Mazda 2 News

Mazda has announced that a sedan bodystyle will once again be added to the popular Mazda2 range before the end of 2015.The Mazda2 sedan will compete in the light-sedan segment alongside the Honda City and booted versions of the Holden Barina, Hyundai Accent and Toyota Yaris, along with  the smaller Mitsubishi Mirage.The new Mazda2 sedan will feature the same Skyactiv-G four-cylinder petrol engine seen in the existing five-door hatch, with a choice between six-speed manual and auto transmissions.Like the hatch, both 79kW/139Nm 'standard' spec and 81kW/141Nm 'high' spec versions of the engine will be available.Also like the existing hatch, AEB will be available as an option.The previous generation of the Mazda2 was sold as a sedan briefly in 2010.A Scion-badged version of the current model was also unveiled for the US market at last month's LA motor show.For Australia, the new Mazda2 sedan will likely mirror the Neo, Maxx and Genki trim levels of the hatch, with pricing to be announced closer to its on-sale date.

A vote by 75 motoring journalists from 22 countries has awarded the compact prestige car the World Car of the Year award for 2015.It finished on top of a 24-car field and eventually beat the two other finalists, the Ford Mustang and Volkswagen Passat.The other big prizes for 2015, Green Car of the Year and Performance Car of the Year, went to the plug-in hybrid BMW i8 and the Mercedes-AMG GT coupe.The winners were announced at the New York Motor Show today at an event hosted by Bridgestone Corporation and Autoneum at the culmination of a six-month voting process.The C-Class delivers levels of refinement, luxury, safety, ride and handling that challenge best-in-class.The awards are in their 11th year and previous winners include the Audi A6, BMW 3 Series, Lexus LS460 and Volkswagen Golf, Polo and Up.To be eligible for the overall World Car award, candidate cars must have become available for sale on at least two continents between January 1, 2014 and May 31, 2015.The WCOTY wins by Mercedes-Benz follow its victories in the Green Car contest in 2007 with the E320 Bluetec and 2012 with the S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY and its Luxury Car success with the S Class in 2014.“We are extremely delighted of winning the honour of World Car of the Year,” says the chairman of Daimler, Dr Dieter Zetsche.The WCOTY victory follows a similar success for the C-Class in the CarsGuide Car of the Year award.The WCOTY judging panel says: “Taking its design and technological cues from the S-Class, the C-Class employs an all-new aluminium/steel hybrid platform and updated rear-drive powertrains that delivers levels of refinement, luxury, safety, ride and handling that challenge best-in-class.” WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2015Overall winner: Mercedes-Benz C-ClassGreen Car: BMW i8Performance Car: Mercedes-AMG GTLuxury Car: Mercedes-Benz S CoupeDesign: Citroen CactusPREVIOUS WORLD COTY WINNERS:2014: Audi A32013: Volkswagen Golf2012: Volkswagen Up2011: Nissan Leaf2010: Volkswagen Polo2009: Volkswagen Golf2008: Mazda22007: Lexus LS4602006: BMW 3 Series2005: Audi A6

The handbrake got stuck on new cars in January, with sales dipping despite record low interest rates, end-of-year clearance deals and the removal of import tariffs on Japanese vehicles.

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Ten contenders, two exhaustive days of testing by six judges...

Mercedes-Benz C-Class wins CarsGuide 2014 Car Of The Year award as sales figures show it outsold the Ford Falcon by almost two-to-one last month.

As the exhaustive COTY drive program starts, CarsGuide covers the market segments — the focus as ever is on testing real cars for real people on real roads.The field for the 2014 Carsguide Car of the Year contest is in the starting blocks.The 10 contenders cover every corner of Australia’s new-car showroom, from baby cars to SUVs and luxury cars to people-movers. There is even a performance car.The COTY favourite is the Mercedes-Benz C-Class but there are dark horses including the updated VW Polo and Toyota Corolla sedan, as well as the classy little Mazda2 that’s a late inclusion for the contest.And then there is the Ford Falcon XR8, an Aussie hero that’s the poster car for the final FG X Falcon.The two-day COTY contest puts them head-to-head with a simple mantra: real cars for real people on real roads.So we’re looking first at value, then everything from safety to comfort, quality and efficiency. It’s the same approach that most people take to their new-car purchase but with a much sharper focus.VW has dominated the COTY results in recent years with the excellent Golf and Polo, which work so well despite unanswered questions about ownership beyond the warranty.But no one knows what will happen when we get down to voting for the biggest prize in Australia motoring.  The contenders are:Ford Falcon XR8From $52,490This is as good as the Falcon gets, as Ford Australia does all it can to make the FG X special for the time it has left as a car maker at Broadmeadows. Ford fans have been calling for the return of the XR8 for years and the best news is the car picks up the 335kW supercharged V8 engine lifted directly from the discontinued FPV GT.Honda Jazz VTiFrom $14,990Honda retreated in the global financial crisis, and has also just axed the Accord Euro that’s been so popular in Australia. Honda played smart by adding a standard rear-view camera to the new Jazz but that’s just the start for a car that’s a genuine step forward.Honda Odyssey VTiFrom $38,990Few Australians buy people-movers but the new Odyssey provides a good reason to look past an SUV. A genuine family van, it is also well equipped and well built. It’s been a long-term success in Australia, despite rivals including the Toyota Tarago and the latest classy Citroen Picasso.Mazda3 NeoFrom $20,490Australia’s favourite car for 2013 got a total makeover for 2014 that includes everything from the SkyActiv powertrain to a new body and chassis. It’s a looker that backs the style with impressive quality and driving dynamics. The Mazda3 take the fight to the Toyota Corolla for sales and the VW Golf for everything else.Mazda2 NeoFrom $15,790More like a condensed Mazda3 than any previous Mazda2, the Japanese company’s new starter car is mini but definitely not tinny. The cabin quality is impressive, it goes well with SkyActiv technology, and the value is up with a price that’s down.Mercedes-Benz C200From $60,900The world’s oldest car maker performed a magic trick with the new C-Class, creating a condensed S-Class limousine that still comes in below the LCT threshold. It’s packed with technology, takes a new approach to luxury cabin design and drives incredibly well in C200 starter form.Nissan Pathfinder hybridFrom $42,990Earlier Pathfinders were a bit rough-and-ready despite their heavyweight credentials but the new model is much more car-like and a serious alternative to a Toyota Kluger or Ford Territory for Australian families. The hybrid package is the icing on the cake.Subaru WRXFrom $38,990The long-term Subaru hero is still a performance bargain. Its user-friendly constantly variable transmission is one of the biggest changes and challenges to the turbocharged pocket rocket. This time around the emphasis has switched from the engine to the chassis in the WRX, a major departure that changes the game.Toyota Corolla sedanFrom $20,740Four-door compacts are not generally as popular as hatches but that has not stopped Toyota from creating a sedan that trumps its five-door variant. It’s a little more expensive but the pay-off comes in greater refinement in a body that works for many downsizers.VW Polo 66TSI$16,290The starter car for VW in Australia following the axing of the Up is a long way better than basic motoring. It goes surprisingly well, has a solid Golf-style feel and meets most of the needs of baby-car buyers. As always, though, we wonder about life beyond the warranty.We’re looking first at value, then everything from safety to comfort, quality and efficiency. It’s the same approach most people take to their new-car purchase but with a much sharper focus.

All-new Mazda 2 brings Kodo style, an improved drive experience, new more efficient drivetrains and driveaway pricing. Mazda has confirmed local specifications and pricing for the much-anticipated new third-generation Mazda2 ahead of its November 1 showroom debut.  While the old Mazda2 continues as the second best-selling car in its segment - behind the Hyundai i20 - the all-new 2 follows recent updates to its Volkswagen Polo and Toyota Yaris rivals, along with the new-generation Honda Jazz.DESIGNThe new Mazda2’s Kodo design language aligns Mazda’s light hatch with the CX-5, Mazda6 and Mazda3, and continues with the Skyactiv weight saving and efficiency boosting technology used by its larger siblings.The new Mazda2 has grown in most dimensions, with the wheelbase lengthened by 80mm to 2570mm and the overall length increasing 160mm to 4060mm. It is also 20mm taller at 1495mm than the model it replaces.The increased size of the Mazda2 does not necessarily mean a boost in cabin space however. Aside from an 11mm increase in front seat shoulder room, rear shoulder room has dropped by 30mm, and headroom has shrunk by 20mm and 15mm front-rear. Legroom is also marginally reduced by 5mm in the front and 4mm in the rear. Luggage space in the boot remains unchanged from the old Mazda2 however, at 250-litres (VDA).Like the existing Skyactiv-based models, the 2's extra wheelbase has been used to move the front wheels further ahead of the cabin, creating a more cab-rearward profile. This has also left room under the bonnet for the complex Skyactiv ehaust manifold and enabled the driver controls to be straightened from the current model's left-skewed layout.  The all-new chassis and strut front/torsion beam rear suspension in the Mazda2 have been refined to reduce road noise and vibration, and a quicker steering ratio has been used for a sportier feel.VALUEFor the new 2, Mazda is reintroducing the three trim-levels used when the previous version arrived in 2007 - entry Neo, mid-spec Maxx and top-flight Genki. These replace the current Neo Sport and Maxx Sport trim levels used since September 2013.The $14,990 ($16,990 drive-away) Neo comes with 15-inch steel wheels, air-conditioning, cloth seats, matte black trim, USB/Bluetooth compatible audio system and multifunction steering wheel.The $16,990 ($18,990 drive-away) Maxx improves on the Neo with 15-inch alloy wheels, high-gloss black cabin trim, cruise control and leather-wrapped steering wheel, gearshift, and handbrake.Also on the Maxx - with white, silver or black body colours - a $250 colour pack can be optioned which replaces the black trim with high-gloss red centre console side-panels, front door armrest panels and ventilation louvre surrounds. The seats are also coloured red, as is the front door armrest.The top-spec $19,990 ($21,990 drive-away) Genki gets the same MZD multimedia interface as the Mazda3, with a  7-inch touchscreen with satnav, multimedia and communication apps and six-speakers. There is also a heads-up display for the driver, several black soft touch panels with red stitching, climate control, automatic headlights and wipers, front fog lamps, chrome-tipped exhaust and 16-inch alloys.The Xenon headlights with segmented LED daytime running lights seen on early Japanese-market images are absent from the Australian lineup due to cost however. Aside from the revised pricing, Mazda estimates value gains of more than $1200 for the Neo, $1500 for the Maxx and more than $2000 for the Genki compared with the previous 2 lineup.ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONSUnder the bonnet, two versions of a new 1.5-litre Skyactiv-G 4-cylinder petrol engine produce more power and torque than the current 2’s 1.5, while also delivering better fuel consumption.It can be paired with either a six-speed manual or six-speed torque converter automatic transmission for an extra $2000.The Neo comes with the 79kW/139Nm ‘standard-spec’ VP-5 engine, representing a 3kW/4Nm increase over the old model. Combined fuel consumption of 5.4L/100km with the manual or 5.5L/100km with the auto represent 1.0L and 1.3L improvements respectively.Maxx and Genki models step up to the 81kW/141Nm ‘high-spec’ FP-5 engine, with a higher compression ratio, 4-2-1 exhaust manifold and variable valve timing on the exhaust cam on top of the standard 1.5's variable inlet timing only. A stop/start system also helps reduce combined consumption to 5.2L/100km with the manual and 4.9L/100km with the automatic.Like all current Skyactiv petrol engines, the new 2 will happily run on 91RON unleaded petrol.SAFETYSafety features on the new Mazda2 include front, side and full-length curtain airbags, ABS, stability control and emergency stop signalling. Mazda expects a five star safety from ANCAP in the coming months, but is yet to be tested.One notable omission from all grades is a standard reversing camera, contrasting with the new Jazz that includes the safety feature even on the entry $14,990 VTi. A reversing camera is optional on all Mazda2 grades however, with a display integrated into the rear view mirror on Neo and Maxx models for $778 fitted, and via the MZD screen on Genki models for $420 fitted. Front and rear parking sensors are also available as individual options, priced at $599 and $399 fited respectively.    An i-Activsense autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system can be optioned in the Mazda2 as an extra across the range priced at $400.

