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2019 Mazda CX-5 to get 2.5-liter turbo and revised G-Vectoring

The 2019 Mazda CX-5 is getting Mazda's 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine if this supposed internal document from Reddit is correct. The user claims a salesperson showed him the document in question. In addition to the availability of the turbo engine, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto appear to be added onto every trim level. Do take note that the document says it's from Mazda Canada at the bottom, so that's why the trim levels don't have the same names as they do in the U.S. Another interesting mention in there is G-Vectoring Control Plus. We've had Mazda's G-Vectoring Control technology for a little while, but never has a car come out with the Plus moniker on there. Our best bet is Mazda has revised its original G-Vectoring system for 2019; we'll have to wait for official information to see what exactly changed though. At the top of the page Mazda lists "substantial visual changes to the interior" as one of the highlights. The biggest change we can find related to that is a seven-inch LCD display added to the gauge cluster on what would equate to the Grand Touring trim in the U.S. At least Canada — and maybe we too — seems to be getting a fourth trim level called "Signature." This will probably consist of more expensive materials used throughout and maybe a few bonus tech features over the Grand Touring. The page shared looks plenty legitimate, but it's still best to maintain some healthy skepticism. It's also from Canada, so there could be some slight variations between how those cars are equipped versus those coming stateside. We're excited to see the 2.5-liter turbo in the smaller CX-5, though. It should give that car the extra punch it needs to fend off faster rivals in the ever-expanding crossover segment. Featured video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Asian automakers still reluctant to use more aluminum

There's a logical progression of technology in the auto industry. We've seen it with things like carbon-ceramic brakes, which use to be the sole domain of six-figure sports cars, where they often cost as much as an entry level Toyota Corolla. Now, you can get them on a BMW M3 (they're still pricey, at $8,150). Who knows, maybe in the next four a five years, they'll be available on something like a muscle car or hot hatchback. Aluminum has had a similar progression, although it's further along, moving from the realm of Audi and Jaguar luxury sedans to Ford's most important product, the F-150. With the stuff set to arrive in such a big way on the market, we should logically expect an all-aluminum Toyota Camry or Honda Accord soon, right? Um, wrong. Reuters has a great report on what's keeping Asian manufacturers away from aluminum, and it demonstrates yet another stark philosophical difference between automakers in the east and those in the west. Of course, there's a pricing argument at play. But it's more than just the cost of aluminum sheet (shown above) versus steel. Manufacturing an aluminum car requires extensive retooling of existing factories, not to mention new relationships with suppliers and other logistical and financial nightmares. Factor that in with what Reuters calls Asian automaker's preference towards "evolutionary upgrades," and the case for an all-aluminum Accord is a difficult one. Instead, manufacturers in the east are focusing on developing even stronger steel as a means of trimming fat, although analysts question how long that practice can continue. Jeff Wang, the automotive sales director for aluminum supplier Novelis, predicts that we'll see a bump in aluminum usage from Japanese and Korean brands in the next two to three years, and that it will be driven by an influx of aluminum-based vehicles from western automakers into China. Only time will tell if he's proven right. News Source: ReutersImage Credit: Sean Gallup / Getty Images Plants/Manufacturing Honda Hyundai Mazda Nissan Toyota Technology aluminum

Mazda teases electric car again with peek at interior

Mazda is again touting the new electric vehicle it plans to reveal at the Tokyo Motor Show, this time teasing it from the inside. A 15-second video homes in on features found on the center console, namely, the blocky shifter for the automatic transmission, a large, knurled rotary dial for infotainment control, and a smaller dial we'll assume is for volume control. As for what else we can make out, if we were to guess, we'd say the slick surface to the right of the shifter is a screen. It'll be interesting to see how Mazda designers filled the space between the seats, but we're surprised Mazda went with such a substantial shifter; this being an EV on a new, dedicated platform, designers could have minimized the focus on shifting and opened up a host of other uses.  A brief press release informs us that Mazda's worked to liberate the cabin from structural clutter, though. The brand says the interior is "designed to give occupants a feeling of being 'enveloped in openness,'" and that the "goal [is] to make spending time in the car a comforting experience that allows customers to be themselves." Empty spaces throughout the center console "create a connection between the driver and passenger seat areas," so perhaps what looks like a free-floating console demo section in the video is what the unit will look like in the car. Elsewhere, the EV will feature eco-friendly materials. The EV isn't expected to make it to America, its powertrain designed to satisfy residents of particularly dense urban environments. The running gear should stick close to the drivetrain developed for the e-TPV prototype, meaning a 35.5-kWh battery powering a single electric motor at the front axle producing 138 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, and a single-speed transmission. Range is thought to be around 120 to 150 miles on a charge. The onboard charger can handle 6.6-kW home charging and 50-kW rapid charging. Eventually, a range-extender version with a rotary engine should join the lineup; Mazda said it chose a rotary because even though it's less efficient than competitors' ICE range extenders, it's so much quieter. The debut of what everyone expects to look like a crossover happens on Oct. 23.