Mazda 3 2007 News

Mazda will expand its diesel offerings in Australia later this year, with a Mazda3 diesel set to join the Mazda6.The addition is expected to arrive in September. It will be available in sedan and hatchback form and will have the same engine as the current Mazda6 diesel.The 2-litre common-rail turbo diesel produces 105kW and 360Nm and has a claimed fuel consumption of 6L/100km.It will only be available in the Maxx Sport trim level and will feature a rear spoiler, 16-inch wheels and, unlike the petrol models, Direct Stability Control will be a standard feature.Mazda spokesman Alistair Doak says the company expects to sell more than 100 Mazda3 diesels a month, but says it will be a reasonably small percentage of overall Mazda3 sales. Mazda sold 2758 Mazda3s last month, the second-most popular small car, behind the Toyota Corolla.When the Mazda6 diesel went on sale, Mazda originally forecast 50 sales a month, but Doak says it has been closer to 100 models a month.He says there are no plans to expand the diesel range further.“They will be our two diesel passenger cars, the ones that sell the most in Europe,” he says. “None of our Japanese competitors has any diesel and we're introducing a second.”Doak says there are no plans for diesel engines in the larger CX-7 and yet-to-arrive CX-9, because these cars are primarily for the North American market, where diesel isn't in demand.The Mazda3 diesel will be followed by the new generation of the Mazda2. The smaller Mazda will go on sale in October and is expected remain about $16,000 for the entry model.Doak says buyers can expect the new Mazda2 to be comparable in price with the current car, which starts at $16,335 for the Neo and rises to $20,290 for the top-line Genki model. But unlike some of its rivals, which offer 1.3-litre entry models, Doak says the Mazda2 will be available only with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine.“I don't think there is a lot of benefit going to a 1.3. Certainly there isn't that much difference on cost,” he says.Doak says the Mazda2 is a vital part of the overall line-up, with the light car running in third sales spot behind Mazda3 and Mazda6. The current car has been on sale since December 2002. So far this year Mazda has sold 3045, up 30 per cent on last year's figures.The car's styling brings it into line with the rest of the Mazda line-up, Doak says.“Mazda has always established a reputation as being a style leader and the Mazda2 should do so in the light-car segment,” Doak says.Mazda is also expected to carry over the existing three model names; Neo, Maxx and Genki.Safety has been at the forefront of the car's appeal, with the option of curtain and side airbags and ABS in the current model.The newcomer is expected to have dynamic stability control. It sheds 100kg in weight over its predecessor.Mazda says by using high-tensile steel it has been able to slice out weight without compromising safety, body rigidity and noise, vibration and harshness. This has benefits for fuel economy, with Mazda claiming a 15 per cent improvement over the current car. There is a 60/40 split rear-fold seat, but boot space is down from 280 to 250 litres.The 1.5-litre develops 76kW at 6000rpm and 136Nm at 4000rpm, down from 82kW and 141Nm. 

Car companies are struggling with a $1000 problem — buyers want the latest safety technology but don't like to pay for it.In fact, they'd rather have bling rims than a certain, potentially life-saving active safety measure.The issue is over stability control, a hi-tech system that can prevent a skid. Most experts rate it as the single biggest advance in car safety in a generation. However, the Australian car industry has found it is popular only when standard, not when an extra-cost option.So far this year, only one in 100 buyers of the Hyundai Getz, from $13,990, have added the safety pack option including stability control.A “sports pack” of alloy wheels, roof spoiler and bright interior trim has proved twice as popular.In the $21,000-plus Mazda 3, demand for the stability control option has reached five per cent this year, up from two per cent last year.The US intends to make stability control mandatory on all new cars and Europe reportedly has plans to do the same.European research found the move could reduce by 80 per cent the number of crashes caused by skidding, saving 4000 lives a year if fitted to all cars there, according to Germany's University of Cologne.But in Australia, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, representing car makers and importers, is pressing the Federal Government not to make stability control mandatory.“That just tends to lock in old technology,” said FCAI president and Toyota Australia chairman emeritus, John Conomos.He said self-regulation would allow companies to switch to better systems as they were developed.Stability control is expected to be in 40 per cent of new cars by the end of the year.Holden has made it standard in Commodore sedans and Toyota will fit it to all Camry sedans from August. It is an option in most Falcons, standard in top-level versions. But it is not available in the new model Toyota Corolla, the top-selling small car. 

