Mazda and the NHTSA have today issued a recall for up to 39,600 B Series trucks of the 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 model years.

The recall focuses on the Texas Instrumentals “speed-control deactivation switch and/or antilock brake system manufactured before Dec. 5, 2002.” Basically, the various parts are accused of corroding at an alarming rate which could lead the switch to overheat possibly causing a fire.

As always, you can take your car down to your local Mazda dealership to get it inspected and fixed if need be.

via kickingtires

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Recent reports have surfaced that suggest Mazda is currently on the market for funding to the tune of $1.1 billion to help speed up their hybrid vehicle development.

To secure this funding Mazda will be issuing 96.8 million treasure shares and 315.2 million new shares and then reinvest the collected money back into their company. In addition to hybrid development, Mazda will be looking at other environmentally friendly technologies to help power their cars and get back into the green movement game.

Will it work? Only time will tell.

Read (Reuters)

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Mazda will be among the many car manufacturers at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show on October 24. For their part, Mazda is expected to debut the Mazda Kiyora Concept Car although that is not the only thing they will be unveiling. They will also unveil their next-generation engine and automatic transmissions lineup. This includes the Mazda SKY-G direct injection gasoline engine Mazda SKY-D clean diesel engine and the Mazda SKY Drive high-efficiency automatic transmission.

These new technological advancements are expected to help in the improvement of fuel-efficiency as well as some eco-friendly enhancements and optimized combustion systems. But a lot of the focus is sure to be on the Mazda Kiyora Concept car which highlights the next-generation Mazda SKY concept powertrain technologies and comprehensive advancements in weight reduction for better fuel economy at 32 kilometers per liter.

(Source) Auto Racing

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Ford Motors has entered a joint venture with Changan Ford Mazda Automobile (CFMA) which resulted in a new plant that will be put up in Chongqing China. The plant is scheduled to be completed by 2012 and is Ford’s ticket towards expanding in the Asian Pacific and African regions.

The new plant is said to be capable of producing 150,000 units a year which jacks up the total annual production capacity of the CFMA to 600,000 to cover the growing demands for Ford brands in China. The investment was said to be valued at $490 million.

The new, highly flexible facility will be equipped with state-of-the-art automation and utilize Ford’s global manufacturing processes and systems. Capable of producing a diversified range of products in the future, the plant will begin manufacturing Ford’s next-generation Ford Focus in 2012.

(Source) Press

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Another day of the Frankfurt Motor Show means a whole slew of previously unannounced vehicles. The latest of such vehicles is the above pictured Mazda MX-5 Superlight.

As you can probably tell by the title, this car is super light, weighing in at just 2,193. And, thanks to its low weight Mazda was able to squeeze a fuel efficient 4 cylinder 1.8-liter engine capable of 126 hp into the MX-5 coupled with a 5 speed manual transmission. Of course, with such a low weight you’re going to have to sacrifice some luxuries namely, the windshield. But it’s the novelty that counts, right?

Unfortunately for you daring drivers out there, the chances we will ever see the MX-5 Superlight enter production remain slim to none until Mazda tells us otherwise.

via jalopnik

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2009 marks the Mazda Miata’s 20th Anniversary and, to celebrate, Mazda has announced that they will be releasing a special 20th Anniversary edition of it in Japan.

Entitled in Japan as the 20th Anniversary Special Edition Roadster, this car will start at around $30,000 (or ¥2,860,000). Spec wise the car will be based on the Roadster RS and feature a retractable soft-top, and a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission.

Additionally, the car will be outfitted with a bunch of 20th Anniversary badges, 17-inch wheels and Recaro bucket seats.

via WorldCarFans

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Mazda dealers are optimistic that their sales will grow once the Cash for Clunkers program officially gets underway. To date, they are already preparing the possible vehicles that will most likely be chosen by incoming customers within the set boundaries and budget.

And to entice people to look more towards Mazda vehicles, dealers have added a little perk, a $500 cash incentive that should get some curious motorists looking. This is separate from the $3,500 or $4,500 CARS incentive.

The amount of the incentive is either $3,500 or $4,500, depending on the mpg improvement of the new vehicle over the one it replaces.

(Source) Press

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The Mazda Motor Corporation is continuously looking for ways to be a better global citizen. With the new “Aqua-Tech Paint System” that reduces the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) by 57% and improves the paint job, it looks like they are staying on track. “Aqua-Tech” upholds the same world-class low carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions as Mazda’s current “Three Layer Wet Paint” system but further reduces VOC emissions to barely 15 grams per square meter of body surface.

While naturally lower in VOC emissions than solvent-based paint, drying water-based paints uses much more energy and, thus, increases CO2. Mazda have mastered this with a combo of improved paint technology and a more efficient evaporative drying system. Mazda has set up the Aqua-tech Paint System for vehicle body painting at its Ujina Plant No.1 in Japan.

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It looks like the UK car scrappage theme is leading the way towards new hope for car sales. Yesterday, Mazda was the car manufacturer that was getting back on its feet and now Chevrolet unveils its own program, offering a great deal that should lure in potential buyers for their Chevrolet Epica saloon and Chevrolet Captiva.

