2011 Mazda Mx-5 Miata Grand Touring on 2040-cars

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Toyota and Mazda set to expand partnership

Toyota and Mazda are already teaming up for the Scion iA and Mazda2, but that partnership might just be the beginning. Reuters reports the two Japanese companies could expand their work together, with Toyota chipping in its experience with both fuel cells and plug-in-hybrid tech, and Mazda contributing its know-how in regards to its Skyactiv line of engines. The report cites a pair of unnamed sources that are "not authorized to discuss the matter publicly." The move, on the surface, is certainly appealing for both parties. Mazda has very little experience with hybrids (remember the Ford-rebadged Tribute Hybrid?), let alone something as advanced as a fuel-cell vehicle. Teaming with Toyota, arguably the world's greatest hybrid manufacturer, would give it a serious leg up. For the Japanese giant, meanwhile, a partnership with Mazda could expand the economy of scale for the Mirai FCV's tech, while Skyactiv engines would do well in replacing the base engines in cars like the Corolla, Camry, and RAV4. What are your thoughts? Would an expanded partnership between Toyota and Mazda make sense? Can you think of any drawbacks? Have your say in Comments. Featured Gallery 2016 Toyota Mirai View 15 Photos News Source: Reuters Green Mazda Toyota Electric Hybrid skyactiv toyota mirai

'Gran Turismo Sport' Super Bundle comes with a real Mazda Miata

"Gran Turismo Sport" is now on sale (stay tuned for a full review in the near future), and as with most video games now, there are basic versions and those that come with a few extras. For instance, in the United States there's a Limited Edition version that includes the full game, plus a metal box, several Group B rally cars and a couple of prototype cars unlocked, as well as 1,000,000 credits available at the start. It's a pretty meager special edition compared with the "Gran Turismo Sport" Super Bundle on offer in Taiwan, though. The Super Bundle lives up to its name primarily because it comes with a real, drivable Mazda MX-5 Miata. It comes in Soul Red and features custom Gran Turismo vinyl graphics. On top of that, the bundle comes with a Bravia 4K HDR OLED TV, a Playstation 4 Pro, Playstation VR, a year of Playstation Plus (the online multiplayer service), a Thrustmaster T-GT steering wheel controller, and an Apiga AP1 racing seat for playing the game. Oh, and of course it comes with a copy of the game. Funny enough, this isn't the first time a car has been offered as part of a video game bundle. When " Grid 2" launched a few years ago, the developer, Codemasters, partnered with BAC to sell a Mono edition. This special edition of the game came with a real life BAC Mono with "Grid 2" livery. There's no such thing as a free lunch, or a free car for that matter. At current exchange rates, the " Gran Turismo Sport" Super Bundle costs just shy of $46,300. Now that's a much more affordable proposition than the " Grid 2" BAC Mono package, which rang in at about $189,000, though the Miata is a much more affordable car with less performance. Americans shouldn't be disappointed the " Gran Turismo Sport" Super Bundle isn't available here, though. This is because the Super Bundle can be re-created here for much less money. Every item in the bundle plus a Miata Sport with a manual transmission and the Soul Red paint would come to a little under $32,000, a savings of over $14,000. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

2020 Toyota Yaris hatchback could return as a Mazda2 clone

Less than a week ago we got the news that Toyota killed the 2019 Yaris Liftback in the U.S., instead choosing to sell the remaining inventory from 2018. There should be plenty of stock left, too: Car and Driver reports that Toyota sold 1,940 of the tiny hatches last year. The automaker said it would have an announcement about the Yaris at this year's New York Auto Show in April, telling Automobile, " We're working on something new for MY2020." C/D thinks it already knows what's coming, writing, "We assume ... that the new Yaris hatchback ... will be a rebadged Mazda2, like the current Yaris sedan that Mazda builds for Toyota in Mexico." Toyota and Mazda formed a development- and technology-sharing partnership in 2015. As part of the collaboration, we got the Scion iA in 2016, based on the Mazda2 sedan. That four-door became the Toyota Yaris iA when the Scion brand got put in the ground, and then became just the Yaris for 2019. In spite of Americans' well-publicized aversion to sedans, the trunked Yaris sold 25,269 units last year. Meanwhile, the Yaris hatch, built at a Toyota factory in France, has carried on basically untouched since 2013 — with a four-speed automatic, even — helping to explain its slow take-rate. If the Yaris five-door moves to the Mazda2 platform, we expect it to follow the same formula as the sedan. That means a 1.5-liter Skyactiv-G four-cylinder with 106 horsepower and 103 pound-feet of torque. That's the same output as the Toyota NR engine in the current hatch, but from a better, more modern engine. Transmission options would include a six-speed manual as standard on the L and LE trims. For 2019, Toyota added an XLE trim to the sedan that comes with a six-speed automatic. Assuming all comes to pass, the new Yaris five-door would be built at Mazda's Mexico plant alongside the sedan. But we'll have to wait until New York to know for sure. Related Video: