. That motor makes 250 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel and would be a big upgrade to the 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque made by the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter under the hood now. Without a manual, the obvious transmission would be MazdaÂ’s traditional six-speed automatic. ItÂ’s a solid transmission for cars like the Mazda6 and CX-5, but itÂ’s not meant for sports cars, as we recently found in the automatic Miata RF. So no, this Mazda3 turbo wonÂ’t be a Mazdaspeed. It would simply be a quicker Mazda3, and while we can still pine for a true Mazdaspeed, this will be a welcome addition to the lineup. ThereÂ’s even more ancillary news in the report, too. The docs that Jalopnik saw say weÂ’ll be getting a Mazda3 with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder in 2021. That one has to be the Skyactiv-X engine weÂ’ve been patiently waiting for. It has already launched in Europe, but was delayed in the U.S. Those 100th Anniversary Edition Mazdas get a callout, too. The Mazda3 version of that is reportedly set to be equipped with the turbo engine, making that particular model even more enticing.

Mazda's first-quarter profit slumps on weak sales in U.S. and China

TOKYO — Mazda reported a 79% drop in quarterly operating profit, falling significantly short of estimates, as it continues to struggle with declining U.S. and Chinese sales, while a strengthening yen also cut into its bottom line. Operating profit at JapanÂ’s No.5 automaker was 7.0 billion yen ($64 million) in the first quarter ended June, versus around 33 billion yen a year ago and less than half of an average forecast for 18.5 billion yen from analysts polled by Refinitiv. Mazda, however, reiterated its forecast for a 33% rise in operating profit to 110 billion yen in the year ending March. ThursdayÂ’s profit announcement marks MazdaÂ’s poorest first-quarter operating performance since the June 2012 quarter. The automaker has been struggling with falling demand for its cars over the past year or so, while it is also recovering from flood-related damage to its factories in Japan that led to a quarterly loss in the July quarter of 2018. The Nikkei business daily on Wednesday had reported that operating profit at the company would fall around 70% for the quarter due to lower sales in the United States. Mazda posted global sales of 353,000 units for the quarter, down 12% from a year ago. Its sales in the United States, its biggest market, fell 15% to 68,000 units, while in China, Mazda sold 54,000 vehicles, down 21% on the year. A trade war between the top two economies and slowing growth in China, the worldÂ’s biggest auto market, have prompted a broad-based sales downturn in the global auto sector. Automakers are grappling with easing demand for cars just as they must invest heavily in new technologies including electric cars, autonomous driving technologies and ride-sharing services to survive a major industry shift away from car ownership. Many of MazdaÂ’s rivals at home and abroad have been reporting disappointing quarterly results, with Nissan and Ford also announcing job cuts and possible plant closures earlier this month. The United States is a key source of revenue for Mazda, but it imports all its vehicles sold there, exposing it to a threatened hike in U.S. tariffs on imported cars from Japan. To limit its vulnerability to possible tariffs and currency fluctuations, Mazda is investing in a new plant in the U.S. state of Alabama, a joint project with Toyota.

Mazda Miata 25th anniversary display is roadster heaven on Earth

As part of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the MX-5 Miata, Mazda has put together a rather large display at its New York Auto Show booth, showing off significant models from the diminutive roadsters history.
The display represents a healthy split of volume models, with cars 14, 15 and 17 sitting alongside cars 500,000 and 700,000. There are also more than a few concept cars in the offering, such as the Super20 Concept we drove a few years back, as well as older offerings, like the Club Racer concept from the 1989 Chicago Auto Show, the M-Speedster from the 1995 Chicago show and the M Coupe from the 1996 New York Auto Show.
We've put together a gallery of images of the historical Miata display, which you can view above. Take a look and then let us know which of Mazda's awesome roadsters is your favorite.