Chevrolet is offering the Chevrolet Epica saloon under the scheme from only £10,495 on-the-road and the Chevrolet Captiva from only £13,495, subject to a customer’s vehicle qualifying for the discount. To qualify, it must have been registered before August 31st 1999, have a valid MoT certificate and been registered to the same person as the all-new car for at least 12 months prior to being traded in as scrap.

Now how is that for a great deal? If things look up, don’t be surprised if other car manufacturers devise a trade-in deal of their own soon. Soon we may see a car scrappage scheme pricing war on the horizon which should benefit consumers all the more!

(Source) Carpages

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It seems that the car scrappage schemes are finally paying off. At least that is that it seems like for Mazda plants in Japan which have reportedly resumed operations after being suspended due to plummeting sales ever since the recession set in.

We are all aware that Europe had been in the forefront of this scheme which aims to entice motorists to trade in their old cars for discounts on new ones. Apparently a lot of them grabbed the deal to which rising demand is now occurring hence business as usual for car companies to satisfy the new demand.

This leaves a bright spot in the car industry. Apparently other cars are bound to follow the lead of Mazda of Japan but no one knows when that would be. This is the best news we have gotten from the auto industry to date!

(Source) RAC

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The Mazdaspeed 3 has been finally launched in the U.S., joining the many many other cars that have been unveiled there by other manufacturers. While Ford chose to go with Volvo inline-5 engines for the hot hatch versions of the technically similiar Focus, Mazda developed their own turbocharged 2.3 liter direct injection online-4 engine for the Mazda 3 and Mazda 6.

The new Mazdaspeed 3 (also called the Mazda 3 MPS) comes in the 5-door body, and its engine puts out 263 horses at 5,500rpm and 380Nm of torque at 3,000rpm, not quite up there with the ultra-quick spooling ability of Volkswagen and BMW turbo engines but somehow only the European marques seem to be able to achieve that.

The 6-speed transmission’s gear ratios (gear 2 to 5) have also been revised to be slightly taller to take advantage of all 380 Newton meters of torque. There is a torque management system which tries to rein in the torque steer based on which gear the car is in and the steering angle.

(Source) Paul Tan

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2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata

In order to try and reduce pitching and rolling and sharpen steering responses, Mazda revised the 2009 MX-5 Miata’s shock and spring rates. The stability-control system has been reprogrammed to be less intrusive as well, while the six-speed manual transmission has upgraded carbon-coated synchronizers for more fluid shifting.

 The 2.0-liter MZR four-cylinder has a new oil cooler, a new forged-steel crank and connecting rods, new pistons with stronger wrist pins, and stouter valve springs. Changes to the intake ducting also bring back some of the more seductive engine sounds of the original Miata. This little roadster remains one of the most entertaining cars to drive. It is agile, light and always ready for fun.

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Seven new vehicles were tested to take part in the sedan comparison test between seven of the top new cars in the class. And out of these cars, it was the 2009 Honda Civic coming out with flying colors. Among the other cars tested included

• Honda Civic
• MAZDA3
• Toyota Corolla
• Hyundai Elantra
• Nissan Sentra
• Ford Focus
• Chevy Cobalt

The comprehensive compact sedan comparison tests conducted by the kbb.com editorial staff included scoring multiple points of consideration, both subjective and instrumented, for each vehicle in each of the following categories: exterior, interior, driving dynamics, safety (both active and passive safety), crash test ratings, value (examining both New Car Blue Book Values, which are the actual transaction values of what each vehicle is currently selling for, as well as projected future resale values), on-ramp acceleration, passing acceleration, braking from 60 mph, evasive lane change, cornering limits, and interior noise at idle, 30 mph and 60 mph.

In the end, six drivers had subjected seven cars to more than 1,500 miles worth of poking and prodding to determine the results of the 2009 kbb.com compact sedan comparison test.

(Source) Press

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Mazda will be unveiling 3 new modified versions of their crossover SUVs at the 2009 New York International Auto Show. Mazda’s offerings will consist of the widely modified 2010 CX-9 and CX-7 crossover SUVs and the much awaited high-performing 5-door compact Mazda Speed 3.

The multi award-winning CX-9 is a seven-seat, three-row crossover SUV with special driving dynamics that is unparalleled in its category. The CX-9 for the MY 2010 will get an exterior and interior revision, more options and toughened up safety elements, while at the same time enhancing its Zoom-Zoom driving traits.

Building on the reputation of the preceding model, the 2010 Mazda Speed3 remains as one of the world’s fastest front-wheel drive car. It combines five-door practicality with a more aggressive and exciting performance to meet the requirements of fans with dynamic lifestyles.

(Source) Auto Spies

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An updated 2010 version of Mazdas CX-9 crossover will make its world debut, while the 2010 CX-7 has its American introduction and completing the trio is the 2010 Mazdaspeed 3, which has its North American rollout following its reveal in Geneva. We’ll have to wait for complete details for the new CX-9, but from the released photo it looks like minor exterior revisions.

The front fascia features a new five-point grille that has already been utilized on the RX-8, MX-5 and Mazda 3. In conjunction with the grille are new headlights, fog lamps and side mirror housings. Mazda says the interior is also updated with an expanded options list.

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