2000 Mazda Mx-5 Miata With Hard Top Automatic 2-door Convertible on 2040-cars

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Consumer Reports says infotainment systems 'growing first-year reliability plague'

The Consumer Reports Annual Auto Reliability Survey (right) is out, and the top two spots look much the same as last year's list with Lexus and Toyota in first and second place, respectively. However, there are some major shakeups for 2014, with Acura plunging eight spots from third in 2013 to 11th this year, and Mazda replaces it on the lowest step of the podium. Honda and Audi round out the top five. This year's list includes six Japanese brands in the top 10, two Europeans, one America and one Korean.
Acura isn't the only one taking a tumble, though. Infiniti is the biggest loser this year by dropping 14 spots to 20th place. Other big losses come from Mercedes-Benz with an 11-place fall to 24th, and GMC, which declines 10 positions to 19th.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, it's not traditional mechanical bugs hauling down these automaker's reliability scores. Instead, pesky problems with infotainment systems are taking a series toll on the rankings. According to Consumer Reports, complaints about "in-car electronics" were the most grumbled about element in new cars. Problem areas included things like unresponsive touchscreens, issues pairing phones and multi-use controllers that refused to work right.

Mazda seemingly confirms turbo Mazda3, plus reveal date

Yes, you read that right, Mazda seems to have confirmed that a 2021 Mazda3 turbo is on the way. The company replied to multiple tweets asking about such a car, including one from yours truly, with a teaser video and the phrase "Power comes to those who wait." This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.   That context is important since the teaser doesn't say anything explicitly. It does have a soundtrack of a mean sounding four-cylinder. It also has a date: July 8, 2020. So we should see the car in just a couple of weeks. Many reports have circulated about the turbo Mazda3. The most recent asserts that it will be available in both sedan and hatchback variants, but that it may only come with an automatic transmission. The engine will probably be the same turbocharged 2.5-liter unit from the Mazda6, CX-5 and CX-9, which makes 250 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. That would put it in close proximity to the VW GTI and Subaru WRX. We'll be curious if Mazda also offers all-wheel drive, since it's available with the turbo engine in the CX-5 and CX-9. Odds are the car will also be tuned and marketed as a more mature vehicle than other hot hatches or the old Mazdaspeed3. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.      

Mazda de Mexico celebrates 100,000th car built

Automakers and their factories celebrate production milestones all the time. Some are interesting enough to report on and some aren't, but what makes this one stand out is that the plant opened less than a year ago. Just 11 months since production began, Mazda de Mexico Vehicle Operation has put together its 100,000th vehicle – in this case a Mazda2 hatchback headed for Europe. MMVO is one of three plants assembling the company's smallest model, also known as the Demio in Japan, where it is also produced, with additional assembly taking place in Thailand under a joint venture with Ford. The Mexican location also handles assembly of the Mazda3 for the Americas and for Europe. Mazda has announced that it is expanding production at MMVO by 150 percent of this year's capacity to 250,000 units per year by March 2016 as it takes on contract manufacturing for Toyota as well.