2004 Mazda Rx-8 Red, Low Miles, 6-speed on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Mazda names new North American chief

Mazda has announced today the appointment of a new president and CEO of its North American operations. Jim O'Sullivan, who has been running the office for 13 years, is now leaving the company. In his place the head office has appointed veteran manager Masahiro Moro, and as you can see, he could not be more thrilled with the appointment. A 55-year-old native of Kyoto, Moro has been with Mazda since 1983. One of the company's managing executive officers, Moro currently heads up its global sales and marketing division. He also previously served as vice president of marketing and of product planning for Mazda Motor Europe, and as director of the company's Australian operations. He'll now be relocating with his wife and family to Southern California to take over the North American division based out of Irvine, effective January 1. His predecessor Jim O'Sullivan has held the office since 2003, also ranked as one of the Japanese automaker's managing executive officers. The Detroit native previously worked at Ford, where he started his career in 1976. "I have been very lucky that the car business has afforded me so many incredible experiences, and taught me so much. However, now is the right time for me to retire from Mazda," said the 40-year industry veteran of his departure from the company in the statement below. "I don't know how the next chapter in my life will read, but it's time for me to spend time with my wonderful wife, my children and my grandchildren. I've travelled the world for nearly 40 years, who knows what the future holds?" Related Video: Masahiro Moro Named President, Mazda North American Operations - Jim O'Sullivan, Current President, to Retire after 13 Years Leading the Company - IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today announced the appointment of Masahiro Moro to the position of President and CEO, MNAO. Moro, a Managing Executive Officer of Mazda Motor Corporation, will take over from Jim O'Sullivan, the company's long-serving outgoing president, who will be retiring from the company. The changes were announced today to company employees, and will be effective January 1, 2016. O'Sullivan joined MNAO as President and CEO in 2003, and also held the title of Managing Executive Officer of Mazda Motor Corporation.

Mazda Miata getting i-ELOOP regenerative 'braking' in more markets

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is getting the company's i-ELOOP regenerative "braking" system in more overseas markets. A few months ago, the company announced it for the Japanese market, and this week it announced the U.K. will have the feature, too. This has us curious as to whether it will be offered on U.S. market Miatas. We've reached out to Mazda, and we'll update this story if and when we hear back. As a quick refresher, i-ELOOP is a system that was introduced here on the Mazda6 several years ago, and it adds a capacitor to store electricity generated by the alternator during deceleration (hence our earlier use of quotes around "braking") that can be used to run interior accessories such as the sound system and climate control. Then, with power coming from the capacitor, the alternator can be disengaged, improving the efficiency of the engine by reducing drag. And by using a capacitor rather than a battery, the system is more compact, lighter and able to recharge faster than a similarly capacious conventional battery. As for effectiveness, the Mazda6 with i-ELOOP managed to get about 5% more miles per gallon on the highway than one without, going from 38 mpg to 40 mpg. While not a massive improvement, it was a measurable, possibly noticeable one. Applying a similar gain to a Miata would increase fuel economy from 35 to nearly 36.75 mpg on the highway, based on the automatic-equipped car's numbers. The manual would go from 34 to nearly 35.7. The i-ELOOP system is standard on all new Miatas in the U.K., which includes the 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter engines with either the manual transmission or automatic. Strangely, only automatic-equipped cars get it in Japan. This means Mazda could offer it on both transmission options in the U.S. Probably the key consideration will be cost. The system, when it launched in the U.S., was only available on the most expensive Mazda6, and even then it was an extra-cost option. And looking at pricing for the U.K. Miata soft-top and comparing equivalent trim levels, the price has increased between GBP2,800 and GBP4,100. The new model does get some new standard safety features, too, but we expect the i-ELOOP system is a significant contributor. If it is offered in the U.S., it might only be available as an option, and possibly only on the more expensive trim levels to keep lower trims more affordable. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Mazda specs new MX-5 Miata with accessories

It's been 26 years since Mazda showcased the original Miata at the Chicago Auto Show, and now it's returned with a conceptual take on the new model, decked out with all the accessories and optional equipment your roadster-loving heart could desire. Or at least some of 'em, anyway. This show car is painted Ceramic Metallic (Zoom Zoom-speak for "white") and spec'd out with a full aero kit (including front air dam, side sills, rear skirt and lip spoiler) all done up in gloss black, 17-inch BBS wheels and Brembo brakes with red calipers. Mazda is also showcasing a carbon-fiber luggage rack for the new MX-5 that weighs less than two pounds and includes and integrated brake light. "The concept parts and accessories we have showcased at the Chicago Auto Show," said Mazda's North American chief Jim O'Sullivan, "were developed to give customers a look at what is possible for the new cars to make them truly one-of-a-kind, adding to that excitement." See them shown off in our high-res gallery of live photos, above. MAZDA UNVEILS 2016 MX-5 MIATA ACCESSORIES CONCEPT DESIGN AT CHICAGO AUTO SHOW CHICAGO, Feb. 12, 2015 -- The only thing better than the all-new 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata is a personalized 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata. Today at the Chicago Auto Show, where the first-generation MX-5 Miata was introduced to the world in 1989, Mazda revealed an MX-5 accessories design concept of the next-generation roadster that will hit showrooms this summer. At the Chicago Auto Show, Mazda revealed a 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata accessories design concept for the next-generation roadster that will hit showrooms this summer. "There is so much MX-5 history at the Chicago Auto Show, and we wanted to continue building on that," said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations. "The MX-5 is the soul of our company, and its enthusiast following both inside and outside of Mazda drives us to keep innovating new ideas for it and the rest of our lineup." Painted Ceramic Metallic, the 2016 MX-5 accessories concept will be on display from Thursday, February 12 through Sunday, February 22 and includes an Aero Kit, BBS Wheels and Brembo Brakes as well as a Luggage Rack shown separately in Mazda's display. MX-5 concept accessories include: - Aero Kit (Front Air Dam, Side Sill Extensions, Rear Bumper Skirt and Rear Lip Spoiler): The gloss-black Aero Kit is the same package found on the 2016 MX-5 Global Cup Car that debuted at SEMA in November.