The car industry uses a web of alliances to survive.Lust, affairs, one-night stands, engagements, marriages and divorces — it can be hard sharing your love. It can also be expensive, especially if the human analogy is applied to the car business.DaimlerChrysler's recent divorce cost the now-solo Daimler AG a cool $33 billion.Daimler and its former partner, now known by her maiden name of Chrysler Group, still share the kids.These include shared components and manufacturing, including the Chrysler Crossfire (based on the previous Mercedes-Benz SLK) and Jeep Grand Cherokee, which uses Mercedes' V6 diesel engine and transmission.Daimler-Benz and Chrysler courted in the late 1990s, sealing their association in 1998 with a new name, DaimlerChrysler.The marriage was mutually beneficial. Daimler gained economies of scale and a new customer for engines, transmissions and an outlet for its old platforms. The previous Mercedes E-Class shares the same platform as the Chrysler 300C.Chrysler gained unprecedented, cost-effective access to the drivetrains used to power its distinctively styled cars.Of the divorce, shareholders of Daimler- Chrysler spitefully said “I knew it wouldn't work”.Marriages may be difficult, but alliances are what keep many car companies afloat.All these inter-relationships are spurred by one goal — profit. So competitive is the car industry that every dollar counts.Making cars cheaper improves profits, even if that means relocating factories to countries with low labour costs, non-existent unions and tax-free government incentives.Few would know that 10 models on the Australian market are made in Thailand. South Africa makes five, there's one from the Czech Republic, three from Slovakia, one from Poland, four from Malaysia and one from Indonesia.Build quality in most cases is as good as you'd expect from a country-of-origin factory.The biggest difference is manufacturing costs. Building a Volkswagen Golf in Germany, for example, costs substantially more than building the same car in South Africa. Sharing components such as engines, transmissions, platforms and bodies with a rival company — or at least one perceived as being a rival — is big business.The platform of the Mazda3 is similar to the Volvo S40 and Ford Focus. Ford has a big chunk of Mazda's shares and owns Volvo outright.The Toyota Aygo, a one-litre hatch soon to be sold in Australia, is built in the Czech Republic with the Citroen C1 and Peugeot 107. The only differences are interior trim, grilles, head and tail lights. Everything else, except the badge, is identical.General Motors has a giant web of ownership, component sharing and minor shareholdings. It owns Saab and Hummer, and rebadges cars including the Daewoo Matiz as Chevrolets.GM owned 20 per cent of Fiat until it dissolved the relationship in 2005. But retains component sharing deals and owns 50 per cent of Fiat's JTD diesel engine technology.GM also has 3 per cent of Suzuki (it had 20 per cent until selling down in March 2006) and 7.9 per cent of Isuzu.This relationship crosses with Fiat. Suzuki buys Fiat diesel engines for its European cars but also buys diesels from the PSA group (owner of Peugeot and Citroen) and Renault. Fiat this year will also supply diesel engine's to Saab.The Suzuki Splash, to be launched in Europe later this year is based on the Swift/SX4 platform, but will be rebadged the Opel/Vauxhall Agila for European sales.Fiat sells the Suzuki SX4 as the Sedici in Europe.Suzuki also owns 11 per cent of GM-DAT, the Korean-based company that makes the Holden Epica, Captiva, Viva and Barina.GM sold its 20 per cent of Subaru parent, Fuji Heavy Industries, in 2005. Fuji bought back most of the shares, though Toyota bought in and now owns 8.7 per cent of the company.Toyota also owns Daihatsu and has a big stake in Yamaha. Yamaha has an engineering alliance with Toyota — twin-cam engine and multi-valve heads included — and recently created the V8 engine for Ford-owned Volvo.GM also gets its Saab plant in Sweden to make the Cadillac BLS mid-size car, alongside its Saab 9-3 and 9-5.The Hyundai Sonata's 2.4-litre engine is shared with the Jeep Compass, Dodge Caliber, Chrysler Sebring and Mitsubishi Outlander.Renault has an alliance with Nissan and owns Samsung (Korea) and has a joint venture with Mahindra (India).Porsche's Cayenne SUV is built in Volkswagen's factory in Slovakia alongside the Volkswagen Touareg and Audi Q7. Porsche's Cayman is built in Finland. That's just the tip of iceberg.Peyton Place has nothing on these guys. 

