Update: Rusting Mazdas to be scrapped
Update: Almost two years after the Cougar Ace carrier tipped over off the coast of Alaska, damaging 4,703 brand new Mazdas, management have finally decided to scrap all the cars. The Associated Press reports that officials were planning to salvage as many vehicles as they could but rust caused by the salty sea air made the cars unsellable. Original: You may remember a report that a cargo ship carrying almost five thousand US and Canada bound Mazdas on board had keeled over. Now Mazda has announced that...

Sporty, flexible Mazda CX-9 will suit many needs
Sport utility vehicles haven't died. They've just crossed over. With high pump prices putting full-size trucks in peril, automakers are shifting to crossovers that bear the bodies of SUVs on the platforms of popular sedans. The crossover formula delivers excellent ride and handling, better fuel economy than you typically find in an SUV and the option of front or all-wheel-drive. Some call the crossover simply the modern station wagon. And the pricing is extremely competitive, running generally from the...

Unhatched: Mazda2 sedan launches in China
Click above to view the Mazda2 sedan in hi-res There are certain things we may never understand about Eastern cultures. Somewhere down on the list comes the notion that compact hatchbacks look better with diminutive trunks. Take for example this Mazda2 sedan, which the Japanese automaker has prepared especially for the Chinese market. The sedan was unveiled at the Guangzhou Auto Show, and joined the hatchback variant in China this month with prices equivalent to $12,400 for the base 86-hp 1.3 to $16,500...

Mazda3 MPS to take on the Targa Tasmania, again
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Targa Tasmania-ready Mazda3 MPS.Mazda is heading Down Under to compete in the Targa Tasmania for its eighth campaign. The team, consisting of Rick Bates and Alister McRae, will be charging through the outback in one specially prepped Mazda3 MPS or Mazdaspeed3 to those of us in NA. The 2WD Showroom Targa rules dictate that the vehicle has to remain somewhat stock, with the carpeting, power windows and audio equipment keeping things civil as the driving duo covers...

2008 Mazda3 MPS Rally Car Unveiled Australia
Mazda Australia today whipped the covers off its brand new Mazda3 MPS rally car ahead of its motorsport debut at next week’s Targa Tasmania.Australia’s top-selling importer will unleash two Mazda3 MPS rally cars on the country’s pre-eminent tarmac endurance event, held from April 15-20. Professional rally drivers Rick Bates and Alister McRae will spearhead the company’s eighth Targa campaign.Built under the watchful eye of Mazda Motorsport chief Allan Horsley, the 190kW Mazda3 MPS...

Rendered Speculation: Mazda6 coupe, convertible
Mazda's 6 is having a tough time finding love in its home market where it goes by the Atenza moniker. 7Tune is reporting that Mazda's going to flip the script and introduce three new variants of the Atenza; a coupe, a convertible, and a high performance version called the Mazdaspeed Atenza for JDM consumption. Mazda looked to the holy-grail BMW 3 series for inspiration, though that car is rear-wheel-drive, and hopes to achieve the same build quality with its Atenza line.The vehicles in 7Tunes renderings...

Mazda6-based Besturn B50 to appear at Beijing Show
Another new model scheduled to be unveiled at the Beijing Motor Show has been revealed less than a week out from the show, the latest from First Automobile Works’ FAW Besturn brand. The new sedan is called the B50 and is based on the previous generation Mazda6, although it features a completely new look and interior. FAW has been in partnership with Mazda since the early 1990s and has produced a number of Mazda-based vehicles over the years for sale in China. As already mentioned, its latest car is...

Mazda's rotary club for one
The thing that sets the RX-8 apart from the pack is its rotary engine. The great thing about the Mazda's rotary is how progressive the power delivery is. There’s no power lag or surge. The problem, though, is that it doesn’t really come alive until you hit 6000 rpm, below that it feels as if it’s in slow motion.     That being said, it is a competent, easy car to drive, that’s great for around town errands. It small size makes it easy to maneuver in crowded grocery...

North American 2009 Mazda6 official details
Mazda is planning an August launch for its all-new Mazda6 midsize sedan in North America, almost a year after the car was first displayed at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. Part of the reason for the delay is because the new car has been specifically designed for North America and includes a larger body and more powerful engines than the global version. Handling and comfort were also optimized for North American road conditions. The North American Mazda6 will be powered by a newly developed 2.5L inline...

North American 2009 Mazda6 official details
Mazda is planning an August launch for its all-new Mazda6 midsize sedan in North America, almost a year after the car was first displayed at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. Part of the reason for the delay is because the new car has been specifically designed for North America and includes a larger body and more powerful engines than the global version. Handling and comfort were also optimized for North American road conditions. The North American Mazda6 will be powered by a newly developed 2.5L inline...