The all-new Mazda2 is the product of a lightweight mindset at Mazda’s R & D community to reduce vehicle weight of new Mazda products as a way to lower fuel consumption and CO2emissions, while delivering the agile handling and safety attributes customers expect of Mazda. The new Mazda2 is a milestone in this respect: almost 100 kg lighter than the previous Mazda2, it reverses the trend towards ever-heavier vehicles while being safer and even more fun to drive.

60 percent of this weight savings came in engineering solutions, including the body shell, which has an optimised structure and uses high and ultra-high tensile steels for less weight, greater rigidity and better crash resistance. Another 20 percent were saved by features adjustments and 20 percent saved making the car’s exterior dimensions smaller. Mazda2 engineers reduced weight by:

· using of high and ultra-high tensile steels for lighter (and stronger) body and joint reinforcements

· shortening the trailing arm of the rear suspension and giving it an open-section design

· making the bonnet striker assembly smaller, the hinges thinner

· eliminating the underfoot catalyst (1.3-litre model)

· moving the fresh-air inlet to the top of the radiator shroud (doing away with the need of a resonator and baffle)

· making the wiring harness shorter

· changing the door-mounted speaker magnets to neodymium types and making the plastic moulding single-piece.

· decreasing the length of the vehicle by 40 mmand height by 55 mm

These weight-saving measures make the new Mazda2 a trendsetter for fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions. It delivers some of the B-segment’s lowest fuel consumption (the standard power 1.3-litre petrol uses just 5.4 litres per 100 km combined) while producing just 129 g/km of CO2.

Mazda Motors UK is certain that the new Mazda CX-7 sports crossover vehicle will create a niche within a niche, bringing its ‘Zoom-Zoom’ sports car attitude to the traditional SUV sector. Available to preorder now via a dedicated Mazda CX-7 Pre-Order Website www.cx‑7order.co.uk, and with first deliveries scheduled for September, the CX-7 is expected to define its own market, just as the Mazda RX-8 sports coupe did in the sports car segment following its launch in 2003.

“British motorists are presented with a huge range of SUV-type vehicles to choose from so we need to offer something different and the CX-7 fits the bill,” comments Mazda UK’s marketing director Mark Cameron.

“Some sports utility vehicles major on their 4x4 credentials, their ability off road or to carry people – maybe up to seven passengers. Others are more ‘soft roaders’, which have the look and attitude of a 4x4 but are rarely taken off tarmac.

“Our new Mazda CX-7 is different because it is more heavily oriented towards a sports car in its styling and driving dynamics, while retaining the commanding driving position, presence and stature of an off road vehicle.”

Manufactured in Japan, the CX-7 is already hugely popular in the USA, but for the European and UKmarkets changes have been made to best suit the demands of local consumers. The suspension set-up has also been retuned for European roads and delivers handling agility that is unmatched in this class.

Part of the crossover concept necessitates combining sporty design with sports utility comfort and practicality, and the new Mazda CX-7 has plenty of both. There is ample space for five occupants to travel in comfort and sports utility-style rear Seat functionality and boot space, which makes it an ideal vehicle for multi-activity lifestyles.

The 260ps turbocharged, four-wheel drive Mazda CX-7, priced from £23,960 (on‑the‑road), will be available in the UKas a single, highly-specified model. Standard equipment will include leather seats, 18" alloy wheels, Xenon headlights, climate control air-conditioning, cruise control, and a BOSE® premium audio system.

Each Mazda CX-7 is mechanically identical, with a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing up to 380Nm of torque at just 3000rpm, a six-speed manual transmission and Mazda’s unique Active Torque-Split 4WD system.

This new Mazda combines sensationally spirited performance – top speed is 130mph and 0‑62mph takes 8.0 seconds – with exhilarating dynamics and genuine everyday practicality (with a 455-litre cargo bay, all seats upright), and remarkable refinement. It is the ultimate expression of ‘Zoom-Zoom’ driving excitement in a sophisticated four-wheel drive crossover vehicle.

Generous Equipment, Spacious and Versatile interior

The single, highly-specified Mazda CX-7 model available in the UKis manufactured with a generous level of equipment as standard. Every vehicle will come with features such as; cruise control, electric windows front and rear, climate control air-conditioning, powered driver’s Seat with six-way adjustment and manual lumbar support, heated front seats and a bespoke BOSE® premium audio system with 6-CD autochanger and nine speakers.

Mazda CX-7’s boot is large, flexible and rugged. With the rear seats up, the boot is more than 100cm long, large enough to carry three golf bags, and has a load volume of 455 litres (to the belt line). The split rear seats can be folded 60:40 using Mazda’s unique Karakuri system with a one-touch rear Seat back release located in the boot trim. With the back seats folded, load space is increased to 774 litres. The boot floor has a reversible water-proof trunk board made of robust plastic so soiled items can be transported without staining the carpet.

Customers can choose between five exterior colours (solid Brilliant Black, metallic Graphite Silver and three Mica colours – Aurora Blue, Copper Red, Galaxy Grey) and two interior colours – with Black or Stone leather upholstery – plus a range of options such as front and rear parking sensors, satellite navigation, a roof carrier and detachable tow-bar.

Mazda targets people with ‘Zoom-Zoom’ spirit

Mazda UKexpects to sell between 1,000 and 1,500 CX-7s in the UKover a full year. “There is a market out there for a real sports utility vehicle, with room for five adults, a versatile interior, great performance and the assurance and safety that an intelligent four-wheel drive system provides,” asserts Cameron.

So, who will be the typical CX-7 buyer? According to Mazda UK, they will almost certainly be male, probably professionally employed and aged 35 to 55.

“We are increasingly using psychographic profiling to determine those people that have a ‘Zoom-Zoom’ spirit or attitude to life – regardless of their age, gender, etc,” says Cameron. “As a challenger brand we find that people who want to express themselves by buying something different are interested in Mazda – particularly in the sporty design, performance and handling attributes that our products offer.”

“I am convinced that there is still plenty of growth in the SUV segment as long as vehicles are sensibly developed and marketed. The Mazda CX-7 is not a huge vehicle designed for the country that will be brought into town – it is an urban soft-roader with plenty of attitude and great dynamics,” concludes Cameron.

Don’t miss out – pre-order now!

For customers who want to be sure of taking delivery of Mazda's new sports crossover before anyone else… Mazda UKhas launched a dedicated Mazda CX-7 Pre-Order Website www.cx-7order.co.uk where buyers can reserve their new car now. This year, Mazda is allocating a restricted number of Mazda CX-7 vehicles to the UKmarket and customers can place a pre-order online from the comfort of home to ensure they have one of the cars from launch.

The pre-order site asks buyers to select their preferred Mazda dealer from a list of three nearest to their location. The pre-order site indicates the anticipated delivery date for each model and customers receive a confirmation email acknowledging their order.

Orders for a Mazda CX-7 placed via the website will be processed promptly, and at this point a visit to the chosen dealer is required to confirm the order and place a deposit on the new car. Customers can also choose to arrange individually tailored part-exchange or finance packages.

In addition, a dedicated Mazda CX-7 microsite www.newmazdacx-7.co.uk provides essential information on the vehicle's sporty performance, assured driving dynamics, comprehensive safety, comfort and adaptability as well as specification and pricing. The site also allows users to register their interest in the car and to receive further communications on the Mazda CX-7.

The Mazda CX-7 was developed out of the acclaimed MX-Crossport design study shown at the Detroit Motor Show in 2005, which inherited design cues from Mazda’s sports models like the RX-8 and Mazda6 MPS, and combined them with SUV attributes. As a result, Mazda CX-7 has a truly sporty character that is immediately obvious the moment you see it.

Its front end design is inspired by a styling heritage that has matured over more than 10 years and began with the concept-car RX-01 in 1995. It communicates a clear Mazda family identity with a large lower air intake, a small upper grille, deep press lines articulating sides of the bonnet and powerful front fenders. Mazda CX-7’s silhouette is dominated by an A-pillar angled at 66° and a front windscreen that is more raked than many sports cars. This delivers a sweeping roofline that rises smoothly to the B-pillar, where it then breaks slightly downward into the D-pillar and rear spoiler.

Below this is a kick-up belt line and large, prominent fenders over 18-inch alloy wheels with 235/60 R18 tyres, that give Mazda CX-7 an aggressive road stance. The vehicle’s short rear end has classic sports car design elements like two large tailpipes, overlapping round tail lamps and a rear end roof spoiler. A new front bumper was also created for the European version, which allows excellent aerodynamic attributes. Specific exterior design elements introduced for the European version include the new front bumper, plus front and rear fog lamps, headlight washer and rear mud flap.

