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Junkyard Gem: 1991 Mercury Capri XR2

Just a year after the Mazda MX-5 Miata first went on sale in the United States, Ford's Mercury Division began selling a similarly-priced two-seat convertible here. This was the 1991-1994 Mercury Capri, and I've found an example of the hot-rod turbocharged version in a northeastern Colorado car graveyard. The Capri name has an illustrious history within the Ford Empire. First used on a Lincoln in 1952, it went on to serve as the name for a hardtop version of the early-1960s Ford Consul in the UK, then as the designation for a low-end trim level on the 1966-1967 Mercury Comet. Starting in the 1969 model year in Europe (1970 in North America), Ford began selling the best-known Capri of all: a sporty coupe based on the Cortina, sold through Mercury dealers in the United States but never badged as a Mercury here. Sales of that Capri halted here after 1978 (they continued through 1986 in Europe), but the Mercury Division then moved the name over to its version of the 1979-1986 Ford Mustang. After that, Ford Australia took the Capri name for a new Mazda 323-based sports car beginning in 1989. Then Dearborn decided that an Americanized version of the Australian Capri would be a success on this side of the Pacific, and left-hand-drive Capris began showing up in American Mercury showrooms in late 1990. Today's Junkyard Gem is one of those first-model-year cars, and it's the very rare turbocharged XR2 version. While this car was intended to be a competitor for the Miata, it's really that car's Mazda cousin. Both cars got their power from 1.6-liter versions of Mazda's versatile B engine, though the Capri had the same front-wheel-drive setup as its 323/Protege (and Escort/Tracer) platform siblings. At the same time, Ford was selling Kia-built Mazdas with Festiva (and, a bit later, Aspire) badging, alongside Mazda MX-6s with Probe badges. Just to make things interesting, American Mazda dealers were selling Ford Explorers as Mazda Navajos, while Rangers with Mazda badges followed starting in 1994. The 1990s were Mazda-riffic times at Ford! This car wasn't the first Australian-designed, Mazda-based Ford product sold in the United States. That honor belongs to the 1988-1989 Mercury Tracer, which was based on the same Mazda 323 platform as the Capri and built in Mexico. Later on, the Tracer remained a member of the 323 chassis family but was a nearly identical twin to its Ford Escort sibling.

2020 Toyota Yaris hatchback is basically the Mazda2 hatchback

The Toyota Yaris line in the U.S. has been really weird, what with the hatchback coming from Toyota, and the sedan coming from Mazda a rebadged Mazda2. For 2020, the Toyota Yaris line is still weird, but at least its consistent as the hatchback is also a rebadged Mazda2. And as far as styling is concerned, that's all there is to say. The front bumper is the the same angry catfish face as the Yaris sedan, and everything rearward comes from the Mazda2 that's available overseas and in Puerto Rico. The interior is the same as the Mazda2, and very similar to the Mazda CX-3. The switch to the Mazda platform has added 0.3 cubic-feet to the cargo space over the old Toyota version. Under the hood is the familiar 1.5-liter inline-four making 106 horsepower. Disappointingly, the only transmission available will be a six-speed automatic, whereas the current sedan is available with a six-speed manual transmission. But having six speeds is a massive improvement over the outgoing Yaris's ancient four-speed automatic. Fuel economy hasn't been announced, but expect it to get close to the Toyota Yaris sedan's 32 mpg in the city and 40 on the highway. This will be another improvement over the old Yaris hatch's 30 mpg in the city and 35 on the highway. Unlike the sedan, the new Yaris hatch will only be offered in LE and XLE trims, leaving out the base-level L. Every version of the car gets alloy wheels, heated side mirrors, fog lights, keyless entry with push-button start, automatic emergency braking and an infotainment system with seven-inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Moving up to XLE adds leatherette upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, automatic climate control and automatic LED headlights. Pricing and availability haven't been announced, but it will likely go on sale later this year with a starting price around $17,000 like the Yaris LE sedan.

2019 Mazda CX-9 Review and Buying Guide | Fun for the whole family

The 2019 Mazda CX-9 crossover is the biggest vehicle in the Japanese automaker's lineup, and the only one to offer a third row of seating. It has only one powertrain option, but offers a wide variety of other content across various trim levels. Many folks are drawn to Mazdas for their elegant design, affordability and driving dynamics that are sharper than most, and the CX-9 has all of that to a certain degree even if it's the biggest, most family-oriented one. Still, the CX-9 may be big for a Mazda, but it's one of the smallest in its segment in terms of third-row space and cargo capacity, so it may not be for every family. What's new with the Mazda CX-9 for 2019? Though largely unchanged from when this generation debuted for the 2016 model year, the Mazda CX-9 gets a few small changes for 2019, the biggest of which is the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, which is optional on its lowest Sport trim and standard on the Touring, Grand Touring, and Signature. The transmission has been retuned for a smoother, quieter driving experience. Thicker floor mats and headliner further help to make the car quieter. Each trim gets a little something new, too. Sport now offers an optional Sport Package, costing $1,290, with heated front seats, a power driver's seat, heated mirrors, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking. Moving up to the Touring trim, the only other change is a frameless rear-view mirror. The Grand Touring trim gets a new 7-inch info screen in the instrument panel, along with new power-folding side mirrors and a 360-degree camera system. The top-level Signature trim gets new badges, rosewood interior trim, and accent lighting in the grille and around the shifter. Along with the new features, the CX-9 increases in price. The Sport trim costs a mere $150 more, the Touring and Grand Touring trims go up by $370, While the Signature jumps $1,050 compared to the 2018 model. What are the CX-9's interior and in-car technology like? The interior varies by trim level, but with Mazda making moves to grab customers from some of the luxury brands on its "path to premium," the higher grades do look and feel like a high-quality, comfortable place to spend time. It's a spacious interior with room enough for a third row. There are some rally nice materials in use, depending on the trim level, including Nappa leather and something called Santos Rosewood.