Mazda’s been teasing us with news of the possible RX-7 replacement and here’s another unconfirmed rumor – the replacement might get a turbo.

The new car is rumored to be badged as the RX-9 and will continue to pack the Renesis rotary engine from the old RX-7 and the RX-8. This is despite the RX-8 ending its production run and has been criticized for poor torque and poor fuel economy.

Still, Mazda is looking into slapping on some added tech to help the engine deliver better torque and economy. One option is to slap on a turbo, an electric turbocharger even, to help the car cope.

As far as the design would go, Mazda is looking into using its Nagare design language on the car.

Brace yourselves for a couple of WTF! Moments. Been a while since we posted some of these crazy car stories but it’s a mad mad Thursday, folks.

A former Mazda employee drove a car into a bunch of workers at his former workplace which resulted in one killed and another 10 injured.

Toshiaki Hikiji, the apparently disgruntled ex-Mazda worker worked at Mazda’s Ujina factory located in Hiroshima. Hikiji drove his car past the security gate early morning and into a bunch of workers as they were arriving at the plant.

No word yet on the actual reason why Hikiji did it. He was apparently carrying a knife with intent of butchering more people. Police say that Hikiji left Mazda on his own accord.

This is what I like about Mazda. They toy around with the powerplants and configurations of their other cars in their fleet so that, despite the great green legislation, they can still keep their rotaries around.

Legislation has required lower emissions and better efficiency and rotaries have been the exact opposite of that.

The Mazda RX lineage has been synonymous to rotary engines. Key reasons why they’ve been street racing icons for so long. Mazda’s developing a replacement to the RX-7 and thank goodness it will pack a new rotary engine.

Powering the next RX-7 is the 16X engine that aims to solve the issues of its previous rotaries such as high fuel and oil consumptions.

The engine has yet to be okayed by Mazda execs but in its current form, the engine’s pegged to dish out 300 bhp to enable the car to zip from 0-60 in sub-5 seconds.

>The Mazda RX-8 has proven to be quite the weekend track car. With its price, it gives quite a lot of people access to a decent sporty car without having to be a millionaire athlete.

However, Mazda has decided to kill the car off. You’ve got the green initiatives to thank for that as the rotary engine failed to meet new European emission regulations.

Mazda had been one of the staunch defenders of the Wankel despite the increasing legislation that goes against its gas-guzzling nature.

Instead of updating the engine, Mazda decided to drop the current RX-8. A new RX-8 is due to go out next year but Mazda needs to be sure that the new Wankel will be able to pass the new regulations.

Mazda might be one of the staunch defenders of gas-guzzling rotary engines but that doesn’t mean that they’re not exploring other options. Mazda announced that they will be introducing their new SKY engines in the US as early as next year.

“By launching our SKY technologies into the global market place, beginning in 2011, we will take a huge step toward accomplishing our stated goal of achieving a 30-percent improvement in global fuel economy by 2015,” said Mazda president Takashi Yamanouchi.

We’ve already heard of the SKY-G gasoline engine that is said to be 15% more efficient. The next engine in the line up is the SKY-D diesel which is slated to be a high-performance diesel engine – 20% more efficient than the current 2.2L diesel.

Mazda is intent on exploring other methods of making cars more efficient like weight reduction and engine technology over developing hybrid powertrains.

Mazda has quite a number of goodies in store for us in the upcoming Tokyo motor show next month. Mazda’s showcase lineup – two new engines , a new transmission, and the Mazda Kiyora concept.

For the engines, Mazda will be showcasing the new SKY-G engine, a gas engine that has 15% gains on both torque and fuel economy achieved through imporovements in the fuel delivery and VVT compared to the current 2.0L found in the current fleet.

The other, the SKY-D is a deisel engine that uses turbocharging among other tech to boost the diesel’s performance by as much as 20% over the current 2.2L diesel.

The engines can be mated to the new SKY-Drive automatic transmission that packs more tech like a revised torque converter and a clutch with minimized slip. Mazda claims that this would help on fuel economy.

Finally, the Kiyora concept is basically the car in which all of these tech can be found. It’s an eco-friendly car that sports the SKY-G 1.3L engine mated to the SKY-Drive transmission. Mazda claims that the gasoline-powered car can get 79 MPG.

Source: Mazda

Mazda continues its rotary-powered line with RX-8 and the company is set to feature an updated RX-8 come the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

While there, will be no major updates when it comes to the powertrain and performance, the car will sport some cosmetic changes that will identify the new version. The tweaks include new LED lights at the back, the redesigned interior and additional aerodynamic bits.

The aerodynamic tweaks include a new front spoiler, a rear spoiler and a redesigned front end to give the RX-8 a new characteristic look. The new car will also pack some nice 19-inch alloys and larger exhaust pipes.

Price of the updated RX-8 will be the same however Mazda is not sure how long the RX-8 with its current platform will last in the market.

As part of becoming more fuel-efficient at a relatively low cost, Mazda is currently trying to come up with a diesel engine that would anchor a cheaper and more efficient powertrain than that of hybrid cars. The Japanese car manufacturer is eyeing 2011 as a tentative timeframe for this diesel engine.

Mazda is confident that it can produce a diesel-powered engine solution by developing further the existing internal combustion engine technology. This philosophy is a different approach compared to most automakers today that put a premium on developing hybrid or electric technology. Mazda is currently working on a 2.0-liter diesel, claiming that it is as efficient as a mild hybrid vehicle.

“We believe that improving today’s conventional engines at a low cost is the most effective way to get fuel-efficient cars to proliferate,” said Mazda’s research and development head Seitai Kanai.

Developing alternative fuel systems and electric powertrains has proven to be costly, and the infrastructure that needs to be in place to make electric vehicles viable is still not as streamlined as necessary.

Source: Autocar

Here’s another unveiling to look forward to at the Geneva Motor Show this March: the Mazda 3 MPS Mazdaspeed. This follows the sequential debuts of the Mazda 3 variants, from the standard sedan form in the Los Angeles Auto Show and the hatchback version the next month at the Bologna Show.

No official details about the new Mazdaspeed have been released so far, but with the Geneva Show a mere month away, people should expect more information to become available as the event draws near. However, there are indications that the new Mazdaspeed could use the same 2.3-liter turbocharged engine that the current model uses, which is capable of 268 horsepower.

The Mazdaspeed’s external features are geared for aerodynamics, with a front hood scoop for the engine, larger air intakes in the front bumper, a diffuser at back, and dual wide-diameter exhaust pipes. There are also reports that the car could sport the new RevoKnuckle FWD suspension system also found in the Ford Focus RS.

The 2010 Mazda 3 MPS Mazdaspeed will debut at the Geneva Motor Show alongside the i-stop-equipped Mazda 3.

Source: Motor Authority

Mazda launched its new MX-5 car in Japan, giving some parts of its appearance a makeover and altering pieces of the powertrain, and it is set to release outside Japan sometime early next year.

The MX-5 sports the Activematic electrically-controlled transmission system and now has shifting buttons reminiscent of those in the RX-8. Mazda also adjusted the front center roll for more responsive steering and reduced body roll. The gearbox for the 6-speed manual version has been modified for precision, too. The engine features new crankshafts, pistons, and newly-designed valve springs, and is capable of 168 horsepower at 7500 rpm.

The look updates feature a restyled front with a mesh grille and chrome surrounds for the top-down version, so people will be able to differentiate between it and the hard-top. The 5-dial instrument panel has been redesigned, as well. The seats have also been given sturdier support along with new designs. There is also a nice selection of colors available for prospective buyers.

While the 2009 MX-5 is basically more of a facelift than an upgrade, buyers will be happy with the fine-tuned pieces and the higher rev limit. The MX-5 is also set to be released in Europe for the first time.

Source: Autocar

The Mazda Kaan bagged the top prize in the LA Auto Show’s Design Challenge, displaying “the most innovative and artistic design” that “ultimately brought unique styling back to motorsports”, according to Design Los Angeles director Chuck Pelly.

This year, the Design Challenge is all about envisioning the future of motorsports—year 2025 motorsports, to be exact. The contest received entries from Audi, GM, Honda, BMW, Mitsubishi, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Toyota, and Mazda. The Design Challenge started as a part of the conference of Design Los Angeles automobile designers, and it is now a fixture in the LA Auto Show.