These design features are realised with a further improvement in exterior fit and finish. Solid build quality is evident in minimal gaps: approximately 1.2 mm between the front lamps/front bumper and rear lamps/rear bumper for instance, while the gap between the front doors and fender panels is approximately 3.5 mm. Insightful detailing, like a side sill flange covered with a side sill garnish, along with front windshield wiper nozzles neatly integrated into the front cowl, improve Mazda CX-7’s overall look of solid build quality.

Aerodynamic Designing
Mazda CX-7’s exterior design not only looks sporty and strong, it also delivers excellent aerodynamic performance that contributes to straight-line stability and low wind noise. To achieve these goals, the shape of the side corner of the front bumper, the rear side corner, the cross-section of the A-pillar, the door mirrors and the roof’s rear-end lip were designed to lower aerodynamic drag and to control air swirl along the sides and at the back of the vehicle.

A special front bumper is introduced for Europe, with an optimised lip spoiler. This is combined with front and rear flow deflectors ahead of each tyre, a large undercover for the engine bay, a side sill garnish, and an optimised positioning of the rear silencer, all of which controls air flow under the vehicle and reduces drag and lift. The result of these measures is a Cd value of only 0.34, which is outstanding for a SUV in this segment (typically they range between 0.35 to over 0.40).

Crossover Design Philosophy
Through the development concept “Sports Crossover SUV”, under the leadership of Chief Designer Iwao Koizumi, his team began by consolidating the definition and image of a sports car. Koizumi had young designers get together and think about all the design themes that make a person feel, “This is a sports car”. It is interesting to note that the images produced by them clearly drew a lot of influence from Europe, where there is a well-known and enduring tradition of sports cars. Koizumi’s team skilfully blended them with Mazda’s sports car design heritage.

Notes Koizumi, “I believe that through our research we managed to come up with a universal definition of a sports car that would be loved by drivers around the world and I also believe this is deeply connected to the successful design of the Mazda CX-7. We combined dynamic movement and a bold presence in one passionate statement and we created a new concept “Sports Crossover SUV”.

Interior Design
On the inside, Mazda CX-7 features sporty appeal combined with SUV roominess and high levels of craftsmanship and quality. A unique feature of the interior is a smooth continuous flowing line in its low-gloss, two-tone trim that extends from the front to the rear of the cabin. This mirrors the kick-up belt line of the exterior and breaks from the common convention to separate the cabin trim from the luggage space trim, by extending the ‘fl ow’ all the way back, giving the whole passenger cell a sporty atmosphere.

Another sporty touch is Mazda CX-7’s double-roof instrument panel with a full-width hood over the entire dashboard, shading an information display, and an additional hood over the driver’s instrument cluster. The design of this three-dial cluster continues the sporty theme with the left and right instruments in half oval shapes wrapped around the circular speedometer (scaled to 240 km/h) placed in middle and angled towards the driver. The distinctive ‘red-on-black’ dials are easy to read in all lighting conditions. CX-7’s large centre stack panel extends down so that it almost touches the top of the high floor console with gear shift lever, creating a wrap-around feel to the driving position, similar to a sports car.

These design features are carried out with high levels of craftsmanship and quality feel. Mazda CX-7’s dashboard, centre stack panel and trim materials are chosen to feel firm and smooth for consistency throughout the cabin area. They have high quality graining that, when combined with silver accents throughout the cabin – including frames for the instrument panel, centre stack and floor console – quality Seat materials, black and beige interior colour schemes (depending on grade and market), and a leather steering wheel similar to Mazda’s sport icon MX-5, leather shift knob, door trim and centre armrest (depending on grade), all add a strong note of sophistication.

Under CX-7’s sporty suit of clothes is Mazda’s high-performance MZR 2.3-litre DISI turbo, which is the same engine used by the sporty flagship models, Mazda6 MPS and Mazda3 MPS. In this latest guise, the engine produces maximum power of 191 kW/260 PS at 5,500 rpm and up to a maximum 380 Nm of torque at just 3,000 rpm.

Characteristics like high speed acceleration feel and stability were specially optimised during extensive testing on some of Europe’s toughest roads to ensure that European customers get the most out of this high-performance engine.

The engine injects fuel directly into the combustion chamber at pressures up to 115 bar, which causes a cooling effect when the fuel vaporizes. This improves load efficiency and increases torque by about 10 percent compared to a similarly sized engine with indirect injection. Improved load efficiency also has the advantage of increasing the rotational speed of the turbocharger’s compressor blades, which allows nearly all of CX-7’s high torque to be delivered at lower engine speeds of around 2,500 rpm. This ensures instant pedal response, linear acceleration, a 0-100 km/h time of 8.0 seconds, one of the segment’s best, and a top speed of 210 km/h. The vehicle’s modest kerb weight for its class, 1,770 kg (including a 75 kg driver) contributes to this high performance level.

The efficiency of the MZR 2.3-litre DISI turbo is further improved by sequential-valve timing (S-VT), which optimises intake valve opening and closing according to actual running conditions. S-VT is also used to retard ignition timing to raise exhaust-gas temperatures and is combined with a lightweight, single-scroll turbocharger that limits heat loss in the exhaust system and a large intercooler. This helps Mazda CX-7 to achieve competitive emission performance by heating up the catalytic converter fast.

The 2.3-litre DISI turbo features material and design enhancements of various engine components to ensure that all moving parts are stronger, more rigid and durable – and able to handle the increased temperature and high torque output. The cylinder block and cylinder head are made using a new implementation of the Advanced Precision Mazda Casting process, which increases their strength. The crankshaft and connecting rods are made of steel, the diameters of the connecting pins increased, the shape of the rods optimised and full floating pistons introduced. In addition, cross-drilling between the block liners and between the valve bridges on the cylinder head improves heat dissipation and resistance to overheating.

Special effort was made in tuning the CX-7’s exhaust to optimise torque output and to deliver an appealing exhaust tone that heightens the Zoom-Zoom driving experience. The shape and size of the inner diameter of the exhaust pipes and the internal structure of the silencer produce a throaty, sporty sound when accelerating from a standing start or from a low speed, and a pleasing sporty note at high engine speeds.

The Advantages of Direct-Injection Petrol + Turbo charger
Most petrol turbocharged engines have indirect injection, meaning fuel is mixed with air in the manifold before being injected into the combustion chamber. The turbo charger tends to heat up the intake air and when compression in the cylinder increases the temperature even more, engine knock can occur.

To compensate for this, a lower compression ratio is used, but this reduces low-rev capabilities and acceleration. Mazda’s high-tech DISI turbo, however, injects fuel directly into the combustion chamber which forms a highly homogeneous air/fuel mix very close to the spark plug before it is combusted. Upon combustion, a cooling effect is realised in the chamber that keeps temperatures from rising and improves load efficiency at an early stage in acceleration resulting in a quicker supercharge making torque available at lower engine speeds.

This lower temperature also prevents misfire and allows the use of a relatively high compression ratio of 9.5:1. A higher compression ratio helps keep fuel consumption at acceptable levels – Mazda CX-7 uses 10.2 litres of fuel per 100 km/h (combined) – while delivering high torque at low engine speeds and lively acceleration.

Environmental Compatibility – Low-impact Manufacturing
For almost a decade now, Mazda Motor Corporation’s manufacturing facilities have undergone continuous improvements to lower their environmental impact and are all certified under strict ISO 14001 standards. One of the latest developments in this ongoing process of improvement is Mazda’s unique three-layer wet paint system, which bakes primer, base coat and clear coat layers all at once. This lowers the amount of volatile organic compounds used for the Mazda CX‑7 by 50 percent and also CO₂ emissions are reduced by 15 percent.

Enhancing the driving experience is a six-speed manual transmission exclusive to the European version of the Mazda CX-7. It is based on the same sporty transmission from the Mazda6 MPS and features a compact, three-shaft design and CX-7 specific gear ratios that allow full exploitation of the engine’s power. Sixth gear is engineered as an overdrive, which lowers engine revs, optimises fuel consumption and reduces engine noise during high speed driving on the motorway. First, second and third gears have triple-cone synchronizers and fourth gear has double-cone synchronizers, which support smooth, responsive shifting. The result is a manual transmission that is fun to drive on a daily basis, easy to shift, with short, precise shift travel.

Mazda CX-7 is the product of a new platform that delivers a vehicle base large enough to accommodate five people and their luggage in comfort, while balancing this with chassis dimensions that deliver Zoom-Zoom handling. The Mazda CX-7 is 85 mm shorter than the Mazda6 MPS (4,680 mm versus 4,765 mm) but has a longer wheelbase (2,750 mm versus 2,675 mm) and is wider by 90 mm (1,870 mm versus 1,780 mm) which delivers great driving stability and translates into SUV roominess and comfort on the inside. The wheels of the Mazda CX-7 are placed at the extreme corners of the vehicle which allowed designers to give the Mazda CX-7 its sporty, aerodynamic design.

Local Reinforcements – Enhanced Body Rigidity
This new platform is enhanced by chassis and suspension systems that deliver outstanding performance feel, with precise steering, handling stability and control. Mazda CX-7’s bodyshell is a paragon of strength and stiffness, with optimised local and overall rigidity. During initial chassis development, CAE methods were used to identify local areas of the bodyshell most likely to flex or deform under extreme driving conditions. These areas were then strengthened with reinforcements designed to keep any additional weight to the minimum.

The rear lamp apertures and the roof rail inner pressings, where they meet the C-pillars were strengthened, as well as the tailgate aperture and the suspension mounting points. An additional joint was added to the side sill, and the cross member sheet attachment area was reinforced. The front cross member and the three transmission tunnel members are pressed from thicker steel to enhance both torsional and flexural rigidity and deliver handling which meets the demands of sporty-minded European customers.

Mazda’s CAE Technology – Optimising Body Strength, Aerodynamics and NVH
Zero-prototype development for the Mazda CX-7 was employed using the latest computer-aided engineering (CAE) technology to create a bodyshell design with optimised handling stability, crash safety and NVH“, explains programme manager Masashi Ohtsuka.

The number of vehicle elements examined by the CAE process was expanded to 363, some of them examined for the first time in vehicle development. Instead of following the conventional process of assessing the car body’s rigidity as a single structure, CAE engineers analyzed each part of the body as a single entity. Key areas – like side sill sections and Seat mounting points – were identified and reinforced.

This enabled engineers to optimise body rigidity for improved handling stability and aerodynamic performance, vital, considering it has a high-performance DISI engine, and crash safety. NVH performance was also optimised by initiating a complete vehicle system analysis that assessed the vibration characteristics of every part of the vehicle, from the front frame to the structure of the panels, to lower cabin noise and create a high-quality ambience inside CX-7 while driving under the widest variety of road conditions.

Suspension
Mazda CX-7 employs a MacPherson strut front suspension tuned to give high rigidity for predictable handling, minimal noise and great driving comfort. The system uses ball-type struts with low friction bearings, strong lateral force control springs, along with six rubber mounting points, for smooth steering feel and good ride comfort. An enlarged castor angle is also used to optimise straight-line stability, while delivering excellent road feedback and grip when cornering.

European Chassis Tuning
In Europe, customers have high expectations when it comes to on-road attributes. To get the most out of the slightly higher power and torque of the European version of the 2.3-litre DISI turbo petrol, members of both Mazda Japan and Mazda’s European R & D Centre in Oberursel, Germanywere given the task of tuning Mazda CX-7’s overall driving performance to meet European driving needs.

The team spent weeks testing the car at Nürburgring’s ‘green hell’ and on German Autobahns to identify where the chassis could be enhanced to deliver this. The result was the introduction of special body reinforcements, suspension enhancements, special tyres and steering settings. These chassis enhancements mean the CX-7 delivers an ideal combination of driving comfort with excellent straight-line stability, superior road hold and steering feedback.

The multi-link rear suspension is designed to ensure the wheels suffer minimal camber change and maintain their near-vertical position even when cornering hard, which is vital to a high‑torque, high-performance All-Wheel Drivevehicle like this. For excellent steering stability, the rear bush structure and location were optimised for good lateral toe change, while the position of the links ensures optimal camber control. For the European CX-7, which has even more power, the pull bars linking the rear suspension to the body adopt a different layout to insure predictable handling and even more precise vehicle reaction to steering input.

The rear coil springs and dampers are separated, with the springs placed under the floor so that friction generated by the dampers is reduced, resulting in smooth damping force on bumpy roads. This layout, which is similar to Mazda5, results in minimal intrusion into the vehicle, with maximum width between the wheel housings, and a spacious, flexible, flat-floored cargo area.

Dependable Traction – Mazda’s Active Torque-Split All-Wheel Drive
The fully independent suspension is complemented by Mazda’s unique Active Torque‑Split all-wheel drive system which ensures that the CX-7’s 380 Nm of maximum torque can be exploited in a smooth and controllable way. Using high-tech sensor technology, the All-Wheel Drive monitors the CX-7’s steering angle, yaw rate, wheel speed, lateral G-force and throttle-valve position, to optimise in real time the vehicle’s road hold whatever the surface and driving conditions.

The vehicle’s all-wheel drive control module then distributes torque between the front and rear axles using an electronically-controlled active-torque coupling mounted in front of the rear differential. The system distributes power between the axles (100/0 per cent to 50/50 per cent front/rear) for just the right amount of torque in every driving situation.

Mazda today reached 40 million units of cumulative production in Japan during a commemorative ceremony at its Ujina Plant No. 2 near Mazda's headquarters in Hiroshima. Mazda's Representative Director, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, Hisakazu Imaki, together with executive officers and union representatives, looked on as the 40 millionth Mazda -- an all-new MAZDA2 -- rolled off the production line. This milestone was achieved 75 years and nine months from the date when Mazda began production of three-wheeled trucks in October 1931.

"Mazda was able to achieve 40 million units of cumulative production due to the great support of our customers and the steadfast efforts of the many employees and people associated with Mazda," said Misakazu Imaki, President and CEO, Mazda Motor Corporation. "Mazda's appetite for embracing challenges and a spirited corporate culture drives us to develop new technologies and create new value. To maintain this track record of success going forward, we will continue to provide our customers with vehicles that are inviting to drive, fun to drive and make you want to drive them again."

Mazda initially established itself as a manufacturer of light trucks, beginning with three-wheeled trucks, in 1931. Mazda took a bold step into the passenger car segment in 1960 when it commenced production of the R360 Coupe minicar.

Since then, Mazda has developed into a true global corporation through production and international sales of sports cars such as the world's first dual-rotor rotary engine car, the Cosmo Sport and the iconic RX-7, along with durable models such as the Mazda Protege, Mazda 323 and Mazda 626. In 2002, Mazda began to introduce a new generation of products that clearly embodied the new Zoom-Zoom brand promise. Starting with the MAZDA6 and MAZDA3, the new Zoom-Zoom vehicles have since earned worldwide acclaim.

Mazda has long been committed to adopting innovative manufacturing techniques for efficient production that is both people and environmentally friendly. Recently, wider use of initiatives such as Mazda's Three Layer Wet Paint and Integrated Scheduled Production systems has enabled a uniquely flexible and high quality synchronized production line. In the future, Mazda aims to achieve further growth by raising its brand value and enhancing business efficiency in line with the Mazda Advancement Plan. Mazda will also strive to provide excellent products and services that meet our customers' high expectations, with product quality, safety and environmental performance that is second to none.

Mazda Shopping Assistant Converts Internet Shoppers to Buyers

Starting today, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) will help Internet-savvy car buyers get one step closer to sliding into the driver's seat of a new Mazda vehicle -- without ever leaving their home or office.

The Mazda Shopping Assistant program is the first in the industry to provide potential buyers with an actual quote -- from the customer's choice of dealer -- of the vehicle they've chosen, as opposed to other manufacturers' programs that simply offer the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP).

Through links on the Mazda USA Web site, the new Mazda Shopping Assistant (MSA) program connects consumers with Mazda Personal Shoppers who can answer specific product questions and provide personalized shopping experiences through live Web-chat sessions. Through the help of these in-house Mazda employees, buyers can configure a vehicle, select a dealership, search vehicle inventory, acquire an actual dealer quote, schedule a sales appointment and get information about financing for the Mazda vehicle of their dreams. Once a price is agreed upon between the customer and the dealer, the Personal Shopper arranges an appointment time at the dealership for final paperwork to be signed and the vehicle to be delivered.

"We want to make the vehicle purchase process as easy and comfortable as possible for our customers," says Mike Ray, director, Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty, MNAO. "On average, a typical car buyer spends four hours at most dealerships buying a new car. In a day and age when every hour counts in our busy schedules, we believe the new MSA program is the perfect tool to help Mazda customers spend less time shopping and more time driving."

Designed to help customers and dealers connect more quickly, the MSA program accelerates the purchase process by streamlining three of the steps involved when buying a vehicle -- model selection, price and financing.

More than 1.5 million unique visitors log onto MazdaUSA.com each month to gather product information, build vehicles or locate dealerships. With this as proof that Mazda buyers increasingly turn to the Internet as a valuable resource, the company believes the MSA program will be a huge hit among its youthful demographic, the second-youngest in the industry.

The Mazda Shopping Assistant program was met with great enthusiasm by Mazda's National Dealer Council, as they see it becoming another rich source of sales. Dealer enrollments are already encouraging and Mazda expects the majority of its dealers to enroll in the MSA program.

Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario, Canada, and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.

Visit: http://www.mazdausa.com/

Source: Mazda North American Operations

Mazda Racers to Pick Up the Pace

MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development and Pace American Trailers today announced a two-year partnership involving Pace becoming the Official Trailer of MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development. Through the partnership, members of MAZDASPEED's racing contingency program -- already one of the most lucrative in the sport -- will be able to purchase Pace trailers at a deep discount. Additionally, MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development has debuted a trailer that will be used for parts distribution and meetings during professional and amateur race weekends around the U.S. and Canada.

"Racers need trailers, and Mazda racers want trailers that perform well, are well-built, easy to tow and -- above all else -- are a great value. Pace trailers meet those criteria, have a great reputation for performance and will be a great addition to the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development family," noted John Doonan, MAZDASPEED Business Development Manager. "Because Pace and its product range appeal to the same grassroots racing competitors that MAZDASPEED supports, this partnership made perfect sense for both companies."

Pace has provided MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development with a brand-new 44-foot goose-neck trailer with a vendor window and closed-off meeting space. This trailer will be used as a parts supply and technical support trailer at all MX-5 Cup races, key Club Racing events like the SCCA Runoffs and other key Mazda race weekends throughout the season.

Pace is similar to Mazda, with enthusiasts in key positions throughout the organization. Pace American CEO Mitchell Bender and Marketing Manager Peter Calhoun are both long time club racers. The company's products are focused on supporting the weekend club racer as well as the overall enthusiast market.

Mitchell Bender noted, "Mazda has done an exceptional job supporting their grassroots racers, creating the finest racing ladder-system in the world. A young racer can start in karts and work their way up to world-class ALMS racing with support from Mazda. Pace American is excited to be a small part of Mazda's commitment to motorsports and great cars."

"Pace American is proud to become a partner of MAZDASPEED and assist in the continued development of their motorsport programs. This partnership brings together two companies with rich racing histories, companies who use racing not just as a marketing exercise, but actually to test and develop better products," added Peter Calhoun.

As part of the standard Mazda club racing contingency program, Pace graphics will appear on all Mazdas racing nationwide. MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development team members -- over 9,000 registered club racers nationwide -- will be eligible for special discount and incentive programs on Pace American trailers. In addition, Pace American Trackside Service will also be offering complimentary trailer repairs at both the SCCA Runoffs and June Sprints

On any given weekend, there are more Mazdas on the road-race tracks of America than any other brand of vehicle. At the track, you'll see MX-5 Miata, RX-8, MAZDA3, MAZDA6, RX-7 and other vintage Mazda models competing, because every Mazda has the Soul of a Sports Car. In fact, the fastest growing road-racing class in the U.S. is the SCCA's Spec Miata class, with nearly 1,500 first- and second-generation Miatas tearing up America's racetracks, making it the most-raced production car in the world. Mazda's involvement in motorsports extends to its relationship with Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, one of the world's premier road-racing circuits, and the Skip Barber Schools for driving and racing.

Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario, Canada, and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.

Source: Mazda North American Operations

Auto Bild, Germany’s largest car magazine, has ranked Mazda in first place in its highly respected “Quality Report” for 2007, which was published on June 8. This was the third straight year that Mazda has been awarded first place in this annual report.

First conducted in 2001, Auto Bild’s Quality Report compiles the result of seven criteria – endurance tests, car owner surveys (22,795 Auto Bild subscribers), recalls, Germany’s Technische Uberwachung Verein (TUV) report, customer complaints at Auto Bild, type of warranties and the quality of dealerships based on secret service tests – for a comprehensive picture of quality in Europe’s largest market according to brand.



As was the case during the previous two reports, Mazda quality was evident in all aspects of the survey. Especially strong results were achieved in categories reflecting long-term quality: on the TUV report (roadworthiness inspections for cars that are two and three years old) and on Auto Bild’s 100,000 kilometer Endurance Test – where the new Mazda5 is currently halfway through the test with no breakdowns.

Mazda also scored high on the owner survey for low repair frequency and high body build quality, which enabled the brand to improve on 2006’s excellent result. Results in this year’s report reflecting customer satisfaction and warranty performance –traditional strengths of Mazda models – were once again very positive.

“We’re especially honored that in 2007 Mazda was chosen the winner of Auto Bild’s Quality Report for the third time,” said Dan Morris, Mazda’s senior managing executive officer in charge of marketing, sales and customer service. “This prestigious award is a recognition of the quality of the design and manufacturing built into every Mazda vehicle. And it gives us more confidence as we move forward with our plans to bring even greater levels of quality to all aspects of the Mazda Zoom-Zoom car owning experience for our customers worldwide.”


Source: Mazda Motor of America, Inc.

Mazda Motor Corporation has announced that updated Mazda Spiano micro-mini models, known for their friendly exteriors and comfortable interior cabins, are on sale from today at Mazda Autozam, Mazda and Mazda Anfini dealerships throughout Japan.

The models offer newly designed seat and door trim fabric, an improvement which gives the interiors a fresh new atmosphere. The XS grade has a new chrome front grille, and the Mazda Spiano GS includes newly added split rear seats.

The sales target volume for the Spiano range is 300 units a month.

Main features of the freshened Mazda Spiano:

Exterior
- New high quality chrome front grille (XS grade)

Interior
- Newly designed upholstery and door trim (GS and XS grades: blue or bright orange patterned fabric; SS grade: black and silver monotone design)
- White leaf-pattern instrument panel garnish (XS grade)
- Split rear seat that enables various seat arrangements (GS grade)


Source: Mazda

On May 30, 1967, Mazda launched the world's first twin-rotor rotary engined car, the Mazda Cosmo Sport. Today, 40 years to-the-date later, the company celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Mazda rotary engine. In the years between, Mazda has produced nearly two million vehicles powered by the rotary engine.

"Only Mazda -- a company with a laser-like focus on vehicle development and engineering success -- would have had the perseverance and unwavering spirit to pursue the rotary engine," said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO of Mazda North American Operations. "From humble beginnings in the 1950s to a very bright hydrogen-fueled future, the rotary engine represents Mazda as a company that follows the road less traveled, and makes its own successes where others have failed."

Through the years, automakers as diverse as General Motors, Daimler-Benz, Rolls-Royce and Citroen have experimented with the Wankel rotary engine, but only Mazda overcame the engineering challenges necessary to bring the engine to market in a mass-production vehicle.



The first vehicle Mazda sold in the United States was the 1970 Mazda R100, powered by the rotary engine. It was followed by the Mazda Mazda RX-2, Mazda RX-3, Mazda RX-4 and Mazda RX-5 Cosmo. The 1970s even saw Mazda install the rotary engine in its Rotary Pickup truck.

When Mazda launched the now-legendary Mazda RX-7 in 1979, it really shook up the sports-car establishment and set sales records never before seen with sports cars. Subsequent Mazda RX-7 generations were launched in 1986 and 1993, including the first production applications of turbocharging the rotary engine in the U.S. market. And when the company launched the innovative four-door sports car Mazda RX-8 in 2003, the rotary engine saw a dramatic update with the introduction of side porting, resulting in greatly reduced exhaust emissions and improved performance.

Mazda's rotary engine has been overwhelmingly successful in motorsports, too, powering the company's cars to over 100 professional sports car racing wins in the U.S. alone and enabling an overall win at the 1991 running of the famed 24-Hours of Le Mans. Mazda was the first -- and is still the only -- Japanese car company to ever win this grueling endurance race. So successful was Mazda's entry in the 1991 race that the rules for subsequent races were changed to ban the rotary engine.

The rotary continues to enjoy success in U.S. motorsports as it powers the SpeedSource team to victory in Grand Am Rolex GT competition in their specially prepared Mazda RX-8, as well as powering every vehicle in the ultra-competitive Star Mazda Championship for aspiring open-wheel racers.

Looking towards the future, Mazda remains committed to the rotary engine for the long run. After nearly five decades of development, the company has capitalized on the fact that rotary technology is uniquely suited to burning hydrogen as a fuel, especially as compared to conventional piston engines. Mazda has been experimenting with research and development into both hydrogen-fueled rotaries and hydrogen rotary hybrid-electric vehicles as well, and already has hydrogen-fueled rotary-powered Mazda RX-8s on the road in Japan.

Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario, Canada, and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.

Source: Mazda North American Operations