Mazda 2 News

The new family of engines will give 15 Toyota and Daihatsu models an efficiency gain of up to 30%, including Toyota's new Yaris due in 2015.The Yaris will be battling for top spot in light car sales with the upcoming Mazda 2 and Ford Fiesta, which will have similar efficiency gains from its skyactiv and EcoBoost technology respectively. The new engines could also help the rumoured upcoming Toyota Rush become the one of the most efficient SUVs in Australia.The 1.3-litre and 1.0-litre power plants have been co-developed with Toyota's small car brand, Daihatsu. Both units take advantage of an Atkinson cycle, which increases the compression ratio and reduces waste heat to operate more efficiently. However, the Atkinson cycle produces less power than ordinary engines, which has limited its use mainly to Hybrid cars until now.But Toyota has packed both engines with technology to help retain maximum power while optimising economy. A range of new developments will help the engines breathe better, achieving optimal efficiency. For example, the 1.3-litre will have a cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, a redesigned intake port and electronically controlled variable valve timing (VVT-iE).Both engines are designed to be compatible with stop-start technology, which cuts out the engine in traffic to save fuel. This system is currently limited in small cars to premium offerings, such as the Mini Cooper or the Volvo C30. However, Toyota and Daihatsu could be utilising this feature in the most basic entry level cars.Both engines will commence production in coming weeks, but we may only get the larger 1.3-litre engine in Australia initially. However the efficiency gains in the 1.0-litre engine could increase the incentive for Toyota to offer a cheap entry level car sourced from Daihatsu, to rival the Suzuki Alto, Nissan Micra and Mitsubishi Mirage. 

Previewed by the Hazumi concept at this year's Geneva motor show, the new Mazda 2 has been caught by Carsguide's spy photographers undergoing testing ahead of a show debut – possibly as early as the Tokyo event in November .The new sub-compact hatchback's design will be taken in the same direction as the Mazda 3, 6 and CX-5, with the brand's large 'shield' grille dominating the model's face and integrating into the headlights.The Mazda 2 in production form will also feature the Hazumi's sweeping character lines, which rise sharply over the front and rear wheel arches. Where the new 2 will differ most notably from the concept is its rear bumper design. The Hazumi used two centrally mounted exhausts and a carbon-fibre diffuser, however the Mazda 2 will have its exhaust pipe hidden and its rear bumper filled with dark plastics to keep prices below $20,000. The show car's concept door handles and mirrors have also been replaced with more functional designs.A range of fuel-efficient SkyActiv four-cylinder engines, including a new 1.5-litre petrol, will power the new Mazda 2. Fuel consumption will be significantly lower than the existing model's 6.4L/100km figure, and an even more frugal diesel model could be offered, too.The new model will also come with more safety equipment than before. The car spied here is fitted with a forward facing camera which is likely part of Mazda's iActiveSense system which can detect pedestrians and stationary vehicles before applying the brakes if the driver hasn't seen the obstacle. A blind spot warning system is also believed to be an option. 

Mazda has taken the wraps off its new Hazumi concept, with the Mazda 2-hinting light hatch concept forming the Japanese brand’s centrepiece at this week’s Geneva motor show.Teased twice with a darkened image and a design sketch this week, the Hazumi showcases an evolution of the Kodo design theme used by the CX-5, 6 and 3 models.  The existing 2’s rising beltline and sharp taillight treatment are also clearly referenced, and Mazda claims the driver’s field of vision has been improved. Look past the Hazumi’s 18 inch wheels, central exhaust tips, ultra-detailed wing mirrors and lighting though, and you’ll have a fair idea what the next Mazda 2 will look like when it appears in production form sometime next year. Mazda has followed a similar formula before, with the 2011 Minagi  and Takeri concepts previewing the CX-5 SUV and current model 6 that appeared soon after.   The Hazumi’s interior is also a significant evolution of existing Mazda designs, with contrasting white, red and black surfaces, and distinctive turbine-like HVAC vents and controls. The Hazumi also showcases the MZD smartphone integration system that debuted recently on the production 3.Compared with the existing 2, the five-door Hazumi concept is 170mm longer at 4070mm, 35mm wider at 1730mm, but 25mm lower at 1450mm, and rides on a 95mm longer wheelbase at 2585mm.The Hazumi also showcases Mazda’s new Skyactiv-D 1.5-litre turbodiesel engine, joining the existing 2.2-litre turbodiesel and 1.5, 2.0, 2,5-litre petrol Skyactiv units. Promising improved efficiency without compromising performance, Mazda remains mum on outputs for the time being.However, it does meet Euro 6 regulations without any after treatment systems and emits less than 90g/km with the six-speed Skyactiv torque converter automatic fitted to the Hazumi. This last figure suggests a combined fuel figure below 4.0L/100km. 

