Mazda Goes on a Diet, Plans Weight Reductions for Every New Model

A report in Automotive News reveals a lofty goal for Mazda: reduce the weight of new-generation cars by 220 pounds compared to the outgoing model. This is part of the automaker’s plan to reach another lofty goal, namely achieving a 30-percent improvement in its global corporate fuel-economy average by 2015. Both fit under the company’s long-term Sustainable Zoom-Zoom banner and fit into its internal Building Block Strategy designed to optimize all aspects of vehicle design while integrating evolving technologies such as hybrids and electric vehicles.

Although 220 pounds—which equals a nice, round 100 kilograms—seems an almost arbitrary figure, Dave Coleman, vehicle development engineer for Mazda’s North American operations, tells us that the actual amount of weight reduction per vehicle will vary, but the figure represents a “high-level goal.” He adds that the figure only applies to all-new models, not midcycle refreshes.

Using the recently redesigned Mazda CX-5 to illustrate, Coleman pointed out how replacing a formerly difficult-to-weld assembly with a welding/bonding adhesive process allowed engineers to spread the load throughout the body, reducing the amount of material needed without compromising the structural integrity.

So far, the plan doesn’t include the extensive use of aluminum, carbon fiber, or other exotic materials: “We think there is still room for improvement by using high-tensile steel and intelligent design to optimize the structure,” said Coleman. Of course, a 220-pound reduction will affect a Miata and a CX-9 differently, not to mention the fact that this kind of weight loss, no matter how much we’d like it to, can’t last for too many generations. Otherwise, the cars would eventually be weightless, and then where would we be?

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Mazda to Recall 217,500 Tribute SUVs Over Sticky Accelerator

Less than 24 hours after Ford issued a recall of close to 500,000 Escape V6 SUVs from the 2001-2004MY to repair stuck throttles, Mazda followed suite today and announced its own recall of 217,500 examples of the Tribute V6 for the same problem. The two models are mechanically related and were built together by Ford. 

The Japanese carmaker's recall covers more model years of the Tribute fitted with a 3.0-liter V6 engine and cruise control than the Ford, including the 2001-2006MY and some vehicles from the 2008MY (as pointed out by the Detroit News, the SUV was not built in a 2007MY). 

Ford said that the problem exists because of inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector, which can result in a stuck throttle when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed. The Blue Oval notes that the risk exists regardless of whether or not speed control (cruise control) is used. 

The recall came into light after the government safety agency recieved 99 complaints from owners of both the Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute SUVs with V6 engines, including reports of 13 crashes, 9 injuries and one fatality, a 17-year old girl who died in a crash in Arizona in the beginning of the year. 

While Mazda has yet to announce the recall on the NHTSA website, Ford went ahead and posted details saying that, the safety recall is expected to begin on, or before, August 6, 2012. 

"Until then, dealers will disconnect the speed control cable as an interim remedy, if parts are not available at the time of an owner's service appointment," said Ford. 

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2014 Mazda 6 Revealed in Photos

When a photo of the 2014 Mazda 6 leaked on a Russian car-enthusiast website, it raised a few eyebrows. Not because the car looked any different from what we expected, but rather because it came from a Russian site. That all makes a little more sense now, because Mazda has announced that the 6 will make its debut at the Moscow auto show next month, rather than the Paris show this September as had been expected. The company also filled in the gaps between the teaser videos it has been releasing lately, which you can see in a new cut after the jump.

In addition to moving up the 6's debut, Mazda also divulged some details about its new mid-sizer. The 6 will debut with the Skyactiv-G 2.0-liter four-cylinder that’s already featured in the Mazda 3 and CX-5. In its current applications, the engine produces 155 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque while still achieving an EPA-estimated 28-mpg city and 40 highway in the 3 and 26/35 in the CX-5. The 6 also will get the Skyactiv-Drive six-speed automatic transmission that’s available in the 3 and CX-5.

Along with that, we’ve learned that the 2014 6 will be the first Mazda to use what the company calls i-ELOOP, for “intelligent energy loop,” which is a brake-energy recovery system. When the vehicle is decelerating, a variable-voltage alternator sends power to a supercapacitor. The electricity can then be discharged when the engine stop-start system takes over, supplying juice to the accessories when the vehicle is stopped with the engine off. It’s a take on the clutched-alternator approach that is making its way into other manufacturers’ vehicles.

The 2014 Mazda 6 making its debut in Moscow on August 29 will be specific to the Russian market; since this is a global model, we expect most of the details to carry over to the U.S.

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2013 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring

After creating the 600-mile drive east to ny, our Mazda CX-5 immediately picked up and headed up to Cape Cope for slightly rest and relaxation. Well, senior editor Joe Lorio and his family did; it appears that the sky-blue Mazda will not be catching a clear stage anytime soon.

Says Lorio, "The CX-5 arrived in city simply in time for us to require it out of city, as we tend to got a jump on summer with a visit to Cape Cod. Mazda's compact-but-not-confining sport-ute was perfectly sized to hold a family of 3 packing heavily for a four-day trip."

 

 

"The practically formed cargo hold is larger than it's. we tend to conjointly hung 3 bikes off the rear, which just about actually did not do our highway fuel economy any favors (we averaged an indicated twenty nine mpg obtaining there and back, that is significantly but the advertised thirty two mpg)." Lorio isn't the primary to notice the actual fact that the CX-5 might over-promise with its 32-mpg highway rating.
 

"In many ways, the CX-5 is that the BMW 3-series of popularly priced compact crossovers," opines Lorio. "The driving position, the sharp steering, the eager turn-on, and also the firm nevertheless supple ride all contribute to that impression. however it isn't the 335i of crossovers -- additional just like the 318i, or another marginally powered variant sold solely in Europe.

"The SkyActiv a pair of.0-liter will move this issue along at an affordable clip, however given that you are insistent. Otherwise, this powertrain is 1st, foremost, and forever attempting to eke out the most effective attainable gas mileage. the difficulty is not such a lot acceleration because it is maintaining speed. Driving across Connecticut -- who knew it absolutely was thus hilly? -- the CX-5 usually had to drop all the way down to fourth to carry seventy mph on long grades. Fifth was too tall, coupled with sixth." alternative staffers have offered that they'd sacrifice the high-mpg rating for additional power from the 155-hp a pair of.0-liter Skyactiv four-cylinder.

 

Need for power is also a subjective qualifier, however interior rattles don't seem to be. whereas away on the Cape, the Lorios noticed a foul rattle returning from the rear of the CX-5. They thought it may be a consequence of the bike rack mounted on the Mazda's hatch, however Lorio emptied the automobile out when he got home, and also the rattle still persisted. "I then checked beneath the cargo floor for one thing not clamped down, beneath the automobile for one thing clearly out of place, and even checked the tightness of the lug nuts, however may notice no obvious cause." we tend to determined to not watch for the ten,000-mile service, that continues to be a ways that off, and took the Mazda in for an unscheduled check-up. The diagnosis? Some gravel had worked its approach into the proper rear management arm. it absolutely was removed for no charge, and also the rattle was gone.

The newly quieted CX-5 was then handed off to contributor Jamie Kitman. Never at a loss for words, he can little question have masses to mention next month.

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Mazda Officially Reveals Mildly Facelifted 2013 MX-5 Roadster in Japan

A leaked brochure gave us our first look at the mildly refreshed MX-5 in both soft- and retractable hard-top (RHT) body styles earlier this week and now Mazda has come out with an official release for the 2013 model that goes on sale today in Japan. 

We suspect that if not all, most of the changes on the JDM model will be applied on the international market versions before the end of the year. 

The second facelift for the third-generation MX-5 since its debut in 2005 brings a redesigned face with a new bumper sporting a larger front grille opening with a more curved upper part, new front fog lamp housings, a front chin spoiler plus black headlamp bezels for the soft-top and chrome bezels for the hard-top model. 

In addition, the refreshed roadster model gains a pedestrian protection system in the guise of an Active Bonnet, which raises the rear end of the hood in the event of an accident to absorb the energy of impact and reduce the severity of head injuries in collisions involving pedestrians. 

Also new for the 2013 model year is the Dolphin Gray Mica paint finish that replaces the Metropolitan Gray Mica and newly styled 17-inch alloy wheels for the MX-5 RHT. 

Inside, the Japanese carmaker has introduced a new tan color option for models fitted with leather seats while a Glossy Dark Gray finish is used for the decoration panel and steering wheel bezel. 

Finally, Mazda's engineers have tweaked the throttle and brake booster to improve control of the accelerator in the manual transmission models and the brakes in all models. 

In Japan, the updated MX-5 starts at 2,330,000 Yen (about US$29,200 / €23,300

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Mazda to Increase CX-5

The new CX-5 is proving to be a bright spot for Mazda, which has announced plans to increase production capacity of the compact crossover by 20 percent, from 200,000 to 240,000 units per year. This will be achieved by expanding production from Mazda's Ujina Plant No.2 in Japan to also include Ujina Plant No.1.

The news follows a previous announcement from the automaker that it would expand production of the CX-5 from 160,000 units to 200,000 units. 

The Japanese brand said that since sales began in February this year, demand has far surpassed initial estimations and that it has upgraded its annual global sales target from 160,000 to 190,000 units for the fiscal year that ends on March 31, 2013. 

According to the company, as of July 1, it has received 24,000 orders in Japan, more than doubling the annual domestic sales target in less than five months from the beginning of sales, while in Russia, there are more than 10,000 orders compared to an annual sales target of 12,000 units. In the States, Mazda has sold a little over 16,000 CX-5s from the end of February through June. 

In related news, Mazda announced it will be doubling production capacity of its SKYACTIV-D diesel and SKYACTIV-G gasoline engines, which are offered on several models including the CX-5 and Mazda3 (only the petrol unit), from 400,000 units to 800,000 units per year in October 2012. 

Both types of engines will be offered on the brand-new Mazda6 coming next year. 

Mazda is targeting annual sales of 1,700,000 vehicles globally in the fiscal year ending March 2016, with 80 percent of these cars to employ SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY. 

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