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2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata First Drive [w/video]

Hypothetically speaking, if you blindfolded me, put me in the car pictured above, and told me to hit the road, it would have taken me maybe two minutes to figure out that I was driving the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata. There are just certain facets about Miata driving that have been baked into every generation of Mazda's roadster, and it makes for a symbiotic relationship between car and driver that's truly unique. Sure, I could rattle off a list of cars that come close to offering the same sort of experience, but they just can't quite capture the same intrinsic Miata magic. Mazda knows its Miata is an incredibly special machine. Listening to the company's engineers and designers talk about the development of this fourth-generation ND model is fascinating. The attention to detail is astonishing, and every single person involved in the Miata program knows that the most important goal is to keep this car as true to its predecessors' ethos as possible. It cannot just be a great convertible, or even a great Mazda – it has to be a great MX-5 Miata. But the company did not just want to improve upon the third-generation NC Miata, which has been around since 2006. They wanted to tie the ND Miata's roots back to the original NA from 1989. Back in '89, the Miata was a less-powerful, 1.6-liter model with 115 horsepower and 100 pound-feet of torque. Mazda's team said they are proud of every version of the MX-5, but it's this specific, first-generation model that the company calls the "most right" – the most true to the idea of what a Miata ought to be. So that's why, before being allowed to attack the winding roads of the Spanish countryside in the 2016 MX-5, Mazda wanted me to spend some time with a cherry example of the original NA Miata: a Mariner Blue darling that, even with some 239,000 kilometers on its clock, still felt absolutely impeccable from behind the wheel. Light, responsive, and perfectly balanced, it was the original embodiment of the harmony between driver and car that Mazda wanted in every Miata. Mazda executives said they felt the first Miata was also the right size. So they chopped off three inches on the ND compared with the NC, and put it on a wheelbase that's been reduced by six-tenths of an inch. In fact, these dimensions mean the new Miata is more than two inches shorter in length than the original, and only two-tenths of an inch taller. In this day and age of ever-expanding waistlines and footprints, it's a remarkable achievement.

2018 Mazda6 2.5T First Drive Review | Smooth operator

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — We like driving Mazdas, even if it's not the Miata, because they've always got an underpinning spirit of enthusiasm that makes even the slowest Mazda3 or the heaviest CX-9 at least somewhat entertaining. So when Mazda announced the refresh of the Mazda6 for the 2018 model year, we perked up. A new engine and some other refinements are exciting, sure, but maybe more important is the redesigned interior. Mazda's interiors haven't always impressed, but over the years they've improved — and this generation of the Mazda6 up until now has been an example of that improvement. Fortunately, because they're fun to drive, we've been able to overlook some interior foibles. Much attention was paid to noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). The company says it made 70 changes, from tires to suspension geometry to sound deadening materials, in order to make the car more comfortable going down the road, while maintaining its fun driving dynamics, and none of them include active noise cancellation. Of course, the turbocharged version of the 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G engine should help with the fun. We got behind the wheel of the 2018 Mazda6 2.5T, in top-tier Signature trim, to drive it on some of our favorite Michigan roads. We were especially interested in figuring out whether the interior lived up to the hype, and whether the other refinements would dull the car's driving dynamics. Mazda seems like it's laying the groundwork to pushing its brand upmarket. With exterior design nailed down — the Mazda6 is a handsome sedan, and receives minor tweaks for 2018 to make it more so. In fact, this car is laden with the automotive equivalent of sex appeal (which some would just call sex appeal). It's absolutely magnetic. If you're not feeling it, check it out from a different angle; it'll change your mind. As we mentioned, the company has turned its attention to the experience inside the car, and in addition to new materials inside, it has a new top-tier Signature trim level, which Mazda refers to as "aspirational" — but at $35,640, it's not exactly out of reach. It's rare that we get into any sub-$40k car and start caressing the interior with both eyes and fingertips. It happens rarely – the last one was the Honda Clarity PHEV, which was a real surprise. The 2018 Mazda6 marks the second occasion. Both times we were taken completely off guard by it. The Mazda, though, has the exterior charm to match. The new seats are fantastic, too.

Mazda mulling furniture, designer goods in bid to command higher prices

Brands like Porsche and Ferrari make a mint every year by selling branded lifestyle goods like shoes, hats and even wilder items. Bugatti takes things to the extremes with things like its $84,000 belt buckle. These products not only make their respective companies some extra money, but they reaffirm their high-end design aspirations to wealthy buyers. However, the next firm possibly dipping its toe into this upscale pool is a bit more mass-market - Mazda.
That's right. The Japanese automaker best known among enthusiasts for its segment-defining Miata and rotary engines is considering its own line of luxury goods in the coming years called Mazda Design. The project is the brainchild of styling boss Ikuo Maeda, and according to Automotive News, he has backing from company CEO Masamichi Kogai. Although the green light isn't quite on yet, Maeda is already brainstorming. "Not only furniture, but I'd like to build a Mazda Design brand. That's my dream," he said to Automotive News.
The possible project is just one aspect of Mazda's move to become a near-premium brand. According to Automotive News, it wants to see higher transaction prices partially by offering more stylish design than its rivals. Launching a line of luxury goods is meant to communicate this new focus to customers.