Mazda released a teaser sketch of its Hazumi concept a few days ago as a lead-up to the car's unveiling in Geneva next week, but we're now getting an earlier look with a full image of the car leaking online.The design sketch shows the dynamic Hazumi styling, with prominent shield-shaped grille lines integrating into the LED daytime running lights of the headlight cluster, front lip and rear tailgate spoilers, sculpted side skirts, black roof and subtly swelling wheel arches stuffed with what look to be exaggeratedly oversized alloys.If even half of those features make it onto the production version, the Mazda 2 will be one of the sharpest-looking city cars around, and fulfilling the Hazumi translation of 'bounding up' - helped in the concept by the sharply rising beltline that gives it the lively appearance of leaping forward.  Hazumi is the latest development of Mazda's Kodo design, already used for the Mazda6, CX-5 and new Mazda3.There are no further details on the car's features or drivetrain, however Mazda has already confirmed Geneva will also see them unveil a new diesel a 1.5-litre featuring the latest development of their fuel-efficient Skyactiv technology, which could power a version of the 2 in some markets.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

The new Hazumi concept to be unveiled at Geneva motor show on March 6 will sport design cues that will feed into the next Mazda 2 -- itself set to start rolling out later this year after a production version debut at a future show.The Japanese carmaker says the name Hazumi translates as 'bound or spring up' and expresses imagery of wild animals in leaping action, which the brand says is "particularly fitting for a small car designed to look as if it is literally bursting with energy".Joining the city car concept on the Geneva show stand -- and possibly in the Hazumi itself -- will be a new diesel engine:  a 1.5-litre featuring the latest development of Mazda's fuel-efficient Skyactiv technology.Mazda will also unveil a special commemorative exhibit saluting the 25-year history of the landmark MX-5 -- the car that revived the convertible and is still a benchmark for the segment today.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott

Design maestro Theophilus Chin  has produced his impression of what we'll see with the next Mazda2 when it arrives most likely late next year after a motor show unveiling.Chin has focused on the front of the vehicle, and shows how the fresher Mazda family face will sit on the popular city car -- which topped the light class in Australia's 2013 sales with 15,167, edging ahead of the 2012 winner Toyota Yaris on 14,437.Mazda hasn't revealed many hints about what we'll get in the next 2, although it's logical to expect a continuing focus on Skyactiv fuel economy technology spreading across the stable to the baby.That prospect offers the promise of even better efficiency than from the current model's 76kW/135Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder, which delivers 6.4L/100km in five-speed manual gearbox form and 6.8L/100km with the four-speed automatic transmission. 

While Holden and Ford sales have been in steady decline over the past decade Mazda has steadily climbed and in 2012 the Japanese car maker overtook Ford as the third highest seller behind Toyota and Holden.An indication of the dramatic swing is that in 2004 Holden sold around 178,000 vehicles compared with 55,000 Mazdas. As of November 2013 the gap had closed to just over 8000 with Holden down to 103,000 and Mazda up to 95,000.The number 3 is most significant because the Mazda3 makes up around 40 per cent of Mazda’s total Australian sales despite the imminent arrival of an all-new model. The company’s other star performer is the CX-5 which is now Australia’s top seller across all segments of the highly-competitive SUV market segment.Mazda’s 2013 performance is all the more impressive because it has been a relatively quiet year with no new model releases and only the addition of some new variants to the CX-5 and BT-50 range.Australia is one of Mazda’s most important markets and this was recognised when the Japanese head office chose Melbourne as the first of five major cities to reveal the upcoming, third generation, Mazda3 with Istanbul, St Petersburg, London and New York following as the earth moved around the sun.The next three years will be busier with five new models set to arrive here spearheaded by the all-new Mazda3 in January 2014. Also due for new generation models between 2014 and 2016 are the Mazda2, MX-5 and CX-9. Mazda won’t be specific on the fifth new model but given its success in the SUV field and the trend towards sub-compacts a CX-3 is the strong favourite. Based on the Mazda2 platform it would join recent releases such as Holden Trax, Nissan Juke, Peugeot 2008 and Ford EcoSport.Each of these upcoming models will continue the roll-out of Mazda’s ground-breaking SkyActiv technology that covers all aspect of vehicle design including engines, transmissions, brakes, body structure and chassis designed to significantly reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions by between 20 and 30 per cent. 