The Mazda Kaan’s underlying concept is the use of electricity that runs through 2025 California’s streets covered in “sub-level electro-conductive polymer,” and this electricity is channeled through to the electronic tires. This, along with advanced aerodynamics (including 30 or more Kaans in formation much like a cycling peloton) allows maximum speeds of around 250mph. The upside lies in the power source; since it is powered by electricity alone, there are absolutely no harmful emissions.

Well, the Kaan certainly looks futuristic. It’s got that Star Wars-y feel to its design. Kudos to the Mazda design team for topping worthy competition.

Sources: Autoblog and LA Auto Show

Among the new faces of cars seen at the recently-opened 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show is the latest incarnation of Mazda’s highly-popular Mazda3—wide grin on its front and all.

Inside the curvy and creasy exterior is the company’s newest 2.5-liter MZR inline-four engine. It is capable of churning out 167 horsepower, with an option for a 5-speed automatic or 6-speed stick shift. There will also be an option for a standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder version that reaches 148 horsepower. The standard engine can be mated to a manual transmission or a 5-speed automatic. The 2010 model is expected to reach 33mpg on highway traffic for the standard engine.

While I think the ‘smile’ is a little too big for this Mazda3, it still has a very interesting feature set for its price range. Here’re a few of the highlights included in the 2010 Mazda3: self-leveling Xenon headlights, dual-zone automatic climate control, push-button starting, Bluetooth, and iPod compatibility. Interested parties can also avail of an optional leather interior.

Good mileage and packed features are always good qualities for prospective buyers, so the 2010 Mazda3 should still see a good share of the market.

Source: Autoblog

In yet another move to bolster its floundering finances, Ford is selling a majority of its shares in Mazda—reportedly 20 out of the 33 percent that Ford owns—for a mere $540 million.

The sale leaves Ford with a 13-percent stake in Mazda. While not as large as before, Ford will remain the entity with the biggest shares in the Japanese company. The Ford-Mazda partnership can be traced as far back as its initial investment in 1979, culminating in Ford padding its stake in 1996. Ford’s entire stake in Mazda was valued at $2.73 billion just this June.

This sale also comes after Ford’s sale of its remaining shares in Suzuki and a majority of its Premier Auto Group. Ford acknowledges its reluctance to part with a big part of its share in Mazda. However, since financial aid talks with Washington have slowed down and with no end in sight to the current financial crunch, Ford is desperate to liquidate some of its assets for cash relief.

It’s a good thing Ford still has significant shares in Mazda, because Mazda’s expertise in small cars is invaluable to Ford’s thrust to develop more efficient and compact cars. Mazda also played a key role in the development of the Ford Fiesta.

Source: MotorTorque

Mazda will be introducing its new turbodiesel engine, a 2.2-liter dubbed as the MZR-CD, with three different outputs for the 2009 Mazda6.

“In its previous 140ps form, our diesel Mazda6 out-performed many potential rivals, particularly their entry and mid-level derivatives, and its reduced CO2 emissions delivered real financial benefits to company car drivers,” said Mazda UK Sales Director Mark Cameron. “Our mid-power 163ps diesel, with 16 percent more power, offers an amazing performance-per-pound package, significantly out-pacing rivals. All three diesel engines are emissions clean with modest CO2 ratings, excellent fuel efficiency and genuine refinement.”

Mazda had already confirmed that the Mazda6 will feature an all-new safety feature called the Rear Vehicle Monitoring System, the one I tackled in a previous post. The MZR-CD will add more oomph to the Mazda6, which improved on its market share, going from 7.6 percent in 2007 to 9.2 percent this year so far.

The Mazda6 is shaping up to be a powerful and well-rounded vehicle, so those numbers should increase in 2009. Yes, even despite the auto industry crunch.

Source: MotorTorque

A new rear-facing radar system will be put in the 2009 Mazda6 Sport for Europe. The radar, called the Rear Vehicle Monitoring System (RVMS), will be implemented on the cars starting February.

As automakers continue to look for methods to make their cars safer and better, the technology involved in car safety seems to get more advanced as well. The RVMS features two sensors facing the vehicle’s rear which can detect traffic not only behind the car, but also to its sides. This helps eliminate any blind spots that are present with standard rear-view or side-view mirrors.

Furthermore, the RVMS features an alarm that is triggered when an approaching car hits the dangerous zone after the Mazda driver signals a turn. The radar also anticipates cars that will be in the danger zone after the car has changed lanes, thanks to an effective range of 50 meters to the car’s rear.

Hopefully, the RVMS will also be available for the US-market versions of future Mazda models. It looks to be quite a useful safety feature, especially since an NHTSA survey found out that 9% of vehicular accidents in America involve changing lanes.

Source: Motor Authority

The latest incarnation of the Mazda MX-5 was showcased in the recently-concluded Paris Motor Show. However, Mazda won’t be stopping MX-5 developments. The next generation MX-5 will be put on a diet and is slated to be lighter in aims of improving fuel efficiency and performance.

Mazda is planning to trim the car’s weight down by 10% which would result in a sub-one-ton roadster. The MX-5 will still be a front-engined rear-wheel drive steel body and chassis.

As part of the weight reduction Mazda is also looking into smaller displacement engines. So from the current choices of 1.8L and 2.0L engines, we might be looking at future choices of 1.8L and 1.6L and even a turbocharged 1.4L. These engines might even get diesel and hybrid variants.

Bring out the diet shakes and treadmills, ’cause Mazda is going on a slimming regimen. Mazda revealed their weight-saving strategy that will cut up to as much as 440 lbs (200kg) for each of the new model to come out. Thanks mostly to the improvements they’ve tried out with the Mazda2.

Instead of swapping out panels with carbon-fiber which would drive the costs up, they will be modifying the structure underneath so as not to compromise safety. They’ll also be optimizing impact force distribution. In addition, they’ve also developed lightweight material to replace heavier plastic components.

Mazda will be doing a lot to improve its fleet’s fuel efficiency by next year. Well, I’d say it’s damn well time after sticking to their rotary guns which have horrendous fuel efficiency. Still, it’s interesting how they’re achieving it by not pursuing alternative fuels or even hybrid technology. They’re doing so by slapping on technology to improve what’s already there. They’d also be introducing the smart start-stop technology to reduce engine running times to further save gas.

Source: Autocar

I guess everyone’s willing to refine their diesel technologies with the gas crisis and all. Mazda has announced that it has developed a greatly-improved diesel engine that would help appease green revolutionists.

Dubbed as the MZR-CD 2.2 clean diesel engine, the engine is a bulked-up upgrade to the current MZR-CD 2.0 diesel. The new engine generates 182 hp and as much as 295 lb-ft of torque. Incorporating their latest in clean burn technologies, the engine can easily pass Euro 5 emission standards. In addition, by slapping on a duel balance shaft and a more rigid engine block, Mazda achieved a significant reduction in engine vibration often associated to diesel engines.

Mazda wouldn’t wait long to use this technology. We can expect their fleet to start using the engine by next year to be initially offered to the European market but expect that they make it available worldwide.

So could this mean that we’ll get an upgraded Mazda 6? Most probably.

Source: Mazda

It is a frustrating experience to get stuck in a standstill. Whether it’s road maintenance or some freak collision that plugs the traffic flow, spending a lot of time idling will take its toll on your fuel consumption. To address that, many pricier cars (like BMW) today boats of a start-stop system which turns the engine on and off just in case you get stuck in long periods of time idling.

Now it’s Mada’s turn to incorporate the technology to its fleet. Dubbing the technology Smart Idle Stop System (SISS). Mazda claims that the system improves fuel economy by 10% particularly in urban use where motorists will be encountering frequent stops at traffic lights and congested traffic flows.

The system works by automatically shutting down engine when the car is at full stop. The driver need not crank the accelerator again as just on press on the gas pedal would do the trick to restart the engine. The SISS uses direct-injection to start the car back up smoothly in just 0.35 seconds.

Source: Mazda

Another round of recalls and lo and behold, it’s not GM who’s calling back vehicles. Quite a relief actually, since every time GM sounds the recall horn I sort of laugh and cringe at the same time. Anyway, it’s Mazda’s turn this time around.

7,200 California-emission spec Mazda 6 cars from 2007-2008 are being recalled due to a problem with the fuel tank. The fault (damaged PVC protective coating of the fuel tank) can cause fuel leakage. And yes, leaking fuel can mean a lot of things including the possibility of your car ending up being a smoldering fireball.

