Mazda 3 2013 News

Gently, gently, turn it over and … no, you’re doing it wrong. This tow truck driver tries to right an overturned Mazda 3 and fails spectacularly. Watch the tow truck fail video on desktop version here. This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott

While the motoring world anxiously awaits replacements for the hot Mazda3 and 6 MPS models, the Japanese carmaker has prepared four new tuned concepts to whet our whistle at next week’s SEMA show

Well, that didn't take long, even in political terms.  After just three weeks as the Abbott Government's Federal Industry Minister, Ian Macfarlane has made a rapid retreat from several of his key demands of Holden in his early days in office.After initially claiming any future deal would be: "'The End', in capital letters, in black, six feet high, 'This is all we're ever going to give you'," Mr Macfarlane revealed he was trying to come up with a "blood transfusion" to keep Holden going until June 30. Money that Holden hasn't asked for -- and doesn't need. Holden -- and the rest of the car industry for that matter -- is after continued support beyond 2016.Then after a tour of the Toyota's factory in Altona in the middle of this week Mr Macfarlane backed away from his export demands of Holden, admitting "I don't know what's unrealistic and what's not", when asked if he had set the bar too high (he had, by asking Holden to almost double exports to 30 per cent of local production).We now know, thanks to a leak from senior government sources, that Mr Macfarlane's export demand was one of the first issues Holden hit on the head during his two-hour closed-door meeting with the car maker last week.For background, exports aren't viable because (a) our dollar and our labour costs are too high, and (b) even if our dollar weakens, the "global" cars that Holden will build in Australia from 2016 onwards can be built elsewhere far more cheaply, thereby eliminating export destinations.You can now start to see why Holden and the Federal Government are backed into a corner. Holden can't survive on domestic car sales alone because decades of tariff reductions and Free Trade Agreements have opened the door to a flood of cheap imports.The top-selling car, the Mazda3, has led the market for the past two years on about 44,000 sales -- less than half what the Holden Commodore sold at its peak.So, the burning questions remain: does Australia want to keep building cars -- and keep 40,000 jobs for manufacturing workers, many of whom would likely end up on unemployment benefits, based on previous industry shutdowns? Can Australia afford to keep the car industry? Can Australia afford to lose it?SA Premier Jay Weatherill believes the Productivity Commission will recommend taxpayer dollars be spent elsewhere.Despite Mr Macfarlane's passion for the industry (he brought a cap signed by the late racing legend Peter Brock to the Holden factory tour) and vocal support for the workers (he says he still knows how to weld, from his time as a farmer), there was one more clue this week that Holden's drama is far from over.He said the government will "assess through the Productivity Commission whether or not we can make the industry viable. I will do everything I can … but in the end it's a decision of the Government," Mr Macfarlane said in the media scrum after his Toyota visit. Translated, that means the real decision-makers on Holden will be Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Treasurer Joe Hockey.Mr Hockey's views on wanting the industry to stand on its own are widely known. Despite the rhetoric from Prime Minister Abbott, the industry believes he could be swayed either way. Predicting the outcome of this decision is like picking the winner of the Melbourne Cup a year out.What will likely weigh most on Mr Abbott's mind, however, is not whether the industry is viable, or if he wants to save 40,000 jobs, but if he wants the death of Holden on his watch.If the Holden factory closes, by genuine coincidence of vehicle production cycles, it will shut about the same time as Mr Abbott will head to the polls for re-election for the first time.This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling 

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 

New-car buyers hit the brakes in September and another 1.1 million-plus annual sales record is now under threat. Industry analysts are trying to determine what caused the September slowdown after six of the top 10 brands posted sales slides and the overall market dropped by 2.1 per cent to 92,662 deliveries compared with the same month last year.The last time the Australian new-car market slowed dramatically was in December 2011, when sales fell by 4.8 per cent after floods in Thailand and a catastrophic tsunami in Japan earlier that year severely restricted vehicle production.The weak September result means market growth has slowed to 3.3 per cent year-to-date, with 849,944 deliveries since January, putting another record annual result in doubt.After last year’s all-time high of 1,112,032 sales the new-car market was up by 5 per cent in the first half of this year.Car executives are trying to determine if the market is still experiencing the flow-on effect from the uncertainty caused by sudden changes to Fringe Benefits Tax rules before the Federal election -- or if the election itself did most of the damage.New-car sales dipped in the lead-up to four of the last five Federal elections, industry figures show. "The announcement by the Coalition to return to pre-July FBT arrangements has been welcomed by the industry," said Tony Weber, the chief executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries."We anticipate the market effect of this announcement will see positive growth throughout the rest of the year. Consumers can be confident that the recent FBT issue is now behind us."The September slowdown still came as a surprise given that interest rates fell to a new low and improved car affordability.Sales in the main mining states -- Queensland, West Australia and the Northern Territory -- were down by between 5.5 and 8.2 per cent, but sales of utes were still strong, with three workhorses finishing inside the top 10. The Toyota HiLux was the second-biggest seller in September while the Nissan Navara and Ford Ranger placed seventh and eighth respectively.Meanwhile the Toyota Corolla has developed a clear lead in the race to become Australia’s top-selling car for the first time. The Corolla has now built a gap of 1258 sales -- its largest to date -- ahead of two-times winner, the Mazda3, in the year-to-date tally (Corolla: 32,039, Mazda3: 30,781).The Mazda3 led the market at the start of the year and seemed certain to collect its third win in a row, but the Corolla overtook its fellow Japanese import as Australia’s favourite car in April, June, July and September.In another upset the Volkswagen Golf outsold the locally-made Holden Cruze by one delivery, with the Holden only just managing to stay inside the top 10 after a disappointing month.Holden posted 1851 Cruze deliveries (compared to the Golf’s tally of 1852) which was down 5 per cent on the same month in 2012, and down by 37 per cent compared to September 2011.The Golf’s result was buoyed by $22,990 drive-away promotional pricing but it also shows that Volkswagen appears to have bounced back from the recall controversy earlier this year. Last month’s result was strong for the Volkswagen Golf but still nowhere near its all-time high figure of 3337 sales set in October 2011.The homegrown Falcon and Commodore posted modest sales recoveries, but both were well short of their former glory. Holden again delivered more than 2800 Commodores (up 13 per cent) while Ford shifted 846 Falcons, which was down 28 per cent compared to the same month last year but an increase of 47.6 after the previous month’s all-time low.The reigning champion Mazda3 had a big sales slide in September after the company brought its annual sale forward a month. Toyota is on track to post its 11th year as the top-selling brand with 158,793 sales year to date, ahead of second-placed Holden (81,904). In third place Mazda (78,252) still has a comfortable margin over fourth-placed Hyundai (72,599) and fifth-placed Ford (64,964).Nissan sales continued to slide for the third month in a row but its results of 59,460 so far this year is up by 1.2 per cent after benefitting from strong gains earlier in the year. Nissan Australia is looking for its third boss in less than two years after Bill Peffer announced he was leaving the company.Top 10 brands in September 2013Toyota 17,492 -- up 1.1 per centHolden 9614 -- up 7.4 per centHyundai 8803 -- up 12.6 per centMazda 7615 -- down 24.6 per centFord 7505 -- down 3.3 per centMitsubishi 5993 -- up 3.3 per centNissan 5556 -- down 10.8 per centVolkswagen 4466 -- down 9.8 per centSubaru 2752 -- down 14.3 per centKia 2534 -- down 7.7 per centTop 10 cars in September 2013Toyota Corolla 3443 – up 9.9 per centToyota HiLux 3340 – down 3.9 per centMazda3 3052 – down 28.6 per centHolden Commodore 2865 – up 13.3 per centHyundai i30 2675 – down 14.9 per centToyota Camry 2223 – down 1.9 per centNissan Navara 2275 – up 25.3 per centFord Ranger 2037 – up 13.1 per centVolkswagen Golf 1852 – up 8.1  per centHolden Cruze 1851 – down 5.1 per centSource: Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, VFACTS.This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling 

As the Australian car sales race heads into the final quarter lap for 2013, most eyes are on what will be the top car. But further back in the field, there’s been a big improvement for several European models, which are posting sales lifts of up to 1000 per cent as a result of aggressive price cuts.Leading the charge is Fiat’s 500 which was slashed more than $10,000 in June, and now starts at just $14,000. This resulted in 310 buyers last month, compared to just 86 before the price drop. The little Italian car has increased in sales at the rate of 850 per cent every month since June, in a market that shrank by almost 15 per cent.Fiat as a whole is benefiting too, with the 1765 sales so far this year being more than a 500 per cent increase over the 328 at this stage in 2012. While the Fiat 500 is attracting customers, established competitors like the Holden Barina, Nissan Micra, Suzuki Alto and Swift and Toyota Yaris have meanwhile seen a decline in sales year-to-date.This means that for the first time, the 500 is outselling more than half its competitors. Meanwhile, Alfa Romeo’s small models, which also received price cuts recently, have returned positive results – albeit on fairly low numbers. MiTo has doubled in sales in the premium light car segment from 23 to 45, while its larger sibling, Giulietta – in a field that includes the Toyota Corolla, Holden Cruze and Mazda 3, found 324 new homes compared to just 88 before the new pricing strategy.The local HQ says the surge in sales is due to sharper pricing and specifications and more dealership support. “The success is a result of a combination of factors: an expanded and engaged dealer network, streamlined vehicle spec levels and sharper pricing – as well as strong and smart marketing support,” Fiat and Alfa Romeo spokesperson Karla Leach says.With the international launch of the new Alfa Romeo 4C sport car this week – estimated to cost somewhere around $75,000 when it arrives here -- the Italian brand is buckling up for the challenge of luring customers with a few more dollars to spend. Leach says Fiat and Alfa Romeo have serious intentions to keep strengthening their position here. “We have strong ambition for the continued growth of these brands in Australia,” she says. But it’s not just Italians aggressively tackling the entry level market.Renault last month introduced the cheapest Clio ever, firmly cementing the French brand into the budget light car segment with an entry-level price of under $17,000. Keen to be seen as a viable alternative, Renault has hit hard at competitors, offering five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty and fixed price servicing. Renault Australia managing director Justin Hocevar said at the Clio unveiling last month that the brand has high expectations of the car.“We have a fantastic value proposition in terms of a beautifully designed vehicle with high levels of personalisation, at an extremely competitive price.” he said. Traditional options like Mazda, Hyundai and Toyota still dominate the light and small car segments, but European rivals are fighting hard to gain credibility as mainstream brands.The big winners are the buyers, who may now afford to consider Italian design, French flair or German precision for the same price as more established mainstream manufacturers. The exception to the success story is Opel, which failed to accrue enough buyers in its very short stint in Australia. Despite competitive prices, the German brand disappeared in August, posting less than 1,000 sales this year between the Astra and Corsa small cars combined. 

The sharpest knife is wielded by Proton, whose Preve sedan is now the cheapest small car in the country. Proton marketing general manager Billy Falconer says the cut -- which amounts to a 15 per cent shave off the original price -- is a reaction to the aggressive discounting of rivals.The flip is the annual/15,000km servicing cost is now capped for the first five years or 75,000km, rather than the free servicing as previously. "In order to compete with all these offers, we have reduced the price for the Preve range, with the manual starting at just $15,990 driveaway and the CVT auto Preve from $17,990 driveaway for a limited time only," Falconer says.The Preve is the first Proton to earn a five-star ANCAP safety rating and comes with a five-year warranty. The Malaysian brand is relying on the improved safety and features -- all Preve models have 16-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, and controls for the sound system and phone mounted on the steering wheel -- to help boost sales.The company sold just 856 vehicles last year and is behind that number year-to-date with 353 sales to July. A new hatch and people-mover -- both built according to Proton's improved safety standards -- are imminent.Ford's Focus Ambiente is -- for now -- just $18,990 on the road, including free servicing for the first three annual/15,000km check-ups. Mazda's $19,990 deal on the Neo includes a four-year warranty and three years' roadside assistance. A Mitsubishi Lancer ES with a front and rear spoilers, side skirts and alloy wheels is available for $19,990 driveaway until the end the month.PRICE WARModel                                November 2012     NowCitroen C4                          $22,990                 $20,990Ford Focus                         $20,290                 $18,990*Holden Cruze                      $21,490                 $19,490Mazda3                              $20,330                 $19,990*Proton Preve                       $18,990*                $15,990*Mitsubishi Lancer                $19,990                 $19,990**denotes driveaway pricing

Mazda has brought a pre-production version into the country for its local reveal and predicts the car will follow the existing trend in matching the hatch for overall sales.A more aggressive styling and a vastly improved standard of interior fit and finish should ensure the 3 stays at the head of the small car pack. The front end is the most impressive, with a wing-shaped design flowing from the bottom of the grille to the top of the headlights and then on to the heavily contoured front guards that gives the impression the arches have been flared.The length is the same as the current model but the front and rear overhangs have been trimmed and the car is lower and wider. Exterior looks are subjective but there’s no doubt Mazda has made a concerted effort to lift the interior trim to Euro-style levels. Faux carbon-fibre and piano black highlights lift the interior and the contact points are all soft-touch.The equipment has been upgraded to match. Top-spec versions will boast a seven-inch touchscreen with internet connectivity and a heads-up display that projects speed and satnav directions on to a plastic panel mounted between the steering wheel and dash.It’s tilt-adjustable to compensate for different diver heights and seating positions. Blind-spot warning and a city smart brake support package highlight the new safety features. The brakes will automatically engage at speeds of 4-30km/h, which Mazda says is the first for the class.The economical SkyActive engines have also been rolled out across the range. The base 2.0-litre four-cylinder is good for 114kW/200Nm and officially uses 5.7 litres of regular unleaded every 100km. That’s a huge cut on the 8.2L/100km in the base engine in the existing line-up. the 2.5-litre engine produces 138kW/250Nm and returns 6L/100km, down from 8.6 littres.The cars will be sold with a six-cogs in manual and automatic guise. Marking manager Alastair Doak says 30 per cent of Mazda 3 sales are manuals, giving the company no reason to go auto-only. Prices have yet to be set but are expected to rise marginally from the $20,330 entry point for the current line-up. Mazda Australia head Martin Benders says negotiations are about to start with Japan but the car “will get the price it deserves”. 

The move comes as Mazda moves to block an all-out attack by Toyota.

The small-car landscape has tilted towards Europe with the arrival of Golf MkVII. Volkswagen seems finally to understand that Australians want more than just a nice car with a European badge, so it's serving up extra value on the new Golf and including the capped-price support package that now provides a fresh foundation across the brand.So the Golf is the car you want for the here-and-now. But do you really want it for the long haul, once you're out the other end of the warranty and approaching the 11-year average of the fleet on Australian roads?  Not me. Not Carsguide.Japanese brands still make a more compelling case for the long haul, which is among the reasons Mazda and Subaru sell so well here. It's all about the dealership,  intrinsic quality,  long-term support and resale value.Volkswagen is doing much better these days on the sales charts but, based on my personal experience and the weekly emails from owners, it's still catching up. We get regular complaints about DSG gearboxes, the cost of premium unleaded petrol and electrical glitches. And that all mounts up to a Very Big Deal if you keep your cars for longer than three years and the next company lease.The new Golf is considerably better than the Mazda3 as you drive away from the showroom but the Mazda hits back in the long run. And think about this. If you're buying a vehicle with your own money, for your own garage, the Toyota Corolla and Hyundai i30  make powerful cases for cost-effective ownership.The new Corolla is great buying and has capped-price servicing. The i30 adds a five-year warranty. I can't remember the last time I heard a complaint from a Corolla or i30 owner.Is it any wonder, then, that Corollas often stay in the family for 10 years or more? They are passed down from parents to their children, or move out through extended family and friends, because they stay bulletproof and cost-effective for so long.So, Golf or Mazda3 for a 10-year run? A Corolla for me, thanks.This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover