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Next-gen Mazda MX-5 Miata mule spied 'Ring testing

Fans of simple, lightweight motoring, rejoice - we now have images of the next-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata undergoing testing at der Nürburgring Nordschleife. Now, to be fair, this isn't some lightly camouflaged example that will give us a great peak of what the next Miata, which will also become the next Alfa Romeo Spider, will look like. This is a mule, with the new bits hidden under a current Miata's body. That doesn't mean there aren't a few scraps of valuable information here, though.
According to our flock of camera-toting spies at the Nürburgring, the next Miata is likely to grow a bit, as new models are wont to do. In particular, it will be longer and wider, and the wheelbase is likely going to be stretched, based on the shape of the wheel wells and doors. Both of those factors will add more space in the cabin.
Those are the big indications provided by these photos, but while the MX-5 might be growing, it's a safe bet based on these images that it, and the (likely pricier) Alfa, will retain the classic, long-hood, short-deck styling that so typifies rear-drive roadsters.

Mazda's Skyactiv-X power and efficiency ratings released in Europe

Mazda's long-awaited Skyactiv-X engine is finally headed for production, though not yet for the United States. The Japanese automaker says "various European countries" will get access to the unique engine in the Mazda3 starting this fall. Still, the announcement is relevant to the rest of us because we now have official power levels and fuel efficiency numbers that we can use to compare the Skyactiv-X with other engines offered in the compact Mazda. First, the power. According to Mazda, the 2.0-liter Skyactiv-X makes 178 horsepower and 165 pound-feet of torque. By way of comparison, the 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G engine currently used in the Mazda3 here in the States makes 186 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque. Sure, it's a little less powerful, but note that the displacements don't match and remember that the real reason the Skyactiv-X exists is to reduce fuel consumption. And that brings us to the Skyactiv-X's combined rating of around 53.5 miles per gallon (converted from liters per 100 kilometers). That's around 8 mpg better than the 2.0-liter engine that comes standard in Europe. Before we go any further, it's important to note that these numbers represent official figures for the European NEDC combined cycle, which means they are not directly comparable to the ratings we'll get from the United States EPA. Our official ratings will almost certainly be lower. With that disclaimer out of the way, the 2.5-liter Mazda3 scores a combined 30 mpg here in the States. The obvious unanswered question is when the Skyactiv-X might actually come to America. And the unfortunate answer is that we don't know. Mazda has yet to make an official decision on timing for the U.S market's launch of the engine, but as soon as we know, so will you.

2016 Mazda2 gets EPA-rated 43 mpg highway

To paraphrase the famous quote from astronaut Neil Armstrong, that's one small step for man and one giant leap for the Mazda2. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has weighed in on the new Mazda2 version, and says it gets a fuel-economy rating of 33 miles per gallon city and 43 mpg highway with a six-speed automatic transmission. Stick-shift gas-mileage figures are 31 city and 42 highway, which are still substantially better than the 29/35 rating from the most recent iteration of the model. That's about a 15-percent jump in fuel economy, people. More importantly, the Mazda2 beats out competitors such as the Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio Eco and even the Honda Fit in terms of fuel efficiency, which is pretty good company. The Mazda2 boasts a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. But it is the upgrade to six-speed transmissions in both manual and automatic versions that seem to be making the biggest difference in the ratings. Mazda started unveiling details about the next-generation Mazda2 last year, and last fall began production of the model at Mazda's new factory in Salamanca, Mexico. At that time, the Japanese automaker had already sold more than 2.4 million Mazda2 vehicles since the model's introduction in 1996. Related Video: