2011 Mazda Cx9 Cx-9 Touring, Dolphin Gray, Suv Crossover Like New 13655 Miles on 2040-cars

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Mazda Miata could get retractable hardtop in New York

The upcoming New York Auto Show just got a little more exciting because Mazda could debut the latest MX-5 Miata with a power retractable hardtop there. The best evidence comes from Autocar, which has an image of Mazda's invitation. The message promises a "world premiere" in the Big Apple and further teases, "Help us blow the lid off the New York Auto Show." The last Miata PRHT made up 52 percent of the roadster's sales mix in the US, so creating another one is an easy decision for the company. According to Autocar, expect the new roof mechanism to be lighter and more compact than the previous design. It would still add some weight compared to the cloth top, but customers would get the added insulation and security from the hardtop. With the NC PRHT as a guide, don't expect many changes for the new other than the roof. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 155 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque with either the six-speed manual or automatic should still make for an exciting drive. The hardtop just makes life a little more comfortable if you have to deal with rain or snow for part of the year. We can't wait to see it. Related Video:

Graffiti artist Banksy turns Mazda Protege into warfare commentary

British street artist Banksy, who currently resides in New York City for its high pedestrian traffic and plentiful hiding spots, recently took his stencils and spray cans to a truck trailer and an old Mazda to make a commentary about war, according to a video report by Newsy.
Part of the canvas, a late-1990s Mazda Protege, is a sub-$3,000 used car at best, but we're sure having Banksy's art sprayed onto it has greatly increased its value, as it did to a piece at a Former Packard plant in Detroit a few years ago. The same goes for the trailer, which looks like it would be right at home attached to a U-Haul rental truck.
The graffito, painted in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, was accompanied by a link to some disturbing audio from a controversial 2007 military video leaked by Wikileaks in 2010. Head on below to watch the video report, and be sure to visit Banksy's website if you want to see the painting with the audio (listener discretion advised).

Mazda's Tokyo concepts have us wishing for more Mazdaspeed

It's been a while since we've seen any new Mazdaspeed machinery, and we're sorry to report that today isn't the day the wait ends. But if you want to see what they might look like based on Mazda's latest models, the Tokyo Auto Salon will be the place to be in a couple of weeks. Turns out the Zoom-Zoom brand has a whole raft of performance models in store for the aftermarket expo. Most intriguing to our eyes is the trio of Racing concepts – one based on the MX-5 Miata roadster, one on the CX-3 crossover, and one on the Mazda6 sedan. Each is done up in black with full aero kit, new rolling stock, and Alcantara interior. An adjustable suspension is the big change to the MX-5 – known simply as the Mazda Roadster in Japan – which also features red trim. As does the CX-3, while the Atenza (which we know as the Mazda6) goes for a more monochromatic, murdered-out appearance. The rally-prepped Mazda2 (known domestically as the Demio) focuses on a stripped-out interior with bucket seats, racing harnesses and a roll cage. There's a spec racing MX-5 in white livery with roll cage and tow hooks as well to join the Global Cup roadster we've already seen. That also goes for the RX-Vision and LM55 Vision Grand Turismo concepts which have already made the rounds but will be on display at the Tokyo salon as well. But it's those three Racing concepts that leave us salivating for production performance models to come – and hopefully come to North America in the process. Related Video: