Tag: Mazda

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Mazda Makes (Helps) the World Go Round

With Mazda getting ready to end production of the RX-8, it seemed fitting to take a look back in history to see just how the rotary powered Mazda faired in the US nearly 30 years ago. The newspaper article on the right is from the Thursday, March 1st, 1973 edition of the Toledo, Ohio paper; The Blade.

With the introduction of the 1975 EPA air-pollution standards, came required catalytic converters and unleaded gasoline. While some US car manufacturers struggled to meet the strict (for the time) standards, Mazda was decades ahead. Maybe so far as to say that the US auto makers were trying to insinuate that the Japanese based Mazda was somehow cheating the system.

In continuing with the rotary history lesson, the article below is from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (June 29th, 1973). While some auto makers were having trouble with detonation due to the newly introduced unleaded gasoline, the rotary powered Mazda showed no signs of weakness in part to the limited number of moving parts and overall simplicity of the rotary engine design.

After having such a long history with rotary engines, will Mazda finally say goodbye to the rotary engine? Will we see an RX-7 inspired vehicle from Mazda in the near future?

In more recent rotary inspired news, last weekend, three race teams (SpeedSource, Dempsey Racing, and Team Sahlen) raced with special logos on the sides of their vehicles promoting donations to the American Red Cross to help fund the Japan Earthquake Tsunami Relief Fund. The Mazda Foundation also made a #150,000 donation.

If you would like to donate $10 to the Red Cross Japan relief efforts, simply text REDCROSS to 90999.

– Jake

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Jolly Green Mazda

Last October, Mazda put out a press release revealing that they will be introducing a new direction for the company labeled “Skyactiv” technology. The several year transition will start with a new engine and transmission. The new drivetrains are expected to put out 15% more power and improve fuel economy by about the same (20% increase in both for the diesel version). The basic idea behind the technology is to significantly decrease weight and internal friction (two of the main inefficiencies with internal combustion engine driven vehicles).

SkyActiv Engine

The next two components to roll out are strictly weight saving measures and come from a redesign of the body and chassis to save 8% and 14% in weight respectively, all while increasing rigidity. Finally, Mazda is concentrating on aerodynamics to ensure a sleek design that will help improve fuel economy.

Chassis and drivetrain lightening

Now you might be thinking that an increase in fuel economy will take all of the “fun” out of the fun to drive Mazda. This is not the case. In a more recent update, a senior executive at Mazda said that they are committed to green technology, but most importantly, to driver enjoyment.

Want to keep up with all of the latest news and developments from Mazda? Sign up for the digital Zoom Zoom Magazine. It’s completely free and will keep you to date on new technologies, Mazda Motorsports, and even help you find a local club or event to meet up at. Just go to www.zoomzoommag.com and click the button shown below. You can email it to yourself, or a friend and even browse past issues.

SkyActiv Engine

– Jake

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The Super 20

I normally don’t just write about show cars that are seen in a SEMA booth by themselves for my blog posts. Mx-5s are not a normal focus of mine either. In the Mazdaspeed booth at the SEMA show was a good looking Mx5. The MX-5 had fender extensions to give it a wide body look and an eye catching paint and graphic scheme with the Super 20 logos. Under the hood are a Cosworth supercharger, Mazdaspeed header, and a Mazdaspeed Japan front tower brace. Again you think so what; it is just a SEMA show car.

What I found interesting is the history on this car. I spoke with a Mazda insider who said this car was built to test the feasibility of releasing a supercharged MX-5 in the showroom. If the economy was better this could be a reality. This is really a “what if” statement but cars like this have become a reality before, which is what really interested me.

If you know your Mazda history another car like this one actually became a production vehicle. The 2003 Mazdaspeed Protégé was released. It was a Protégé built in Japan and shipped to the North America to have a turbo kit installed at the port before delivery to dealers. Mazda collaborated with Callaway to provide the turbo charging expertise. The same thing could have happened with the Super 20 and Cosworth.

Unfortunately with the product life cycle of the MX-5 ending in the next few years we will not see this car ever released. This is one of those cars that could have been and should have been.

– Derrick

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More Thoughts on Mazda Design

Last week I wrote about the Shinari concept vehicle which is said to be the Mazda 6 of the future. The overall design theme shown in the Shinari is called Kodo which Mazda describes as the “soul of motion”. Yesterday I ran across a Youtube video released by Mazda Australia which posts videos under the alias ZoomZoom. The video shows the Kodo design applied to another future Mazda vehicle.

The video has an interesting view showing a clay modeled compact Mazda which could be either the Mazda 2 or Mazda 3 successor. The video shows different aspects of the vehicles design and form with lighting and shading to show the contrasts.

Based on what the video shows I am very happy with what I see. The hatch shown has great lines and is very visually appealing. After watching the video several times I am thinking this will be a probably be the next 2. There are several styling points on the car which look more like the Mazda 2 than the 3. For example the rear wheels are placed really close to the back of the car to give maximum space on the inside, much like the existing 2. The rear slope of the hatch rear-quarter area looks like the existing 2 as well.

The video is just a rendering but it does offer more great insight into the upcoming vehicles from Mazda. I will be keeping my eyes open to see what other styling surprises Mazda leaks out in the future.

– Derrick

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Look Upon the New Direction of Mazda, and Behold!

Mazda took the wraps off a surprise in Milan this week and introduced the Shinari concept vehicle.

Ikuo Maeda (Head Design Chief at Mazda) really made a statement with the new concept vehicle showing the direction that Mazda is headed. The bulging fenders from the RX-8 and other newer Mazdas are gone. This is kind of ironic since Ikuo designed the RX-8 and set the fender style in motion at Mazda. To me the long hood design says Jaguar or Aston Martin, sort of a new age low slung E-Type.


E-Type Jaguar


Aston Martin DB9

I personally like the long hood look for the car. It means you have lots of engine room to play with. When I get bored with the Mazda 2 in the year 2030 I can pick up one of these and build a 4 rotor engine to install in it.

The rear of the car reminds me of the FD RX-7 with the small rear lights and the curves. The small lip on the back of the hatch is there is well from the FD, though it is not as pronounced on the RX-7 as it is on the Shinari.

The name Shinari means “resistance to being bent”. I find this pretty funny as the Nagare styling which is on the way out the door was “flow” which does imply bending.

The car is setup as a 4 door i.e. replacement for the Mazda 6. I am happy to see something new come out the door for Mazda which gives a sign of the direction Mazda is going since Nagare was pronounced dead with the 2011 Mazda 5.

If the Shinari was released as is now I would totally rock one. What do you guys think?

– Derrick