2015 Mazda Mazda6 I Grand Touring on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Preorders open for the Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Launch Edition

After unveiling the gorgeous 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Launch Edition at the 2016 New York International Auto Show, the Japanese automaker announced plans to give loyal customers first dibs on one of the 1,000 models. Preorders are open at 12 PM EST on Monday, September 26th at the Mazda MX-5 RF Launch Edition website. Customers who were sent an invitation with a personalized code will have a limited time to put a $500 refundable deposit down on a limited model. Customers also have the opportunity to select the dealership where they would like to complete the transaction. Pricing for the MX-5 RF has also been announced with the sports car starting at $34,685, including destination and handling. That's roughly $9,000 more than a base MX-5 Miata. Deliveries of the sports car will begin in February 2017. While the MX-5 RF is a looker, $9,000 is a lot of change for the Launch Edition, which only adds a black roof and special badges over the regular MX-5 RF models. All 1,000 Launch Editions will be finished in Machine Gray with a black roof panel and Auburn Nappa leather on the inside. Buyers who opt for the Launch Edition will also get a numbered 42mm Tourneau watch, and can choose between an automatic and a manual transmission. The MX-5 RF Launch Edition should sell out quickly, as the 2015 Mazda MX-5 25th Anniversary Edition sold out in roughly 10 minutes when it went on sale in 2014. Didn't get an invite to preorder the Launch Edition? Worry not, as Mazda will open the special model to the general public on October 3, if there are any left. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2017 Mazda MX-5 RF: New York 2016 View 13 Photos News Source: MazdaImage Credit: Live photos copyright 2016 Drew Phillips / AOL New York Auto Show Mazda Convertible Lightweight Vehicles Special and Limited Editions Performance pricing mazda mx-5 rf

Mazda5 may not be long for this world

The concept behind building a smaller but still useful minivan like the Mazda5 always seemed like such a good idea. However, since the little people hauler's introduction, there has been the rise of the compact crossover in the US, which fulfills a similar niche for many buyers. The future is not looking good for the utilitarian Mazda. Autocar from the UK reports that company officials confirm the Mazda5 is being discontinued there, with no replacement planned. Autoblog reached out to Mazda North America, but the company would not verify future product changes in this region. Though, the model's cancellation would hardly be a surprise to follow in North America, as well. The minivan market is a tough place these days, and dealers tend to prefer more expensive models for their high margins. Even FCA US is abandoning the inexpensive portion of the segment for the next-gen Chrysler Town & Country. The Mazda5 isn't exactly a sales standout, either. Mazda sold 11,613 of them in all of 2014, which was a 16.4 percent drop from 13,884 in 2013. To compare to larger, more expensive minivans, Honda moved 122,738 units of the Odyssey last year, and Toyota did 124,502 examples of the Sienna. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2012 Mazda5 View 31 Photos News Source: AutocarImage Credit: Mazda Mazda Minivan/Van mazda5

Mazda6 Skyactiv-D racecar gets first win at Road Atlanta

Mazda has a long motorsports history, and one that is peppered with fascinating cars. The latest chapter in Mazda's racing story has just been written, as Joel Miller and Andrew Carbonell have driven the Visit Florida Racing Mazda6 Skyactiv-D to the car's first ever victory at the Rolex Grand-Am GX race at Road Atlanta. The win marks the first ever for Mazda's diesel-burning, production-car based Skyactiv-D racer, and the first win for a diesel-powered car in a Grand-Am event.
In fact, it was a particularly good day for the Mazda Motorsports team, as a Mazda6 also picked up the third finishing spot at Road Atlanta. Director of Mazda Motorsports, John M. Doonan, said of the racecar, "We've always said that the best street cars make the best racecars, and, with more than half of the components in the race engine being shared with the street engine, this program is a solid proof-point."
SpeedSource Engineering, which helped to build the Mazda6 racer, was greatly heartened by the car's performance in just it's fourth-ever race. Owner Sylvain Tremblay called the victory, "a tribute to the thousands of hours of hard work over many months," continuing, "The normal plan with a new car is to spend the first year in development, the second year seeking race wins, and challenging for a championship in year three. We are already at our year-two status after four races. We can't wait to get to the Belle Isle course in Detroit for round five."