The Mazda3 diesel will join the Mazda6 and is expected to arrive in September. It will be available in both sedan and hatchback form and will have the same engine as the current Mazda6 diesel.The 2.0-litre common-rail turbo diesel produces 105kW and 360Nm and has a claimed fuel consumption of 6L/100km.It will only be available in the one Maxx Sport trim level and will feature a rear spoiler, 16-inch wheels and, unlike the petrol models, Direct Stability Control will be a standard feature.Mazda spokesman Alistair Doak says the company expects to sell more than 100 Mazda3 diesels a month, but says it will be a reasonably small percentage of overall Mazda3 sales. Mazda sold 2758 Mazda3s last month, the second-most popular small car, behind the Toyota Corolla.When the Mazda6 diesel went on sale, Mazda originally forecast 50 sales a month, but Doak says it has been closer to 100 models a month.He says there are no plans to expand the diesel range further in Australia.“They will be our two diesel passenger cars, the ones that sell the most in Europe,” he says. None of our Japanese competitors have any diesel and we're introducing a second.”Doak says there are no plans for diesel engines in the larger CX-7 and yet-to-arrive CX-9 because these cars are primarily for the North American market, where diesel isn't in demand.The Mazda3 diesel will be followed by the new generation of the Mazda2. The smaller Mazda will go on sale in October and is expected remain at about $16,000 for the entry model.Doak says buyers can expect the new Mazda2 to be comparable in price to the current car, which starts at $16,335 for the Neo and rises to $20,290 for the top-line Genki model. But unlike some of its rivals, which offer 1.3-litre entry models, Doak says the Mazda2 would be available only with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine.“I don't think there is a lot of benefit going to a 1.3. Certainly there isn't that much difference on cost,” he says.Doak says the Mazda2 is a vital part of the overall line-up, with the light car running in third sales spot behind Mazda3 and Mazda6.The current car has been on sale since December 2002. So far this year Mazda has sold 3045, up 30 per cent on last year's figures.The car's styling brings it into line with the rest of the Mazda line-up, he says.“Mazda has always established a reputation as being a style leader and the Mazda2 should do so in the light-car segment,” Doak says.Mazda is also expected to carry over the existing three model names; Neo, Maxx and Genki.Safety has been at the forefront of the car's appeal, with the option of curtain and side airbags and ABS in the current model. The newcomer is expected to add dynamic stability control to the safety kit. It sheds about 100kg in weight over its predecessor.Using high-tensile steel, Mazda says it has been able to slice out weight without compromising safety, body rigidity and noise, vibration and harshness. This has benefits for fuel economy, with Mazda saying it has improved up to 15 per cent over the current car. The 60/40 split rear-fold seat carries over, but luggage space is down from 280 to 250 litres.The 1.5-litre develops 76kW at 6000 revs and 136Nm at 4000 revs, down from 82kW at 6000 revs and 141Nm at 4000 revs.

Though the large-car segment grew 4.7 per cent in March, small and light cars still dominate the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries' Vfacts figures for the month.Holden sold 5752 VE Commodores and Toyota managed 2037 Aurion V6 sales, the first time the car has eclipsed 2000 sales since it was launched last year.The Aurion's kissin' cousin Camry four-cylinder managed 2574 sales.Ford and Mitsubishi still trail in the family sedan stakes, selling 3249 and 1022 respectively. But their lowly large-car sales were offset by strong import performances.Overall, Mitsubishi had a 22 per cent lift in first-quarter sales against the same period last year, on the back of solid Colt, Lancer, Outlander and Pajero sales.Ford's Focus and Territory helped maintain the momentum for the Broadmeadows-based carmaker, as well as fleet sales that pushed Fairlane numbers to 263 for the month.FCAI chief executive Peter Sturrock says the remarkably strong start to the year may have even taken industry optimists by surprise."Consumers appear to have shaken off any lingering concerns about fuel prices and interest rates and have responded enthusiastically to the intensely competitive prices," he says.The new-vehicle market is being pushed by deflation, with new cars becoming cheaper and better equipped as the various brands fight it out.The market was up 8.3 per cent, compared with March last year, with an all-time sales record of 94,392 vehicles.If the sales momentum continues, this year could eclipse one million sales for the first time.In the first three months of the year 255,068 vehicles were sold, up 20,463, or 8.7 per cent, on the same period last year and surpassing the previous record for the quarter of 237,000 set two years ago. Despite the buoyant first quarter, the FCAI is still forecasting 970,000 sales this year.All segments, except people movers, are experiencing growth.The fastest-growing of all segments remains small passenger cars, which added 8532 sales, or 16.7 per cent, in the first quarter compared with last year. The small-car stars continue to be the Toyota Corolla and Mazda3, selling 4029 and 3182 respectively last month.Light-car sales grew 3334, or 11.9 per cent, SUV compact 2851, 22.2 per cent, and SUV medium 1617, 4.7 per cent.Toyota set a cracking pace in March with 21,390 sales, giving it No.1 sales spot ahead of Holden on 13,454 and Ford on 10,074.So far this year, Toyota has 22 per cent of the market, with Holden at No.2 with 14.3 per cent and Ford third with 10.7 per cent.

Small, economical cars powered record January sales, 9.9 per cent up on the same month last year. VFACTS show it was a close contest at the top of the chart, with the small Corolla beating the big Commodore by 11 sales — 3485 to 3474.Holden played down the defeat — five months after the new model went on sale — noting that few businesses buy cars so early in the year."In January, fleet sales are softer so it is no surprise that the whole large-car segment is slightly down," GM Holden marketing manager Alan Batey says.He says there is a strong future for Holden's best-selling car, despite the surge in sales of small cars, such as the Corolla."The Commodore remained the best-selling car in the country last year for the 11th year in a row," Batey says.There were not many smiles at Ford either — it sold only 1974 Falcons last month, despite a drive-away deal and free six-speed automatic and stability control.Ford Australia says the Falcon result is the worst since 1990, when it began to keep accurate sales records.Ford Australia spokeswoman Sinead McAlary says the drive-away Falcon deal was not successful.Sales in the light-car segment (which includes models such as the Toyota Yaris) were up 14.3 per cent on last January.Sales of small cars (including models such as the Corolla) were up a huge 26.3 per cent, and large cars were down 0.9 per cent.The Mazda3 continued to sell strongly; January sales of 3347 put it third on the chart, 138 behind the Corolla. Other small cars to make the top 10 included the Astra (2239) and Ford Focus (1665). Mitsubishi's Lancer finished just outside the top 10 with 1527 sales, the company's best-selling car.The Hilux (2781) and Yaris (2498) were strong again, but Toyota's larger cars were off the pace. The Camry did not make the top 10 with 1347, and the new Aurion continued its slow start with 1125.The Falcon ute struggled with 834, but outsold Holden's Commodore ute with 697.Ford's Territory responded to a $4000 cashback deal to notch 1343, in front of the Holden Captiva (577) and Toyota Kluger (389). WHAT'S SELLINGTOP 10 MAKES1 Toyota 16,2382 Holden 11,2583 Ford 75014 Mazda 66275 Honda 54356 Nissan 50857 Mitsubishi 45548 Subaru 30979 Hyundai 306710 Volkswagen 2034TOP 10 MODELS1 Toyota Corolla 34852 Holden Commodore 34743 Mazda3 33474 Toyota Hilux 27815 Toyota Yaris 24986 Holden Astra 22397 Ford Falcon 19748 Nissan Navara 18749 Ford Focus 166510 Holden Barina 1563

Like the Mazda 6, demand for the new Mazda 3 has been very strong, so much so that Mazda has not been able to keep pace with demand.