2020 Mazda Mazda3 on 2040-cars

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Why you absolutely need to take your Miata to a track

Our long-term 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata entertained us all summer, but we couldn't let the good weather pass without taking a trip to a race track. So we headed to GingerMan Raceway on the other side of Michigan to give it some exercise. It's there that I fell deeper in love with our little silver-white Club and immediately regretted not taking it to the track every single weekend prior. I make a very simple case in the video above: Miatas belong on the track. They're made for it, especially our ND Club, the most track-friendly version Mazda currently makes. The Miata is also a wonderful tool for those learning to drive in these conditions. It gives you good feedback, there isn't too much power available, but the engine's output is plenty to make things entertaining. It's also one of the more balanced performance cars you can buy today and doesn't rely on fancy electronics to go faster – it's a nearly direct connection between you and the car, with no weird intermediaries or adjustable elements. This is really the simplest form of fun. To sum up: If you have a Miata, take it to a track. If you don't have a Miata, go buy one. Watch the video again if you're not convinced. Related Video:

2021 Mazda3 2.5 Turbo starts at over $30,000

Following its introduction a few weeks ago, we now have official pricing for the 2021 Mazda3 2.5 Turbo. The most affordable version is the sedan starting at $30,845. The hatchback adds $1,000 for a total of $31,845. The full list of standard features hasn't been announced, but either model comes standard with all-wheel-drive, an automatic transmission and the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel. A higher Premium Plus trim is available for the turbo Mazda3, too. It starts at $33,395 for the sedan and $34,695 for the hatchback. One of the key features added to the Premium Plus is an "Aero Kit" that adds front and rear spoilers to the hatchback, and a rear spoiler to the sedan. An enhanced version with sideskirts and a rear diffuser is also available for an additional $1,075. The complete kit is available as an option on the base turbo hatchback for $1,900. The trim also adds leather upholstery, navigation, low-speed lane-keep assist called "Traffic Jam Assist," parking sensors and rear automatic emergency braking. Furthermore, you can add 18-inch BBS forged wheels to not just the turbo 3, but any model, and a full set will cost you $3,675.80. At the other end of the spectrum is the revived Mazda3 with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter engine. It makes just 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque and is only available on the sedan with an automatic transmission and front-wheel-drive. It starts $21,445, bringing the base price for the small Mazda down by $1,000. The base price for the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter sedan still starts at $22,445. One final note, the Mazda3 2.5 S with Premium Package remains the only way to get a manual transmission in the Mazda3. It starts at $28,795. You can see the full breakdown of pricing below. Mazda3 2.0 Sedan FWD: $21,445 Mazda3 2.5 S Sedan FWD: $22,445 Hatchback FWD: $23,445 Mazda3 2.5 S Select Sedan FWD: $23,645 Hatchback FWD: $24,645 Sedan AWD: $25,045 Hatchback AWD: $26,045 Mazda3 2.5 S Preferred Sedan FWD: $25,295 Hatchback FWD: $26,295 Sedan AWD: $26,695 Hatchback AWD: $27,695 Mazda3 2.5 S Premium Sedan FWD: $27,795 Hatchback FWD: $28,795 Sedan AWD: $29,195 Hatchback AWD: $30,195 Mazda3 2.5 Turbo Sedan: $30,845 Hatchback: $31,845 Mazda3 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus Sedan: $33,395 Hatchback: $34,695 Related Video:    

We go Unplugged to celebrate Mazda Miata Month

Chances are good that you, loyal Autoblog reader, have long since chosen to follow us on Twitter and 'like' us on Facebook. (If you haven't, feel free to take a second and do so right now.) Anyway, if you're one of our social media posse, you might have already heard that we're smack dab in the middle of Miata Month. We've gotten Mazda to loan us a couple of MX-5 Miatas, allowing us to say a protracted, tear-filled goodbye to the current generation (NC) of the beloved roadster, just before it exits stage right and ushers in the next generation.
You'll see a few more Miata Month items here on Autoblog after we've said our final farewell, but we absolutely wanted to make sure we created some great video evidence of our month, as well. Right down below, then, in its unfiltered-audio splendor, is the Autoblog Unplugged version of the 2015 Mazda MX-5 Miata PRHT. Your author had a pretty great time wringing out the roadster for the creation of our short vid, and we really hope you dig listening along.