Mazda CX-3 News

Are you tired of getting stuck behind an SUV? If you can’t see through them, you may want to join them.Australia is going to be crawling with a new type of SUV from next year: city-sized soft-roaders. Or as we like to call them, faux-wheel drives.They have the same tall driving position as a full-size SUV (to better navigate the traffic rather than the great outdoors) and yet have the economy of a small car because often they don’t even have all-wheel drive. Handily, they also fit in the same size parking space as a Toyota Corolla.The Suzuki SX4 (now known as the S-Cross) in many ways pioneered this segment; Holden and Nissan followed with pocket-sized high-riding hatchbacks with unusual designs.But Mazda’s CX-3 is the first one that appears to look just right. Due in March, it will soon be joined by the Honda HR-V, Fiat 500X, Jeep Renegade, Renault Captur and the reborn Suzuki Vitara (a sign of the times, now with car-like underpinnings rather than a 4WD chassis).Most of these vehicles will be priced between $20,000 and $30,000, the heart of the new-car market — and put SUVs in the driveways of those who want one but, until now, couldn’t afford it.If you thought it was already difficult to choose a new car in the world’s most competitive market, it’s about to get even tougher.

Los Angeles motor show: Range Rover gets a gun holder, new Toyota Mirai sedan fuelled by garbageThis year's Los Angeles motor show is an event with two extremes.In the home city of Pimp My Ride and chrome-covered car bling, gangsta rappers take posh luxury vehicles and modify them as if they were a Holden Gemini.But LA is also the spiritual home of the hybrid car – even though the technology was pioneered in Japan, the US embraced it in the millions – which is why clean energy shares the spotlight.With that in mind here are the highlights from both ends of the automotive spectrum – from the super frugal cars of the future that run on garbage to the super lavish cars of today that come with a leather-lined gun case.Range Rover by Holland and HollandGuns, fancy cars and LA seem to go hand in hand, or so Range Rover believes. It unveiled a special edition that comes with its own leather-lined gun case, to coincide with Los Angeles motor show.The Range Rover by Holland and Holland (the name of a famous British gun maker) is just like a regular Range Rover but with every option box ticked and a leather gun case in the boot. Without the guns in it, the maker helpfully points out.It also gets the gun's branding on the door handles and seats. You know, in case you want to ‘send a message'. Oh, and there are two DVD screens in the back for the kids.The most expensive Range Rover ever "benefits from a raft of Special Vehicles Operations-designed exclusive features to complement outdoor pursuits", the maker says.It costs the equivalent of $320,000 but you can put your guns away: it's not coming to Australia. Just 40 are being built globally per year over the next three years.Toyota MiraiIt may have a face like a catfish but the Toyota Mirai is genius. It can be fuelled by garbage, generates enough electricity to power your house for a week, and emits only water. Believe it or not, it'll be in showrooms next year.Almost 20 years after Toyota launched the first Prius – and more than 7 million hybrid sales later – the Japanese company has unveiled what it truly believes is the car of the future.The Mirai promises to be a hydrogen-powered car for the masses that takes over where the Prius leaves off.It has an unusual appearance because its hi-tech hydrogen system needs special cooling; sharp creases in the bodywork help it slip through the air more efficiently.Akio Toyoda, the grandson of the company founder, said the Mirai was a "turning point" that "redefines the (car) industry"."Imagine a world filled with vehicles that diminish our dependence on oil and reduce harm to the environment," said Mr Toyoda.Unlike pure electric cars, the Mirai can be refueled in less than five minutes and travel 480km on one tank, about the same as a regular car."Hydrogen can be made from virtually anything, even garbage," said Mr Toyoda, who added that the Mirai's on-board hydrogen system "creates enough electricity to power a house for about a week".There is, however, one significant hurdle. Hydrogen refueling stations are few and far between in the US, Japan and Europe – and there are none in Australia after an experiment with buses in West Australia was shut down seven years ago.The Mirai will go on sale in the US for $57,500 – or on a $499 per month lease deal – but it is not coming to Australia, at least for a few years, because there is nowhere to refuel it.Honda FCXWhile Toyota was unveiling a showroom-ready hydrogen car, Honda took the covers off its latest concept which uses the same technology and looks like a Storm Trooper.It's unclear whether the production version will share the concept's Star Wars looks when it goes on sale in the US and Japan in March 2016.Honda says its latest hydrogen car packs 60 per cent more energy into a fuel cell system that's 33 per cent smaller than before. It means it can travel 480km between refills, just like the Toyota.However, the Honda will be the first hydrogen car to package its entire fuel cell system under the bonnet like a conventional car, the company claims. Other systems take up space under the bonnet, cabin floor and boot.Honda was first to introduce a hydrogen-powered car in the United States, in 2002, as an experimental model in limited numbers.To date, though, fewer than 100 have been sold in the United States and Japan.Mercedes-Benz MaybachTake a close look at the new Maybach, the Rolls-Royce of Mercedes-Benzes, because we may not ever see one in Australia.The Maybach may be the preferred ride of US gangsta rappers, Middle East oil tycoons, and super-rich Chinese businessmen and women but, with a $1million price tag, just 13 were sold in Australia in the seven years from 2004.The Maybach brand was withdrawn from sale locally three years before it was axed globally.But now it's back as a stretched, super-long S-Class limousine powered by a 6.0-litre V12 (390kW/830Nm).The extra 200mm of leg room, unique styling, and hush-quiet interior will cost about $700,000 in Australia – $300,000 more than the dearest S-Class – but it's an order-only proposition. You'll have to fly overseas if you want to test drive one.Bentley Grand ConvertibleBritish brand Bentley has chopped the roof off its flagship Mulsanne sedan, added wood paneling to cover the convertible roof when it's stowed, and given it the price tag of a cruise boat whose styling inspired it.The new Bentley Grand Convertible is expected to cost close to $800,000 when it goes on sale in Australia next year.In the US, though, it costs roughly half as much, which is why LA's music stars and rich hangers-on can so easily afford to paint them fluro pink, slam the suspension and fit oversized chrome wheels.Or they could be buying it for the epic twin-turbo 6.75-litre V8 (for the tech geeks it has 395kW of power and 1100Nm of torque).BMW X5M /X6MSUVs are stealing sales away from sports-cars, says BMW. So it has an answer for that: a super-fast SUV.The X5M is BMW's answer to the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and promises blistering performance from a family-sized SUV, presumably to get the kids to school on time.The turtle-shaped X6M is an answer to a question no-one asked, but BMW says it designed it to appeal to younger buyers who don't like the look of the family-sized SUV.According to BMW marketing experts the X6M says "I'm single and don't have kids". With an X6M you may be single for longer than you think. Prices are yet to be confirmed but bank on them being close to $200,000.Ford Shelby Mustang GT350Ford has taken the covers off a road-legal, race-ready, 500 horsepower Mustang named after the late great racer Carroll Shelby.The exact power figures are still under wraps but Ford says the new 5.2-litre V8 (up from the Mustang's 5.0-litre) will pump out "more than 500 horsepower", or 373kW in modern terms, an extra 50kW on top of the standard V8.It also gets magnetically controlled suspension (the same technology used by Ferrari, Audi, Corvette, and Holden Special Vehicles), massive brakes and super-wide tyres.But Australians shouldn't get too excited about this one; a still-secret supercharged Shelby Mustang is due Down Under in about two years.In the meantime, the regular Mustang is due in Australian showrooms with a choice of four-cylinder and V8 power in coupe and convertible form in the second half of 2015 priced between $50,000 and $70,000.It's the first time in the 50-year history of the nameplate a right-hand-drive Mustang has been made on a Ford production line.Mazda CX-3And finally, something affordable that will be in showrooms soon. Pint-sized SUVs for the city are about to spread like wildfire.Japanese car maker Mazda released its long awaited CX-3 soft-roader, the smallest SUV in its line-up – and Australia will be crawling with them from early next year.The CX-3 is expected to fit between the top-selling Mazda3 hatch and CX-5 SUV in size and price, starting at about $25,000.It will join recently released five-seaters such as the Holden Trax, Ford EcoSport, and Suzuki S-Cross in the booming baby SUV market.There is not much detail about the new model except that it has "human-centric packaging". In other words, it's designed for humans.Translated this means Mazda has positioned the front wheels further forward than usual to give the driver extra legroom and a more natural seating position.Meanwhile, the rear seat is set taller than the front so back seat passengers have a better view and are less likely to get car sick.As expected, the CX-3 adopts the latest Mazda design language with sharp creases and a pointy nose.Perhaps torturing the design language, however, Mazda's media blurb says: "The front grille stacks seven fins with silver-painted front edges to create an expression of concentrated energy that flows horizontally. The signature wing is stout and three-dimensional. It forms the starting point for a powerful sense of speed that flows across the entire body."In other words: "we designed it to look fun and sporty".

Mazda's new CX-3 Small SUV expected to draw big sales next yearSUVs for the city are about to spread like wildfire.Japanese car maker Mazda has released its long awaited CX-3 soft-roader, the smallest SUV in its line-up -- and Australia will be crawling with them from early next year.The CX-3 is expected to fit between the top-selling Mazda3 hatch and CX-5 SUV in size and price, starting at about $25,000.It will join recently released five-seaters such as the Holden Trax, Ford EcoSport, and Suzuki S-Cross in the booming baby SUV market.The CX-3 is expected to come with a choice of super economical 2.0-litre petrol or 1.5-litre diesel power, automatic or manual transmission, and front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive.The CX-3 will also be available with automatic emergency braking and a rear-view camera on selected models in some markets; although these safety items are not yet confirmed for Australia.There is no further detail about the new model except that it has "human-centric packaging". In other words, it's designed for humans.Translated this means Mazda has positioned the front wheels further forward than usual to give the driver extra legroom and a more natural seating position.Meanwhile, the rear seat is set taller than the front so back seat passengers have a better view and are less likely to get car sick.As expected, the CX-3 adopts the latest Mazda design language with sharp creases and a pointy nose.Perhaps torturing the design language, however, Mazda's media blurb says: "The front grille stacks seven fins with silver-painted front edges to create an expression of concentrated energy that flows horizontally. The signature wing is stout and three-dimensional. It forms the starting point for a powerful sense of speed that flows across the entire body."In other words: "we designed it to look fun and sporty".

Mazda's new baby SUV to be revealed at Los Angeles motor show in November.Mazda has confirmed that the long-awaited CX-3 small SUV will make its production debut at the Los Angeles motor show next month.The CX-3 is expected to be based on the new Mazda2's platform, and sit beneath the CX-5 in Mazda's SUV lineup to rival the likes of the Holden Trax, Nissan Juke, Ford EcoSport and the upcoming Renault Captur and Honda HR-V.Teased in a single teaser image for now, the CX-3 looks to evolve the Kodo design of Mazda's existing passenger car lineup, with a more shapely beltline and an aggressive headlight treatment that could resemble the recently unveiled fourth-generation MX-5.Other details will have to wait until the official unveiling on November 19, but we do know the CX-3 will join its big brother CX-5 and the Mazda2, 3 and 6 in having the full range of Skyactiv fuel-efficiency and chassis technology.Exact timing for the CX-3's local arrival is also yet to be confirmed, but the new model will hit Australian showrooms before 2016.

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. 

The new Mazda3 MPS could have diesel power in a radical rethink of the Japanese brand’s hot hatch. The shock revelation was made in Japan overnight by the global boss of Mazda, Masamichi Kogai.When asked about plans for the next Mazda3 MPS Kogai-san told Australian media on the eve of the Tokyo motor show: "The diesel engine has a very strong potential in the future … it’s a possibility."It is unclear whether the diesel version of the MPS would be the only engine available or an alternative to turbo petrol power, as is the case with the Volkswagen Golf which offers a hot hatch with a choice of fuels.But the 2.2-litre turbo diesel fitted to the CX-5 softroader fits neatly under the bonnet of the new Mazda3.Either way, a hot hatch version of the new Mazda3 is still at least two years away.Mazda is focusing its engineering resources into key models -- the new Mazda2 city hatch, the new CX-9 seven-seater SUV and the new MX-5 sports-car -- that will deliver sales volume and profit over the next two years.A baby SUV dubbed "CX-3" has reportedly been put on the back-burner while Mazda focuses its resources on these other models, and is said to now be at least three years away, meaning Mazda will be late with an entrant in one of the fastest growing market segments globally.The Mazda3 MPS is viewed by Mazda as a "nice to have, rather than a must have", say company insiders.Although Mazda is hugely successful in Australia, it has struggled to make a profit globally in recent years and is in a transition phase.It is one of the reasons Mazda fast-tracked the developed of the Mazda3 ahead of the Mazda2, because it generates more profit than its smaller sibling.Meanwhile a rotary engine is still being considered for a hydrogen-powered Mazda or to be used as a range extender on an upcoming electric vehicle.If the rotary engine is developed for these eco applications, it would open the door to being used in a sports car such as the modern version of the RX-7 or a successor to the RX-8.But Kogai-san said there were still no firm plans for a resurrection of the RX-7 despite a strong desire to revive the iconic sports-car.The Mazda rotary engine will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2017, the RX-7 will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2018, and Mazda as a company will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2020.Mazda built 811,634 two-seater RX-7 sports cars from 1978 to 2002, according to automotive history websites.The four-seater RX-8, which had rear-hinged "suicide" doors on either side, notched up 192,194 sales between 2003 and April 2012, but was not deemed successful enough to continue with a new model.Mazda says it has made more than 2 million rotary engines since the first rotary-powered Mazda Cosmo went on sale in 1963.The rotary engine was phased out in 2012 because its fuel consumption was relatively inefficient, and the engine itself was expensive to produce and had limited customer appeal.

The baby crossover would enter a growing segment as the world continues to downsize – and add more two-wheel drive options to – the SUV carpark.The CX-3 is likely to be launched in 2014 and be based on the platform for the next Mazda2, according to a report from Auto Express in the UK.With a focus on economy, engines are said to be a 1.6-litre diesel and a 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine, with Mazda’s SkyActiv technology and fuel-saving strategies used throughout the platform. Auto Express believes the CX-3 could have Prius-beating fuel consumption as low as 3.3L/100km and emissions around 96g/km.The CX-3 is a sure bet to be offered as a front-wheel drive, but possibly with no all-wheel drive option. However Mazda will be keen to give the crossover – which would face off against the lauded Nissan Juke -- some on-road appeal, with sharp steering and capable dynamics.It will likely carry the family face seen here on the CX-5, and get some tough-touch bodykit to give it the SUV look. However with family practicality in mind, there’s also said to be seats that drop flat at the touch of a button.