Just as rear-wheel drive die-hard BMW prepares its first front-wheel drive models, Mazda could be plotting a return to the layout for future passenger vehicles.Mazda has never let go of rear-wheel drive for its sporty MX-5 and its light commercial BT-50 range, and Edmunds reports that there is a push from within the Japanese brand to revert to rear-drive for more mainstream models as a means of differentiation. Mazda, along with most other brands, abandoned rear-drive for its mainstream models in the early 1980s due to inherent cost, packaging, weight, and efficiency compromises. The last Mazda passenger car to send power to the rear wheels only was the top-line HE-generation 929 model, which bowed out in 1997.Nowadays, the mainstream Mazda2, Mazda3, and Mazda6 models are all front-drive, with the CX-5 and CX-9 SUVs also using a front-biased transverse engine layout.Rear-drive remains the accepted choice on a purely dynamic basis, with the likes of Porsche, Ferrari, and Lotus maintaining the layout as a design fundamental.A Mazda rear-wheel drive shift could enhance the brand’s appeal to enthusiast drivers, but the inherent challenges would need to be overcome to maintain mainstream appeal.Premium brands BMW and Mercedes-Benz have managed to remain successful with rear-drive mainstream models, and look to continue limiting front-drive options to the smaller, more cost-conscious ends of their respective ranges.Significantly, BMW and Mercedes’ big-selling rear drivers sit well up the price scale from any Mazda offering – helping to justify their expensive development. The Mazda push is reportedly coming from within its engineering department, but top management is said to be cold on the idea due to the cost of rejigging platforms to suit. Justification could come thanks to Alfa Romeo’s own desire for more rear-wheel drive models, considering the two brands’ existing relationship for the upcoming Alfa Spider/next MX-5 duo. It’s a long shot at this stage, with no official confirmation of such a strategy, but the rumoured replacement for the defunct RX-7 and RX-8 sports coupes would be a logical first step.This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn 

Mazda has dropped all three variants of the Mazda 2 -- Neo, Maxx and Genki – replacing them with two new ones: the Neo Sport and Maxx Sport. But buyers who expect handling or performance upgrades to match the new name will be disappointed.The Sport moniker is simply to differentiate the new range from the previous one. Unlike rivals such as the Suzuki Swift -- where the Sport name brings more power, reduced weight and upgraded suspension and braking --  the Mazda 2 Sport models offer only cosmetic and equipment changes.Under the bonnet is the same 1.5-litre 76kW unit as before, attached to either a 5 speed manual or 4 speed automatic. The entry-level Neo Sport matches the outgoing model's entry level price of $15,790 price for a manual or $17,440 for the automatic, but now includes 15-inch alloy wheels.The big winner is the Maxx Sport, which builds on the old Maxx equipment list and adds fog lamps, chrome exhaust and trip computer. A refreshed interior has also been added, with red stitching on the seats, and red leather steering wheel.Opt for the manual and you’ll also get a leather gear shift knob. The Maxx Sport also scores standard climate control, and an ambient temperature readout in the instrument cluster.The extra equipment on the Maxx Sport represents $1200 worth of value over the old Maxx model. To further sweeten the deal, Mazda has priced the Maxx Sport $760 lower than the outgoing Maxx. This brings the new range-topper’s price down to $16,930 for the manual and $18,580 for the automatic.The now discontinued $20,495 Genki ($22,145 for the auto) was the last Mazda 2 to feature automatic rain sensing wipers, side skirts, 16-inch alloy wheels and automatic headlights. Of these, only the side skirts are now available as optional equipment, with the rest of the equipment now discontinued from the range.Mazda sold 1106 of the Mazda 2 in July; 156 units behind the top-placed Hyundai i20, and just 50 behind the Toyota Yaris. Mazda hopes the refreshed range will help it claw back to the top of the sales ladder - a position it held until earlier this year.To help achieve this task, the Mazda 2 has also borrowed two new colours from its recently introduced bigger sibling, the Mazda 6. Available across the range at no extra cost are Jet Black Mica and Blue Reflex Mica, bringing the total colour choices to eight. 

