1979 Mazda Rx7 on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Consumer Reports digs Mazda3, disses Jeep Cherokee

Consumer Reports has just rendered its verdict on two of the more important cars to launch this year - the Mazda3 and the Jeep Cherokee. Considering the value a "Recommended" rating carries with the public and the viciously competitive markets these two cars compete in, Consumer Reports' view could have some impact on their initial success.
For Mazda, that's a good thing. CR spoke quite highly of the Zoom-Zoom brand's compact sedan and hatch, testing both models, and citing the excellent fuel economy and snickety-snack manual shifter as high points. Downsides to the 3 included a ride that is agile but "nervous," a bit too much noise and a cramped back seat. Still, the 3 was good enough to earn its place in the ranks of the "Recommended."
The Jeep didn't fare quite so well, with CR calling the polarizing CUV "half-baked." Although both engines were tested, the magazine called the 2.4-liter four-pot underpowered and its nine-speed automatic unrefined and unresponsive. That's particularly damning, considering the 9AT's role in future Chrysler products, including the extremely important 200. Overall, the Cherokee missed out on the coveted "Recommended" rating.

Mazda RX-3 restomod makes Leno scream, us cheer

The Mazda RX-3 Savanna was the rotary-engined version of the Mazda 808 Grand Familia. Sold in the US from 1971 to 1978, the little Japanese fastback earned a reputation as an excellent racecar, winning events all over the world. A racing connection is how a fantastic 1973 restomod example owned by Savant Young made its way to Jay Leno's Garage. Young said that when he was a boy his uncle used to street race an RX-3, and Young liked how the RX-3 sounded and the fact that a tiny import could go up against and beat big V8s of the time. Leno admitted that he has no connection to the RX-3, saying it's not the kind of car he typically likes. But he liked Young's custom update so much that when he saw the coupe sitting outside the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles, he waited for the owner to show up. Young's changes over the 15 years he's owned the car include dropping in the rotary engine and running gear from the second-generation Mazda RX-7, bridge-ported and methane injected. At 15 pounds of boost he says it's putting out about 400 horsepower. The rear end comes from a Toyota Hilux half-ton pickup, to help put all that power down in a car that weighs maybe 2,100 pounds. The color is taken from the Lamborghini palette. Disc brakes all around, 14-inchers up front, control the velocity. Nothing controls the gas mileage, said to be "maybe 12 mpg." And nothing could stop Leno from whooping it up during the driver. Check out the fun in the video above.

Updated Mazda6 Wagon to look lovely in Geneva

For the 2018 model year, Mazda updated the Mazda6 sedan with some design and mechanical tweaks. It will take the stand for its European debut at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. There, it will be staged alongside the Mazda6 Wagon, which will be getting its own global debut at the Swiss expo. Unless there's some sort of miracle, we won't be getting the five-door version here in the United States, which is a shame, because it's a beautiful wagon. Customers here — apart from a handful of die-hard fans and, perhaps, the entirety of the American automotive press — prefer something with a bit more elevation to it. Ask a Mazda dealer in Michigan or Arizona for a Mazda6 Wagon, and they'll probably try to sell you a CX-5 instead. That frustrates the wagon fans. "It's gorgeous," said Autoblog Associate Editor Joel Stocksdale. "It kills me that we don't get it." The Mazda6 Wagon, like the new sedan, features an updated exterior and interior design, new seating, better performance, and improved driving dynamics. The Mazda6 Wagon will be on the show floor with a number of other beautiful cars, including the Mazda Kai and Vision Coupe concepts, which bowed at the Tokyo show. Mazda will also showcase its new gasoline-powered Skyactiv-X spark controlled compression ignition, which we were recently able to test in a prototype vehicle. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Design/Style Geneva Motor Show Mazda Wagon 2018 Geneva Motor Show mazda6 wagon