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

It is interesting to note which automakers are creating hybrid versions of their vehicles. We all know that Toyota is still in the forefront with the hybrid-only Prius and that never stopped them from developing a Camry hybrid. GM has gone bonkers on developing hybrids themselves though their current financial standing leaves their future to question.

Ford has created hybrids. Even Honda and Nissan are developing theur own. Mazda has also joined the development fray but only for selected models. They already unveiled the Tribute hybrid and are quite intent on creating some more but they have announced that there will be no Mazda6 hybrid.

Mazda believes that they can still create cost-effective mid-sized vehicles without having to resort to slapping on an extra electric motor. The 2009 Mazda6 features a diverse line of engines including a diesel and the car gets decent MPG ratings at 20/29 city/highway with the 1.8L engine.

However, it makes you wonder how they would compete with Honda and Toyota who are creating hybrid versions of their fleet just to satisfy the hybrid-lust of the market.

Mazda isn’t stopping at developing concepts to satisfy their thirst for futuristic design and developing their Zoom-Zoom philosophy. And their next concept – the Kazamai crossover – which will see some spotlight in the Moscow motor show next month.

So far, after being bombarded with the Furai, the Taiki, the Hakaze, the Kazamai seems to be another morphed rendition of the same trend of the Nagare design. The Kazamai looks to be poised as the smaller vehicle after the CX-7.

And it seems to be fitting to display this crossover in Russia. Amazingly, they don’t seem to be any worried at all by the oil crisis and SUVs actually account for a fifth in new car sales. A stark contrast to what’s happening in the US.

Source: Autocar

And yet another leak for us. A source from Mazda Japan revealed that they are currently developing another rotary-engine car to be produced by 2011. Last year, in the Tokyo Motor Show, Mazda unveiled the 16X Renesis 2 engine that was slapped on the Mazda Taiki concept and it will definitely be put to good news. No final figures yet but engineers have given a 200-250 hp ballpark power figure for the engine.

Along with this unveiling is some buzz on the resurrection of the Mazda RX-7 and it seems that that buzz is materializing now. Production for the RX-7 ended six years ago disappointing many fans. Many viewed the FD as one of the best cars Mazda has ever produced. And with a new one in the works, fans might just be jumping for joy. Seems like the next decade will see the resurrection of street race classics with Toyota bringing back another RWD street racer.

With this concept design here, it definitely took on some of the stylings of the concepts Mazda worked on from last year, particularly the Kubara and Ryuga concepts. With the new Renesis, this might just be a car to watch for the next couple of years.

Call it whatever you like. Mazda6. Atenza. While the name game actually rides on whether its the Japan domestic market or elsewhere, the fully redesigned Atenza/Mazda6 offers more than just the “bold and exquisite” design. Offered in 3 different body styles, buyers have a choice between a sedan, a wagon and a sport hatch. And it’s available starting today.

The Atenza/Mazda6 comes with the newly-developed MZR 2.5L in-line four-cylinder engine that can be mated either to a five-speed automatic trannies featuring Mazda’s Active Adaptive Shift control. The new design is quite larger than the old one but weight reduction applied to the new model helped keep the weight down. The aerodynamic design also helps in giving the Atenza/Mazda6 better performance and fuel economy.

Depending on the body style, the car costs somewhere from $19,500-$24,000 converted from yen. Actual US MSRPs wouldn’t be that far.

Source: Mazda

By the end of last year, hot hatches took the back seat with all those sound and fury coming from larger cars and trucks taking the stage. Mazda decides that they can still push forward the hot hatch little city car kind of theme with their Mazda2. A sportier 3-Door Mazda2 is set to be shown in this year’s 78th Salon International de l’Auto de Genève in March.

It’s the first time the Mazda2 will be coming out with a 3-door version. And quite practically, any hatch with just 2-doors on the sides is sporty. Not much change in the powertrain though with a choice between MZR 1.3L and 1.5L gasoline and a MZ-CD 1.4L turbo diesel (for the five-door).

It’s interesting how small and light they could make cars these days. Though smaller means that you have smaller capacities, it doesn’t also mean that a rear-end collision will send you to the morgue. The Mazda2 has earned safety star ratings along with many other awards last year.

Mazda has also a lot to offer in Geneva with three European debuts (the Taiki concept, the Mazda5 Hydrogen RE Hybrid and the upgraded Mazda’s RX-8 four-seater). Exciting!

Source: Mazda

Rotary fans might be disappointed if they’re expecting a next-gen Mazda RX-8. What we’ll be seeing in Detroit however, would simply be the old RX-8 with a facelift based on the picture of the mule caught in a spy shot circulating around the web.

A Japanese magazine, however, featured pictures of the facelifted RX-8 and the scan is what you see here. See? Nothing too special about it save for this being the RS version that has 19-inch rims, Recaro seats and a wing..

It will feature a new front fascia with slightly adjusted grillework, wider headlamps and the foglights have been placed higher. In the rear, the LED lights got more round. Some fans that the old look is prettier. As for me, I can’t quite decide which one I’d go for but I’m disappointed that all Mazda has to offer with the RX-8 is a facelift.

Source: World Car Fans

It’s not just because it’s in Detroit that the Japanese won’t have a part in the festivities. Here’s another preview for the Detroit Motor Show – the Mazda Furai Concept. Uhm, okay. So given it’s a Mazda and technically, that’s a Ford. But at least we have to give it to them for naming this concept “furai” which means “sound of the wind”. All part of the Mazda philosophy.

But as what we can see with the concept, it’s not really something that makes you all too excited as just the car. Perhaps it’s the shades of how it brings tribute when Mazda won the Le Mans way back in 1991. And you can definitely see the shades of racing intentions with the Courage C65 chassis as its base.

Since its a Mazda, it packs a three-rotor Mazda 20B Wankel that is quite green (as it runs on E100 enthanol) that is capable of 450 horsepower. And while most concepts are just for show, the Furai is actually a concept car that runs though it’s far from both on-road and motorsport duties.

Its fierce and aggressive look is reminiscent of the past concepts like the Ryuga, Hakaze and the Taiki. And what’s quite unique with this car is that it takes in air from an “air fang” – a whole new approach to air intake systems.

Source: Inside Line

For this year’s Tokyo Motor Show, the guys from the Zoom-Zoom company decided to put another one of their crazy concepts on the stands with the Taiki concept. And aside from the futuristic styling, one other remarkable thing about the Taiki is that, under its hood, you’d find the next-generation rotary engine. While many engineers have had their share of remarks against the Wankel, to me, no other car company has had much success with the Wankel engine than Mazda.

The one bolted on the Taiki, dubbed the 16X Renesis, is a 1.6L rotary (the one in the current RX-8 line is a 1.3). Being larger, the new Wankel’s capable of dishing out more horse juice and pull while being capable of cleaner emissions. Mazda says that this can also reduce fuel consumption as one of the criticisms against the RX-8 is that it can only go as far with a full tank o’ gas.

It’s most likely that this engine will appear under the hood of new RX-8 editions.

Source: AutoWeek via AutoBlog
Photo: Winding Road

Watch out, Tokyo. Mazda will be unveiling cars this October.

Atenza? Oh, my bad. Well since this will be about the Tokyo Motor Show, I opted to use the Japanese name for the Mazda 6. After earning good reviews from journalists in the recently-held Frankfurt Motor Show last week, the Mazda 6/Atenza (pictured, above) will be showcased again in Tokyo. But it wouldn’t be the same 6/Atenza but an all-new sportier one.

Aside from the 6/Atenza, Mazda will also be featuring a concept with an uber-futuristic look – the Mazda Taiki Concept (pictured, below). For quite some time, Mazda has been experimenting on these futuristic designs (Nagare or “flow” theme) like with what they did with the Nagare, Ryuga, and Hakaze. It combines aerodynamic principles with next-generation rotary Wankels that Mazda has been known for.

Source: Mazda

It’s nice to read about some buzz regarding the next big motor show – the Tokyo Motor Show – Mazda will be unveiling the RX-7 Coupe design concept. Great news indeed for rotary fans of the RX-7 since this will be the first Mazda coupe with a rotary engine 1991. The new RX-7 in itself is a resurrection of the model since the production of the RX-7 (with the FD3S, pictured) ended in 2002.

The new design will be distinctive compared to the former incarnations but will take on shades of the Kubara and Ryuga concepts. It will be powered by the high-output RENESIS(2) engine. Many Mazda fans still consider the RX-7 FD as the best Mazda has ever done.

If the usual trend in cars is to make the newer version a lot more loaded and beefier than its predecessor, it’s not the case of Mazda 2.

The Mazda 2 Sport just got sexier by being more than 200 pounds lighter. It’s achieved through careful design and engineering. Nope, aluminum will be a cost overkill to put on a mini so it uses a different body structure and stronger steel. Lighter cars are, by theory, more fuel efficient than their heftier counterparts. So that should be a plus for this mini.

Top Gear test drive claims that the car feels respectfully agile for a supermini. It can go 0-60 in less than 10 seconds which is quite respectable for a car sporting a 1.5L engine.

Source: Top Gear

It’s still a little over a month away but the 2007 Frankfurt Motor show will definitely be a momentous occasion. For one, the all-new Mazda 6 will debut in the said event, the Japanese auto-maker announced through a press release.

The teaser image only shows the front of the car but it seems to have taken off from a few of the concept cars that they have been featuring in previous auto shows.

The all-new Mazda6 arrives as a full redesign of Mazda’s first model to embody the Zoom-Zoom product philosophy, offering a thrilling drive to all those who still remember the love of motion first experienced as a child. Following the all-new Mazda2, the new Mazda6 is the second Mazda new generation product to evolve to the next stage, further deepening the emotional connection between man and machine – Mazda calls it “Kizuna”.

Now since a lot of Mazda’s shares had been acquired by Ford and is, technically, a Ford brand, there might be a chance that the Mazda 6 will use Ford technologies. No details on the specs yet so we might just have to wait for more.

Source: Mazda

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