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2018 Mazda CX-5 gets cylinder deactivation, more standard features

Mazda recently announced its new Mazda6 would feature two engines, one of which would be a naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine with cylinder deactivation. Now the company has revealed the 2018 Mazda CX-5 will also get cylinder deactivation on its sole 2.5-liter four-cylinder. For those curious, the system shuts off the cylinders on the ends of the engine to save fuel. Mazda also says that the engine has been updated in a number of other small areas to reduce friction and further improve efficiency. The company hasn't provided fuel economy numbers for the new engine, though. The updates for the CX-5 go beyond the powertrain, as all trim levels get more standard features. The base-level CX-5 Sport now comes with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic warning. The mid-level CX-5 Touring now has the i-Activsense safety feature suite standard, which includes automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and lane keeping assist. This suite of features is also available as an option for the first time on the Sport model. The top-level CX-5 Grand Touring gets seat memory for two settings, as well as a power-adjustable passenger seat. These updates bring very minor increases in price. The Sport trim adds another $140 over the 2017 version. The Touring jumps the most, up $335. The Grand Touring model increases $285. You'll be able to find 2018 CX-5s soon, as Mazda says they'll be arriving at dealers December 2017. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2017 Mazda CX-5: First Drive View 25 Photos Image Credit: Mazda Green Mazda Crossover SUV mazda cx-5

2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata due for price bump, more safety tech

Mazda hasn’t released official information yet on its 2020 MX-5 Miata, but CarsDirect got its hands on an early draft of an order guide, which suggests both the soft- and hard-top versions of the roadster are due for a price bump after receiving more standard safety technology and some suspension upgrades on certain manual models. Starting price on the 2020 Miata Sport Soft-Top will be $26,580, not including destination, which is reportedly not yet listed, according to the report. ThatÂ’s $850 above the non-inclusive 2019 base price. The price hike on the Grand Touring trim is even higher, at $1,090. For the RF Club Hardtop, starting price inches up by $700 to $33,045 — again, excluding destination, which was $895 for 2019. If you want to drive stick, prepare to pay more for the Grand Touring manual versions, which will climb by $890 and $1,090 for the soft- and hard-top versions, respectively. ThatÂ’s down to new Bilstein shocks, a limited-slip differential, front shock tower braces and a sport-tuned suspension, which should make for fun driving for stick enthusiasts. The big news is that the i-Activesense suite of safety technologies, previously offered as a package, will go standard across all trim levels. It features lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and low-speed automated braking. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will also reportedly debut on both versions of the roadster as standard on Club trims and above. The Miata is already coming off a 2019 when it got an infusion of 26 more ponies and 3 pound-feet, bringing output to 181 hp and 151 lb-ft from its 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G inline-four engine, plus that limited-edition 30th Anniversary model. Looking ahead, Mazda is reportedly toying with the idea of electrifying its lightweight roadster for its next generation, expected mid-next decade. Related Video:

Mazda engineer wants new rotary to be turbocharged

Hope springs eternal for Mazda to revive the high-revving Wankel engine for a new sports car, and the company keeps feeding that thirst with hints that it could happen. To make the possibility even more tantalizing, Mazda drivetrain and powertrain assistant manager Tetsushi Marutani tells Motoring that he wants the updated mill to pack a turbocharger. "Personally, I think that a rotary with some turbo or compressor would be good," Marutani said to Motoring. "Because a rotary, in my opinion, they require more [torque at] low speed, low down torque. So if we have some small compressor or turbo it would help." Mazda hasn't sold a rotary-powered model since the RX-8 and hasn't had a turbocharged one since the third-generation RX-7. However, the recent RX-Vision concept (above) at least hinted at a possible Wankel revival, and Mazda officials confirmed that its engineers continued to develop the engine since the RX-8's demise. The RX-Vision used a next-gen rotary called the Skyactiv-R, but Mazda didn't officially confirm any details about it. Rumors suggested the engine had a two-rotor layout with a total displacement of 1.6 liters. A two-stage electric turbo and hybrid powertrain would allegedly boost the total output of around 450 horsepower. The electric assistance could also counter the Wankel's lack of torque at low revs and poor fuel economy. Those rumored specs sound fantastic, but we still take the rotary's return with a grain of salt. Mazda CEO Masamichi Kogai is adamant that it's not worth the company's limited resources to develop a niche sports coupe instead of better selling vehicles. Related Video: