Nother CarGuy

Mazda has unveiled its first mass-production electric vehicle in the form of the Mazda MX-30 on the eve of the Tokyo Motor Show. The Japanese car manufacturer says the MX-30 features a single front-mounted electric motor receiving juice from a 35.5 kWh battery pack in the floor that’s said to be good for around 124 miles (200 km) of range. Mazda is yet to specify all that many details about the vehicle’s powertrain although we know that recent prototypes of the MX-30 have delivered 142 hp and 194 lb-ft of torque from the aforementioned electric motor. Underpinning the vehicle is Mazda’s e-SkyActiv platform and the car comes loaded with a bunch of safety features. For example, there is Smart Brake Support (autonomous emergency braking) with Turn-Across Traffic detection using a millimeter-wave radar and forward-facing camera. There is also a Road Keep Assist function that is able to detect soft road edges where there isn’t a line marking. An advanced Blind Spot Assist system h...

In the rare instance that you find Mazda’s CX-3 a touch too small, and at the same time, the CX-5 a little too big, the Japanese carmaker has come up with a solution that hears to the name CX-30. Sales for the CX-30, unveiled in Geneva, will commence in the middle of this year in Europe, followed by the rest of the world at some point in time. As far as styling is concerned, the CX-30 has been thought up using Mazda’s Kodo design language, resulting in a dynamic exterior. “We designed the CX-30 to be an essential partner in the customer’s daily life,” said Mazda president & CEO, Akira Marumoto. “It will be made at key global plants so we can deliver Mazda’s renowned driving pleasure and matured Kodo design to customers all over the world. Moving forward, our new products and technologies will ensure customers continue to see the value in owning a Mazda car. We aim to be recognised as a brand that forms the strongest of bonds with each customer.” Inside, it features “rel...

Mazda has released the first teaser image of a new SUV that will debut at the Geneva Motor Show, on March 5. While there have been rumors about it being a revamp of the CX-4 coupe-crossover sold in China, another possibility is the facelifted version of the CX-3, as its presence coincides with a (logical) revamp of the subcompact SUV that debuted at the end of 2014 in LA, before going on sale in late 2015 (early 2016, in some regions). In any case, this crossover benefits from “a more mature Kodo design language”, according to Mazda. This is partially visible at the rear in the official picture released by Mazda, which previews the rear end. Whatever this model may be, the company has also equipped it with a new SkyActiv engine. The lump gets the new Spark Plug Controlled Compression Ignition (SPCCI) technology, which enables it to rev like a petrol engine and at the same time have the response of a diesel thanks to the a unique combustion tech. That’s all Mazda had to say a...

Described as the “dawn of a new era,” the redesigned model is an important vehicle for Mazda as it is their first car to use the Skyactiv-Vehicle Architecture and the new Skyactiv-X petrol engine. The latter features a Spark-Controlled Compression Ignition (SCCI) system which promises to combine the best attributes of both petrol and diesel engines. Putting those items aside for a moment, the Mazda3 has a new interpretation of the company’s Kodo design language. The automaker says it has an extremely simple “single motion” to its overall form while also being elegant and expressive. Both the sedan and hatchback feature an evolutionary design, but the sedan is the real star of the show as it adopts a number of styling cues from the Vision Coupe concept. Starting up front, we can see a prominent grille with chromed wings which flow into slender headlights. Moving further back, there’s flowing bodywork and a dynamic greenhouse. The rear is also pretty sporty as it features an in...

Ladies and gentlemen, these are the very first spy shots of the upcoming 2019 Mazda3 hatchback. Scheduled to debut later this month at the LA Auto Show both in hatchback and sedan body styles, Mazda’s all-new compact model looks promising in these first spy shots. Photographers spotted a fully-camouflaged prototype in Europe during testing and even got a peek at its interior. Fortunately, Mazda didn’t bother disguising the cabin that much. As you can see here, engineers tested the all-new Mazda3 alongside a VW Golf and Audi A3. Furthermore, a current Mazda3 was also part of the test group. Both the bodywork and the cabin reveal clear influences from the Kai Concept, although the 2019 Mazda3 obviously looks a bit toned down in comparison. The new Japanese compact hatchback displays harmonious proportions and striking details. Those include the sharp headlights and taillights, the gaping grille, as well as the dynamic treatment of the C-pillar. All of the above are inf...

When Mazda released the first teaser video of the all-new Mazda3 last month, it said that the debut will take place in November. Now we know exactly when that will happen, as the Japanese carmaker has confirmed the Los Angeles Auto Show (November 30-December 9) as the venue for the world debut of its new compact models. We use the plural because, as you can see in the teaser photo released with the announcement, the 2019 Mazda3 will debut simultaneously as a four-door sedan and five-door hatchback. The automaker says the 2019 model marks the beginning of a whole new generation of Mazda cars “that will deliver new dimensions of driving joy to customers around the world.” The fourth-generation Mazda3 will use the new SkyActiv-Vehicle Architecture which is said to be stronger and provide better ride quality. Mazda says the new platform “enables people to make the most of their natural sense of balance,” suggesting intuitive handling characteristics. The new model will also...

Well, Mazda’s mystery New York Auto Show wasn’t at all significant as we’d hoped. Instead, it is simply a 2019 Mazda CX-3. Updates are minor to say the least. The exterior of the new CX-3 is almost identical to the 2018 model. However, this is no bad thing as the CX-3 remains one of the most appealing and attractive vehicles in its segment. Subtle changes include a new front grille, additional chrome accents, Piano black elements, and the addition of Crystal premium paint. Elsewhere, the 2019 CX-3 gets revised LED taillights and 18-inch wheels. Most of the changes enjoyed by the 2019 CX-3 are limited to the interior. For example, an electronic parking brake has been fitted. The Japanese firm claims that this “allows for a significant increase in storage place.” We’re not so sure about the word ‘significant’ in that statement but nevertheless, some customers may be pleased to have a new button to play with… In all seriousness, the electronic parking brake has allo...

Toyota has welcomed the 2019 Yaris sedan to its range, complete with a new name, fresher face, and three new grades. The exterior design of the Yaris sedan, once known as the Scion IA before turning into the Yaris IA, is the first thing that catches the eye. Up front, not much has changed and it still looks like a road-going catfish with an expansive honeycomb grille and a set of headlights absent of even a hint of aggression and simply made to look cute (presumably). Curiously, Toyota has yet to release pictures showing the rear fascia of the new Yaris sedan but we have been provided a look at the overhauled interior. Each and every 2019 Yaris sedan sold will come complete with a 7.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system with voice recognition, remote interface, steering wheel controls, and Bluetooth connectivity. Additionally, the car includes a backup camera, six-speaker sound system, auxiliary audio jack, USB port, and a 3-month complimentary SiriusXM All Access Trial. A...

Toyota has Lexus. Nissan has Infiniti. Honda has Acura. But for Mazda, this is as high-end as it gets. Feast your eyes on the updated Mazda6, revealed at the LA Auto Show – where it may not be the most exciting vehicle on display, but we dare say one of the best-looking. The Zoom-Zoom brand's rival to the likes of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord (to name just two), the Mazda6 competes in one of the most hotly contested segments in the industry. And the revisions ought to go a long way towards increasing Mazda's share of that pie. An extensive facelift of the existing model, the new 6 adopts Mazda's latest design language, foreshadowed by the Vision Coupe concept unveiled in Tokyo – which is a good thing, especially in the automaker's signature Soul Red Crystal paint. But what Mazda is touting most about its new flagship sedan is its upscale accoutrements. Citing the popularity of the higher-spec versions of the new CX-9 – 55 percent of which are...

Mazda will reveal in full the re-engineered and redesigned 2018 Mazda6 at the LA Auto Show on November 29. Mazda’s flagship sedan model has been thoroughly updated according to the automaker, making this the third time since the model’s debut in 2012. Key changes include the adoption of new technologies and the addition of a new option in the powertrain range, with the Skyactiv-G 2.5-liter petrol engine gaining a cylinder-deactivation system for better fuel efficiency. Mazda has also added the turbocharged Skyactiv-G 2.5T petrol unit that debuted in the CX-9. The performance figures of the new engine option, which makes up to 250hp and 310lb-ft of torque in the SUV model, are not yet announced but Mazda claims it offers “an effortless performance feel that is equal parts composure and excitement”. A wider range of Mazda’s i-ACTIVSENSE safety technologies will also be onboard, including a radar cruise control that can bring the car to a standing stop and take off again and...

Following the striking Kai concept, Mazda’s Vision Coupe kept everyone impressed with its dynamic design, representing the next chapter in the company’s KODO design language. The bodywork conforms to the golden ratio of a classic coupe design, with the cabin positioned toward the rear of the car while the flowing, clean lines make the Vision Coupe look like it’s moving forward when stationary. Mazda purposely opted for an exterior design that’s free of all non-essential elements while focusing on classic traits like the prominent shoulder line and body sides that present linear transitions in different lights and shadows. The same atmosphere is present inside, where Mazda used the traditional Japanese architectural concept of ma in order to make passengers feel embraced and not confined. A big center console runs across the length of the cabin and features a touch-sensitive surface next to the driver for controlling the infotainment system while the dashboard adopts t...