Mazda’s  Hazumi concept was met with universal praise when it appeared at the Geneva motor show in March, and our subsequent spy shots of the production Mazda2 have instilled confidence that a fair chunk of Hazumi magic will appear in showrooms in 2015.Despite Hazumi’s premium appearance and detailing, Japan’s Holiday Auto magazine reports that the new model will also spawn a more upmarket, restyled version to rival the likes of Mini’s Cooper hatch, Citroen DS3 and the Audi A1. In addition to the upcoming Ford EcoSport-rivalling CX-3 SUV, an anonymous industry insider reportedly told the magazine:  “The new generation Demio (The 2’s nameplate in Japan) will also have another totally new car.”Mazda has sold a Japan-only, more upright and upmarket version of the first-generation DY Mazda2 called the Verisa since 2004. The new 2-based model will likely form its replacement, and continue with the Verisa nameplate.Such a model would also be similar in principal to the initial plan for the classic 1990 DB Mazda 121 ‘Bubble’ – an ancestor to what’s known today as the 2 – which was created for Mazda’s short-lived Autozam premium small car offshoot. The 121’s spec was scaled back when Japanese economic conditions changed in 1991, becoming a more mainstream offering in line with the positioning of today’s Mazda2.The magazine also cites speculation from another unnamed news organisation from 2012 that suggested Mazda is working on a rival to the Cooper hatch and DS3, with the suggestion backed by another anonymous source: “it might be positioned as the Verisa’s successor in Japan… It’s a global car, so doesn’t simply follow the Verisa’s trail. It would rather be a small yet premium and fashionable compact car like Mini and DS3.”The report also quotes an unnamed Japanese dealer: “a replacement car is ready. We haven’t been informed yet of the release timing, but it’s certain that the Verisa successor exists.”Mazda’s European arm is reportedly handling the new model’s development, which could also result in a performance version for the hot hatch hungry European market.“It is a luxury compact city car targeting also female users. In Japan, essentially it will be the Verisa’s successor, but slightly bigger than the current model and has no direct relationship. Furthermore, it is likely to add a hot version similar to Mini’s Cooper S, for which 2.2-litre SkyActive-D will be used,” according to another anonymous source.A turbodiesel rival to the Cooper S would be unique in the hot hatch world, but follows persistent rumours of upcoming turbodiesel-powered successors to the previous Mazda3 and Mazda6 MPS models. Holiday Auto has created two speculative renderings of the new model, which eschew the existing Kodo details of the Hazumi, Mazda3, Mazda6, and CX-5 models, suggesting that the new model will feature the next evolution of Kodo like their recent 2015 MX-5 renderings.The new Mazda2 offshoot will reportedly make its debut in concept form at the March 2015 Geneva motor show, with a production model appearing at the end of the first quarter of 2016.This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn 

THE Audi A3 small car -- which owes much of its DNA to the Volkswagen Golf -- has won the 2014 World Car of the Year, as voted by 69 jurors from 22 countries. The luxury hatch toppled the widely-tipped favourite, the Mazda3 from Japan, in the awards announced at the New York motor show today.The Audi A3 was among five German cars that took out a cleansweep of the 2014 World Car of the Year categories, and it was Audi’s second win in 10 years, having won the inaugural award. Indeed, German cars have won seven of the past 10 World Car of the Year awards, Japanese brands have won the remaining three.Accepting the award on behalf of the company, Audi's North America president Scott Keogh said: “The Audi A3 has only been on sale three weeks and already it’s off to a flying start.”Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi, said: “This major award win is an achievement that the whole company can celebrate.”The Audi A3 was among 24 finalists that included the BMW i3 electric car, which won the Green Car of the Year and the Car Design of the Year. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class was the Luxury Car of the Year while the Porsche 911 GT3 was awarded top performance car honours.But the Mazda3 had emerged as an early favourite for the outright World Car of the Year award following rave reviews globally since it went on sale late last year. The previous generation Mazda3 has been Australia’s top selling car for two of the past three years, and was the vehicle that ended the Holden Commodore’s record 15-years as the market leader, in 2011.The Mazda3 is returned to the top of the sales charts so far this year -- after being overtaken by the Toyota Corolla in 2013 -- and is likely to take out top-seller status this year buoyed by the new model which went on sale in January.World car of the year winners2014 – Audi A32013 -- Volkswagen Golf Mk72012 -- Volkswagen Up2011 -- Nissan Leaf2010 -- Volkswagen Polo2009 -- Volkswagen Golf Mk62008 -- Mazda22007 -- Lexus LS4602006 -- BMW 3 Series2005 -- Audi A62014 World Car of The Year category winnersGreen car of the Year -- BMW i3 electric carCar Design of the Year -- BMW i3 electric carPerformance Car of the Year -- Porsche 911 GT3Luxury Car of the Year – Mercedes-Benz S-ClassThis reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling