2005 Mazda 3 S Hatchback 4-door 2.3l on 2040-cars

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Trump declaration they're a security threat stuns Japanese automakers

TOKYO — Japan's automakers' lobby said on Tuesday it was dismayed by President Donald Trump's declaration that some imported vehicles and parts posed a threat to U.S. national security, as the industry braces for a possible rise in U.S. tariffs. Trump made the unprecedented designation of foreign vehicles on Friday but delayed for up to six months a decision on whether to impose tariffs to allow for more time for trade talks with Japan and the European Union. "We are dismayed to hear a message suggesting that our long-time contributions of investment and employment in the United States are not welcomed," said Akio Toyoda, chairman of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association. "As chairman, I am deeply saddened by this decision," Toyoda, president of Toyota, said in a statement. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs of up to 25% on imported cars made by foreign automakers, a move which automakers have argued would ramp up car prices, curb the global competitiveness of U.S.-made vehicles and limit investment in the country, the world's No. 2 auto market. The United States is a vital market for Toyota, Nissan, Honda and other Japanese car makers. Autos and components are among the Asian country's biggest export products. Most of Japan's major automakers operate plants in the United States. The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association notes that its automakers build about 4 million vehicles a year in North America, or 75 percent of what it sells here. Many are built for export, helping lessen the U.S. trade deficit Trump is concerned about. Major automakers have announced a slew of investments in the United States since Trump took office in January 2017 and put pressure on the industry to create more U.S. jobs. For its part, Toyota has pledged to invest almost $13 billion in the United States between 2017 and 2021 to boost manufacturing capacity and jobs. This includes $1.6 billion for a vehicle assembly plant in Alabama jointly run with Mazda. Government/Legal Honda Mazda Mitsubishi Nissan Toyota Trump

2021 Mazda CX-30 to add turbocharged power, just like the Mazda3 Turbo

Mazda is giving us all of the turbos, and we’re not going to complain. CarsDirect reports that the 2021 Mazda CX-30 will feature a turbocharged variant called the CX-30 2.5 Turbo. We have great confidence that this intel obtained via “an early order guide” is legit. The CX-30 is essentially a lifted and crossover-ized Mazda3, and Mazda announced the Turbo variant of that car a short time ago. Just like the Mazda3, CarsDirect reports this one will be equipped with MazdaÂ’s 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. ItÂ’ll make 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque when run on 93 octane. Use regular gas, and those numbers tick down to 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet. The CX-30 is currently only available with the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. The similarities between the CX-30 and Mazda3 continue. YouÂ’ll only be able to get the CX-30 Turbo with all-wheel drive. ItÂ’ll come with larger tailpipes, turbo badging and be available in a top-of-the-line Premium Plus trim, too. That trim adds a number of features that are exclusive in the Mazda3 Turbo, so we expect the same for the CX-30. ItÂ’ll also cost a good chunk of change more than the base CX-30. Prices will reportedly start at $31,000 for the CX-30 Turbo, and go all the way up to $35,000 in the highest trim level. These prices are obviously encroaching on CX-5 territory, but the cheapest CX-5 with the same turbo engine is $36,235. Just like the Mazda3 Turbo, we can guarantee the CX-30 Turbo wonÂ’t be available with a manual transmission. That means MazdaÂ’s six-speed automatic will be doing the shifting. CarsDirect claims that Mazda intends to start producing the CX-30 Turbo in November this year, so the wait to buy wonÂ’t be terribly long. Related Video:

Mazda's Skyactiv-X power and efficiency ratings released in Europe

Mazda's long-awaited Skyactiv-X engine is finally headed for production, though not yet for the United States. The Japanese automaker says "various European countries" will get access to the unique engine in the Mazda3 starting this fall. Still, the announcement is relevant to the rest of us because we now have official power levels and fuel efficiency numbers that we can use to compare the Skyactiv-X with other engines offered in the compact Mazda. First, the power. According to Mazda, the 2.0-liter Skyactiv-X makes 178 horsepower and 165 pound-feet of torque. By way of comparison, the 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G engine currently used in the Mazda3 here in the States makes 186 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque. Sure, it's a little less powerful, but note that the displacements don't match and remember that the real reason the Skyactiv-X exists is to reduce fuel consumption. And that brings us to the Skyactiv-X's combined rating of around 53.5 miles per gallon (converted from liters per 100 kilometers). That's around 8 mpg better than the 2.0-liter engine that comes standard in Europe. Before we go any further, it's important to note that these numbers represent official figures for the European NEDC combined cycle, which means they are not directly comparable to the ratings we'll get from the United States EPA. Our official ratings will almost certainly be lower. With that disclaimer out of the way, the 2.5-liter Mazda3 scores a combined 30 mpg here in the States. The obvious unanswered question is when the Skyactiv-X might actually come to America. And the unfortunate answer is that we don't know. Mazda has yet to make an official decision on timing for the U.S market's launch of the engine, but as soon as we know, so will you.