Leather! Sunroof! Bluetooth! Heated Seats! Dual Climate! Ipod Ready! Loaded!!!!! on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Mazda recalls Takata airbags in B-Series

The Basics: Mazda will recall 19,000 examples of the 2004–2006 B-Series pickup. The Problem: The pickups contain Takata-sourced driver's side airbag inflators that could rupture in a crash. The spray of metal shrapnel could injure or even kill occupants. Injuries/Deaths: None reported in the Mazda pickups. However, a rupturing airbag inflator killed the driver in a Ford Ranger, which is identical to the B-Series. The Fix: Mazda will replace the driver's side inflator. If You Own One: Mazda plans to notify affected owners as soon as dealers have the replacement parts. More Information: Mazda already recalled 442,266 driver's side Takata inflators and 416,475 of them on the passenger's side. The affected models included the 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2006 B-Series, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6, 2004-2008 RX-8, and some examples of the 2004 MPV. Ford also issued an expanded safety campaign for 391,394 examples of the 2004-2006 Ranger. Related Video: Mazda Announces Recall On B-Series Vehicles With Takata Driver-Side Frontal Airbag Inflators WASHINGTON, DC (February 1, 2016) – Mazda has decided to recall all 2004–2006 model year B-Series Trucks with Takata driver-side frontal air bag inflators. Approximately 19,000 vehicles are affected in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Saipan. There have been no reports of accidents or injuries on the Mazda-badged vehicles subject to this recall. Model Year 2007-2009 B-Series Trucks with Takata passenger-side frontal air bag inflators are part of a previous recall. Approximately 19,000 vehicles are affected in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Saipan. Below is a summary of Mazda models with a passenger- and/or driver-side front Takata air bag inflators currently being recalled. Total Number of Driver's frontal air bag inflator - 442,266 Total Number of Passenger's frontal air bag inflator - 416,475 2003-2008 Mazda6 2004-2006 B-Series 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 2004-2008 RX-8 (All Driver-side / Certain Passenger-side) 2004 MPV (Certain Vins only. Click here to see if your vehicle is included.) Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through more than 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.

Mazda creates reproduction parts program for North American MX-5 Miata

In 2017 Mazda announced a restoration program for the MX-5 Miata in Japan. The good news was that owners of Miatas that looked like they'd been thoroughly enjoyed for decades could get their convertibles returned to as-new condition. The bad news is that the program was a trial for "quality verification," and only open to the Japanese market. At the time, Mazda Japan said it was "considering re-supply of parts that became discontinued" for the first-gen NA series produced from 1989 to 1997. In February this year, the carmaker's then-CEO revealed that "Our fans can be reassured that additional parts, identified by owners and specialty shops, will become available by June of this year." The time has come, Mazda North America announcing a reproduction parts program for first-gen Miatas with a catalog of more than 1,100 new and legacy components.  The automaker says it spoke to Miata clubs and shops to determine which parts were needed most. Among this first salvo will be a fabric soft top using the same rear screen material from the NA series, roller mechanism for the side windows, brake calipers, and a set of aluminum Enkei wheels in the original design that are lighter and boast a better finish. Perhaps even better are the arcane OEM parts that can be desperately hard to source for era-appropriate restorations, like grommets, bolts, gas shocks and the "Roadster" badge that's an eBay go-to (called a "Mascot" on the parts list). Each piece has been redeveloped to take advantage of modern materials and build techniques while maintaining the look of the period-correct original.  The parts list PDF runs to 42 pages. Anyone with a TLC-starved Miata in the garage, the love your jinba ittai droptop has been waiting for is here.   

Fiat version of Mazda MX-5 Miata to be called 124 Spider

Fiat has a definite use for its recent US trademark on the 124 Spider name, and it's something that should make many performance fans quite happy. FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne confirmed to Auto Express that the Italian brand's future roadster would bear the classic name. Auto Express reportedly asked Marchionne directly about the convertible at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. The CEO said: "Do we want to do it now?" After another executive verified the name, Marchionne responded: "There you go – a world class premiere right in this room!" Autoblog reached out to Fiat Brand communications boss in the US Ariel Gavilan for more information, and he verified the story. Gavilan said that brand head Olivier Francois confirmed the 124 Spider name to international media during a briefing in Geneva. FCA isn't going quite so far as officially confirming that the 124 Spider shares a platform with the latest Mazda MX-5 Miata, but that's almost a certainty. The two automakers jointly developed the chassis, and the original plan was for it to underpin an Alfa Romeo. However, Marchionne didn't want an Alfa assembled outside of Italy. Fiat even hinted at this possible change as far back as the corporation's five-year plan last summer. Insiders tell Auto Express that the 124 Spider reportedly carries retro-inspired style, and hopefully, that means the roadster evokes the look of the original 124 Sport Spider (pictured above) by Pininfarina. Fiat allegedly is also aiming for a weight less than 2,205 pounds, and the engine range is likely comprised of versions of the brand's 1.4-liter turbo. The mill already pumps out 160 horsepower and 183 pound-feet of torque in the Fiat 500 Abarth in the US. According to Auto Express, Fiat and Mazda have an agreement to launch the Miata in 2015 and the 124 Spider in 2016. A hotter Abarth version could come along eventually, too. Related Video: