New Mazda Takuya Special Editions for UK Market

Obviously Mazda has embarked on a journey to teach Japanese to British buyers. After the MX-5 Miyako limited edition series - named after a Japanese island, Mazda is now introducing the 'Takuya' special edition range, available on the Mazda2, Mazda3 and Mazda6 models. The name 'Takuya' – pronounced 'tah-koy-yah' – is taken from the Japanese for forerunner or pioneer. Changes on the special edition models are limited to cosmetic and equipment upgrades.

Starting with the Mazda2, the Takuya model comes with a 86HP 1.3-liter petrol engine and features 16-inch alloy wheels, a sports styling kit with spoiler, sports bumpers and side skirts, and front fog lights. The five-door hatch's interior is upgraded with black sports trim, trip computer, leather steering wheel and gear knob, steering wheel remote audio controls and a Parrot Bluetooth hands-free kit. Prices start from £11,915 (OTR).

Priced from £15,780, the Mazda3 Takuya gets a 105HP 1.6L petrol engine and boasts a leather steering wheel and shift knob, automatic dual-zone climate control air conditioning, black sports interior trim, sports seats, an integrated Bluetooth system, LED lights, a six-disc CD changer and rain-sensing wipers.

Those interested in the Mazda6 Takuya have the option to choose from three different version - 2.0-litre five-door (£19,845), 2.2D 163ps five-door (£20,945) and 2.2D 163ps Estate (£21,595).

All three models benefit from the fitment of 18-inch alloy wheels, a sports grille and dusk-sensing headlights on the exterior, while the interior is upgraded with an alloy pedal set, half-leather heated seats, auto-dimming rear view mirror, dual-zone automatic climate control air conditioning, and leather steering wheel and shift knob.

Mazda Launches Not so Special 90th Anniversary Editions of Axela and Biante in Japan

On January 30, 2010, Mazda will reach its 90th birthday and to celebrate the event, the automaker has begun churning out special edition versions of its cars like the Axela (known to the rest of the world as the Mazda3 hatch) and the Biante minivan, both of which went on sale in Japan today.

However, truth to be said, there's nothing really 'special' about the two models other than the Axela's exclusive exterior body color that's called Gunmetal Blue Mica and the fact that both cars come with more standard features such as the 'i-stop' start & go system that reduces fuel consumption.

First Recall for 2010 Mazda3 in the U.S.

The new 2010 Mazda3 has only been made available in the U.S. market since March 2009, but the subcompact model has already received its first recall. Overall, Mazda will be calling back to its dealerships 25,400 sedans and hatchback models because of a problem concerning the starter motor. More specifically, the company found that the clearance between the engine harness and the housing of starter motor may be inadequate as vibration during operation may cause a short-circuit between certain harness wires and the starter housing.

If this happens the fuse may blow out causing the engine to stall and not restart again. The Japanese firm's dealers will have the engine harness inspected and add a protector clip on the affected section of the harness while if deemed necessary, the harness will be repaired.

2010 Mazda3 Priced from $15,045 in the States

Despite the fact that the all-new 2010 Mazda3 comes with many new features, the Japanese firm has kept prices at the same levels with the outgoing model. The entry-level Mazda3 Sedan with a 148-horsepower 2.0-liter engine mated to a manual transmission, starts at $15,045 or a mere $355 more than its predecessor. The 2.0-liter Mazda3 i Touring Sedan with automatic transmission, which is expected to remain the most popular model in the range, will be priced at $18,350 and includes standard features such as Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Traction Control (TCS) and Bluetooth wireless mobile phone and audio capability and hands-free operation.

Starting at $19,540 for the 4-door and $20,030 for the Mazda3 5-door, the 167HP 2.5-liter Mazda3 S Sport with automatic transmission adds 17-inch alloy wheels and a Multi-Information Display (MID) with 4.1-inch monochromatic screen that conveys MP3 and i-Pod program information, trip data including fuel economy, plus various maintenance and alert messages.

For those that are not satisfied by the standard equipment, the S models are offered with a Technology package that costs $1,195 and includes keyless entry, push-button start, a compact full-color navigation system, Sirius satellite radio with six months of free service and a perimeter alarm.

Buyers can also opt for the 'Audio Package that includes a Moonroof and a BOSE audio system with a six CD changer for $1,395.

New Mazda3 i-Stop to Premiere in Geneva

Joining the new Mazda3 MPS at the Japanese firm's Geneva Motor Show stand will be the a new variant of the Mazda3 equipped with a fuel-saving start-stop system. The 2009 Mazda3 i-Stop will be offered with the company's 2.0-liter direct-injection engine that produces an output of 148-horsepower. According to Mazda, the start-and-stop system helps the new model achieve approximately 12 percent lower fuel consumption in the urban cycle than the current-generation European Mazda3.

Video: 2010 Mazda3 MPS - Mazdaspeed3 Teaser

Having already released official photos of its new 2010 Mazda3 MPS, the Japanese automaker took the next step and published a 30 second-long teaser video of its hot hatch that will bow at the Geneva Motorshow in early March. All we know about the new iteration of the sporty Mazda3 MPS is that behind that annoyingly happy face is the same turbocharged 2.3-liter direct-injection 4-cylinder engine of the current model. It remains to be seen if Mazda's engineers have performed any upgrades to the engine that delivers an output of 260HP in the 2009 Mazda3 MPS launching it to 100km/h (62mph) in 6.1 sec and on to a top speed of 250 km/h or 154mph.

2010 Mazda3 MPS - MAZDASPEED3: First Official Photos

Today, Mazda published the first official photos of the all-new Mazda3 MPS - known in the U.S. as the Mazdaspeed3, that will be uncovered at the Geneva Motor Show on March 3. The Japanese firm was tight lipped about the hot hatchback's specifications in its press release, as the only detail revealed was that the Mazda3 MPS will continue to use the outgoing model's turbocharged 2.3-liter direct-injection 4-cylinder engine.

No performance figures were released, but the current MPS's MZR 2.3 DISI Turbo engine produces (in European-spec) 260HP at 5500 rpm and 380 Nm of torque at 3000 rpm launching the car to 100km/h (62 mph) in 6.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 250 km/h (154 mph).

The photos show that the company's exterior designers had an easy job with the Mazda3 MPS / Mazdaspeed3 which has been fitted with a wide hood scoop, different lower grille trim, large rear wing, twin tailpipes, side sills and a set of newly designed alloy wheels.

For a hot hatch that wants to compete with the likes of the VW Golf GTI, Ford Focus ST and Opel / Vauxhall Astra OPC / VXR, the whole package seems a wee bit subtle and somewhat uninspired if you ask us, but maybe that's what Mazda was aiming for.

Insider: New Mazda3 MPS - Mazdaspeed3 will Debut in Geneva

Having already unveiled the sedan and 5-door hatchback versions of the '3', Mazda is now preparing to take the wraps off the sportiest variant of its C-segment model, the Mazda3 MPS or as it's known in the US, the MazdaSpeed3, at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show in March. While this is something that you may have heard as a rumor in the past, we are in a position to verify the debut as a fact.

What we couldn't manage to extract from our source is what kind of engine will find its way under the hood of the 2010 Mazda3 MPS / MazdaSpeed3. The most obvious choice is a turbocharged version of the 3's new 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder unit, but we wouldn't be surprised if Mazda takes advantage of its FoMoCo ties and uses a variant of the Focus ST / RS 2.5-liter turbocharged 5-cylinder engine that can deliver up to 300HP.

Mazda to Present Circuit Trial Versions of New Mazda3, Mazda6 and RX-8 at Tokyo Salon

While the 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon that will be held in Japan from January 9 to 11, isn't considered a major event from a global perspective, nevertheless Mazda has announced that it will showcase a lineup of 13 vehicles and eco-friendly technologies. Mazda's exhibits will include the next-generation Axela (known as the Mazda3 in international markets), which is being revealed for the first time in Japan. Other exhibits will include "Circuit Trial" versions of the new Axela, RX-8, Demio (Mazda2) and Atenza (Mazda6) and six customized versions of the new Biante minivan, which went on sale earlier this year.

It goes without saying that the most attention-grabbing models are the Circuit Trial versions that have been developed by Mazdaspeed. The racing circuit ready variants of the Mazda2, Mazda6, Mazda3 and RX-8 will feature an array of equipment and performance upgrades that include M'z Custom aeroparts, Recaro bucket seats and large diameter tires and alloy wheels made by Yokohama.

Mazda's exhibits at Tokyo Auto Salon 2009

No.	Model	Vehicle/Accessory type
1	All-new Mazda3 (N.A. spec model)	Reference exhibit
2	All-new Mazda Axela Circuit Trial*2	Reference exhibit
3	Mazda RX-8 Circuit Trial	Reference exhibit
4	Mazda Demio Circuit Trial	Reference exhibit
5	Mazda Atenza Circuit Trial	Reference exhibit
6	Mazda Biante WAGONIST Custom	Production accessories
7	Mazda Biante SYTLE WAGON Custom	Production accessories
8	Mazda Biante Rotas RV Special	Production accessories
9	Mazda Biante Columbia Sport MTB Special	Production accessories
10	Mazda Biante DAMD	Production accessories
11	Mazda Biante KENSTYLE	Production accessories
12	All-new Mazda Roadster NR-A	Production vehicle
13	Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid	Reference exhibit

New Mazda3 Hatchback to Make North American Debut at Detroit Show

With all the drop outs at the 2009 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), any news, is good news. Mazda on its behalf has confirmed that the all-new Mazda3 5-door hatchback that made its world premiere at the Bologna Show earlier this month, will make its North American debut at NAIAS which will be held in Detroit from January 11 through January 25, 2009. Like its sedan sibling, the U.S.-spec Mazda hatchback will be offered with a choice of two 4-cylinder engines, a 2.0-liter unit with 148HP and a new 2.5-liter unit with 167HP.

2010 Mazda3 Teaser Video Released at Sydney Motorshow

As Mazda was sending the pictures of its all-new Mazda3 Sedan to the world's automotive media, the first teaser film of the subcompact sedan broke cover at the Japanese automaker's video wall at the Sydney Motor Show late last night. The presentation was performed by Mazda Executive Vice President Philip Spender who flew to Australia specifically for this reason. "Today is the world's first look at the new-generation Mazda3, a compact car that will build further on the Stylish, Insightful and Spirited foundations laid by its predecessor," said Mr. Spender. -Continued

"We chose Sydney to give the world its first look at the new Mazda3's striking design. Following that, North America will host the world debut of the Mazda3 sedan in late November. Shortly after that the new-generation Mazda3 five-door hatchback will debut on the European continent," he added.

"We've developed the new-generation Mazda3 to be a small-car leader around the world. The Mazda3's expressive and emotional styling, heightened driving dynamics, quality and refinement will propel it to even greater heights than the very successful model it replaces."

2010 Mazda3 Sedan Revealed - World Debut in LA

Mazda not only confirmed earlier reports by announcing that the sedan version of the all-new Mazda3 (known as Mazda Axela in Japan) will indeed be revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19, but the Japanese automaker also released the first batch of official shots. While retaining the basic shape of the current model, Mazda's designers adorned the new 3 with styling elements from their latest models and especially the Mazda6 and the RX-8. Some could even say that the 2010 Mazda3 looks like a more compact and aggressively styled version of the Mazda6 -especially the Euro and Japan spec model. Either way, both are right. -Continued

Technical details are limited to the initial engine range for the North American model which will be available with 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline units. As for the equally interesting 5door hatchback variant, Mazda simply said that it will be revealed in line with the company's global sales schedule. However, from what we know, the new Mazda3 5d will be revealed at the Bologna Motor Show in Italy in December.