2018 Mazda Cx-3 Touring Sport Utility 4d on 2040-cars

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2017 Mazda Model Year Preview and Updates

Driving Matters, Mazda's marketing pitch, certainly resonates with enthusiasts, although may not be relevant with the increasing number of drivers engaged in texting while steering. Regardless of that disconnect, for drivers Mazda brings to market the long-awaited Miata coupe in Retractable Fastback (RF) form, pictured above. And for those wanting/needing a new crossover, Mazda redesigns its well-received CX-5. MAZDA3: Mazda's compact sedan and hatch receive a revised front end and tweaked rear. Inside, an upgraded interior with more storage space, improved sound proofing and materials round out the enhancements. On the road, all trim levels receive Mazda's G-Vectoring Control for enhanced handling and stability. MAZDA6: G-Vectoring Control is standard across all trims. Inside, improved sound insulation, new tech (including traffic sign recognition), and available Nappa leather takes an already upscale environment a few steps further into near-luxury. MAZDA MX-5 MIATA: The RF (Retractable Fastback) is the biggest news, as it serves as the answer to the long-awaited Miata coupe. Club models receive Blind Spot Monitoring and Cross-Traffic Alert – presumably helpful when the top is up. And the RF Launch Edition (1,000 examples) delivers a Nappa leather interior and hand-painted black top. The package is further embellished by Mazda's choice of Machine Gray metallic exterior color. MAZDA CX-3: Mazda's subcompact crossover receives minor updates. The Touring trim gets 18-inch alloy wheels, while the upmarket Grand Touring's available i-ACTIVSENSE is reduced in price. MAZDA CX-5: Mazda's compact crossover is all-new and on Mazda showrooms this spring as a 2017 model. Of particular interest to diesel fans is the introduction later in the year of Mazda's SKYACTIV-D 2.2 clean diesel, which arrives just in time for your Volkswagen buyback. MAZDA CX-9: Mazda's largest crossover is unchanged for 2017.

Weekly Recap: Tesla loses money, still dominates the news

Some people get an inordinate amount of attention. In politics, it's Donald Trump. In football, it's Jim Harbaugh. And in the auto world, it's Elon Musk and his always-fascinating electric car company, Tesla Motors. General Motors is spending $877 million to upgrade a factory. So what! US auto sales are up. Who cares? Tesla has a metal snake that will recharge your car! So was the week in Tesla – er, the industry. Snarkiness aside, Tesla did dominate the news cycle, led by the announcement the company lost $184 million in the second quarter. Tesla also said it expects to deliver between 50,000 and 55,000 vehicles this year, and is preparing for a full launch of the Model X crossover in September. Musk also made news during the earnings call by simply not answering a question about ride sharing, leading to speculation Tesla could be considering its own operation. While the financials were the arguably the most important company news, reports of a Model S cyber hacking were more compelling fodder for Tesla followers. Researchers were able to attack the sedan and bring it to a stop, though they required access to the car first. Tesla says it already has deployed a remedy for the situation. On a lighter note, Tesla published a video of its metal charger prototype that autonomously uncoils like a snake to power up the company's vehicles, provoking plenty of humorous comments and comparisons. Watch it and decide for yourself. While some of this might seem trivial, much of Tesla's recent attention has been warranted. It's the first startup US automaker in decades to launch from nothing and actually gain traction in the market. Sure, Musk is a lightning rod and Tesla always seems to be in the spotlight. But amid all of the publicity, it easy to lose sight of the new reality: Tesla is a force. OTHER NEWS & NOTES 2016 Chevy Volt lights up 106 MPGe The Chevy Volt's vitals are looking healthier for 2016. The second-generation plug-in hybrid racks up a gaudy 106 miles per gallon equivalent, which is an increase of eight MPGe from the 2015 model. The new Volt can travel 53 miles on electricity, a significant jump from the 2015 Volt's 38-mile range. The new car also has a 420-mile total range when factoring in the capability of the gasoline engine, which is 40 miles greater than the current car offers.

Autoblog's top 50 car photos of 2016

This one shouldn't need much explanation. We like cars a whole lot, and that includes not just driving them but taking great pictures of them. We've collected our 50 favorite images from this year in the mega-gallery above. It's a mix of old and new, with a healthy dose of vintage and modern race cars mixed in, and not one single shot under the harsh lights of an auto show. So click through and enjoy. Featured Gallery Autoblog's Top 50 Photos of 2016 View 50 Photos Image Credit: Copyright 2016 Autoblog.com Audi BMW Chevrolet Dodge Ferrari Ford Lamborghini Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz Porsche Rolls-Royce Volvo Convertible Coupe Motorcycle Luxury Racing Vehicles Performance Supercars Classics