As part of the recall measure, dealerships will be inspecting the bottom surface of the fuel tank for any damages to the coating. If they find any damage, they’ll be either repairing the coating or replace the fuel tank. For verification, Mazda6 owners may contact 1-800-222-5500, Option 2.

Source: NHTSA

Just barely two weeks ago, the leaked renderings of the facelifted Mazda MX-5 hit the net. It was mostly a tease since it only showcased the outline and only half of the image with decent enough shadings for a bit of detail. Well, good news to those looking for a more definitive image as the first official photo has been released.

With this image we get more detail on how this latest incarnation sports a more angled contour than the previous model. The fascia does indeed have a front splitter. And the “dumb smile” look made by the headlight and grille that was pretty apparent in the rendering is now toned down given the actual look of the car.

Not much other details is made available regarding the car but again, as the Paris show looms, we expect to get the rest of the details regarding the car.

You got to ask how far Mazda is willing to draw out their Nagare design philosophy. Just when you thought that they’ve exhausted the possible variations for their fleet, they come up with the Mazda Kiyora – the Nagare-fied subcompact city car, perhaps a possible replacement for the Mazda2. And most probably it will be since the Kiyora will be built upon the 2′s platform.

While still in concept stage, Mazda is hinting that the production version will most likely be a 2+2. The Kiyora will also most likely to sport the latest in Mazda’s direct injected turbo gas engines that boast improved fuel efficiency.

To improve overall performance, Mazda engineers are trying to make this car as lightweight as possible, exploring new lightening techniques. They’re targeting a weight of 900 kg. The Kiyora concept will be showcased next month in the Paris Motor Show.

Source: Autocar

Mazda just unveiled another one at the Moscow Motor Show – the Mazda Kazamai. Come to think of it, it has been hella frustrating. Mazda teasing us with their zoom-zoom philosophy and that Nagare design language that has been lent to all of their concepts so far.

Well, if you’re asking when will Mazda ever take their rad looking concepts to production, then good news, this will also serve as a preview of the CX-5. And yes, even with that look, the Kazamai is a crossover vehicle.

This will be part of the lighter and more fuel-efficient lineup that Mazda will be launching in three years. With US legislation bearing down on automakers to improve overall fleet efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions. Mazda intends 30% and 23% respectively.

And yes, the Kazamai-based CX-5 will be the first models in this project. The car will just be slightly larger than the current Mazda3, which means it will be 100 kgs lighter than rival CUVs. The car will also be powered by direct-injection petrol engines mated to lightweight transmissions

Source: Autocar

Okay so there just might be hell to pay. Or is this just another ploy to create some buzz on the new revision on the Mazda MX-5. But hey, this is the Intarwebs, people. Gossip doesn’t always kill, you know.

However, the fact that this image is reportedly from a patent application submitted to the European Union, some dude/s might just have to say goodbye to their jobs. Still, at least the rest of us car-loving people get to see what Mazda’s planning to make in two year’s time.

While it is quite literally a half-baked image of the MX-5 it shows us that, compared to the current Miata model, the new car has a more angled contour and the fascia now sports a front splitter. The combination of the headlights and the grille somehow makes the car look like it has a dumb smile on it. Or perhaps its just the rendering that makes it look that way.

Source: Autocar

Now this newsbit really struck me as both funny and odd at the same time since I’ve always associate the rotary engine as the ultimate gas-guzzler. Mazda created a lot of road racer classics with their RWD, rotary-powered sports cars like the RX-7 and the RX-8. The Wankel engine never really caught on with the rest of the world but Mazda made such great use of it. One major drawback – fuel consumption.

But with the RX-8 replacement in the pipeline just in time for the green revolution to switch to overdrive, they decided to take a look at developing technologies for their rotary to get more miles to the gallon. Their solution is to create an engine that would work on hydrogen-gasoline. Sounds familiar? Yup, pretty much the same technology BMW’s doing with their Hydrogen 7 project.

Whether the RX-8 replacement will still carry the badge is still under deliberations in Mazda. Could be a new version, could be the RX-9. However, what’s available is that it will still be a RWD rotary, and will have design influenced by the Taiki (in the tradition of their zoomzoom philosophy).

The new dual-fuel powerhouse is expected to improve mileage by 20%.

Source: Auto Express