So much for the push towards greener cars. In automotive terms Australia is about to become the 51st state of the USA.Australians are moving closer to North Americans in their taste in vehicles. For the first time ever there is now almost an exact 50:50 split between the sales of passenger cars – and utes and SUVs. The same ratio seen for decades in pick-up and SUV-loving USA. Twenty years ago passenger cars accounted for more than 70 per cent of all new vehicles sold in Australia.Official figures released today confirm January 2013 was the strongest start to a year in Australian automotive history, eclipsing 85,000 deliveries for the first time – and the previous January record set in 2008 before the Global Financial Crisis.The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries reports 41,957 passenger cars were delivered in January compared to 41,595 utes, vans and SUVs – a slim gap of 362 sales, or the equivalent of just three days of deliveries for the top-selling car, the Mazda3.“The trend towards SUVs and away from classic passenger cars is all to do with their style and versatility and mass-acceptability,” says David Chalke, a cultural change analyst with AustraliaScan. “Everybody’s doing it, there’s now a fear of being left out.”Chalke says SUVs are no longer the heathens of the road thanks to their new levels of fuel-efficiency. “The new ones use comparatively so little fuel most people don’t think they’re driving a 4WD,” he said. “In fact in many cases they’re not. They are often two-wheel-drive with the appearance of a 4WD.”FCAI chief executive Tony Weber says the mining boom is also driving ute and SUV sales. “Part of is the mining boom, part of it is private buyers seeking new levels of flexibility and cars that better suit their needs.”Australia’s three local car makers – Toyota, Holden and Ford – failed to cash-in. January is typically a slow month for sales of locally-made cars but they dropped by 28 per cent to an all-new low.Just 2722 Australian made cars were delivered in January – which means the combined sales of the Holden Commodore, Ford Falcon, Ford Territory, Toyota Camry and Toyota Aurion ranked third -- an unprecedented status. Mazda3 was the top-selling car (3345 sales), followed by the Toyota Corolla (2960), the Toyota Hilux (2747), and the Nissan Navara (2474).The Ford Focus (2364) had its best month ever -- and helped drive Ford to a 33 per cent sales increase – but it outsold the Falcon by three-to-one. The Falcon (778 deliveries) is now selling at the same rate as the Mitsubishi 380 in the year before the factory closed. Ford’s Broadmeadows throughput is topped up by the production of Territory (up 44 per cent) and ute (down 22 per cent), but sales of both models are well down from their peaks.Holden says it has scaled back production of the Commodore (1650 deliveries) ahead of a new model due in showrooms in June. Toyota sold just 557 Camrys and 227 Aurion V6 sedans (down 57 and 77 per cent respectively). The FCAI’s Weber dismissed the weak sales of locally mades cars as “just one bad month, let’ see where it goes”. “We’re going to continue to see more and more market segmentation,” Weber said. “We won’t see just one car reach the massive volumes of years past.”In other highlights:Toyota was down 5 per cent but is set to lead the market for the 11th year in a row;Mazda outsold Holden to be second in the market for the fourth time ever (previous monthly second-placings: April, September and Dec 2012);Nissan is closing-in on Ford, less than 500 sales behind, threatening to push the Blue Oval brand to sixth;Honda had a blinder month, up 141 per cent from a low base – but still well down on its best year;Audi outsold BMW for the fourth January (previous wins were in ’09, ’11, ’12) and the sixth time ever (after previous wins in Feb ’11, Oct ’11) but Mercedes was top luxury brand;Sales of passenger cars fell by 1 per cent in a market that grew 11 per cent driven by surges in utes (up 43 per cent) and SUVs (up 20 per cent);The delivery of 1878 heavy trucks (up 10 per cent) takes January tally to 85,430.Top selling cars in January 2013Mazda3 3345Toyota Corolla 2960Toyota HiLux 2747Nissan Navara 2474Ford Focus 2364Hyundai i30 2006Holden Captiva 2155Mazda2 1665Holden Commodore 1650Holden Cruze 1630Mazda CX5 1625Top selling brands in January 2013Toyota 13,375 down 4.9pcMazda 8912 up 5.1pcHolden 8811 down 2.8pcFord 7721 up 32.3pcNissan 7248 up 35 pcHyundai 6816 up 4.7pcMitsubishi 4449 down 2.6pcVolkswagen 3824 up 13.6pcHonda 3816 up 141pcSubaru 3104 down 3.2pcThis reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling