• new cars

    The Mazda Demio Chiara Edition

    The Mazda Demio was named the RJC Japanese Car of the Year (not to be confused with the other Japanese Car of the Year) and to celebrate Mazda is releasing the Chiara Special Edition. For those that are unable to parlare Italiano, Chiara means bright. This special edition gets a special red paint sprinkled with gold flakes and an awesome interior, reminiscent of GTI's of yore. Available in FWD or e-4WD, it's yet another one of the little Japanese cars we wish they'd send over here sooner than later (we're looking at you Fields). Press release below the jump.

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    10:45 AM on Thu Dec 20 2007
    By Matt Hardigree
    2,141 views, 12 comments

    Latest by Ratieya: @BraappBraapp: Think of it as an incentive to carpool. Cover up the ugly seats with your friends! But I like this more »

  • green tea for the millerman

    Mazda Goes Miller Cycle With Demio for Japan

    Watch out, diesel. Mazda says it's developed a Miller-cycle engine for the new Demio (Mazda2) in Japan that gets around 54 miles per gallon. The new JDM gas sipper goes on sale in July, sporting a 20 percent improvement in mileage over the current model, in combination with a continuously variable transmission. So what's this Miller cycle we speak of? Let's ask Wikipedia:
    "In the Miller cycle, the intake valve is left open longer than it would be in an Otto cycle engine. In effect, the compression stroke is two discrete cycles: the initial portion when the intake valve is open and final portion when the intake valve is closed. This two-stage intake stroke creates the so called "fifth" cycle that the Miller cycle introduces. As the piston initially moves upwards in what is traditionally the compression stroke, the charge is partially expelled back out the still-open intake valve."
    That's lovely. Problem is, the engines trade power for efficiency, which is usually compensated with a supercharger or electric motor (in the case of hybrids). Mazda's new Miller is naturally aspirated. Maybe the whole Zoom-Zoom thing accounts not stopping for gas. It's more of a net benefit thing. – Mike Spinelli
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    7:42 AM on Thu May 31 2007
    By Mike Spinelli
    1,595 views, 10 comments

    Latest by Fitty7lax: my parents have a millenia S. In case you forgot about that ride, it's got a 2.3L miller cycle more »

  • spy photos

    Spy Photos: More Mazda2

    There's no question FoMoCo's trying hard to enhance its offering of b-segment "microcars" it's got sitting in the company's micro machine carry-all. We're assuming that in addition to the available-only-overseas Fiesta, the Mazda2 (aka Mazda Demio, Mazda 121, Mazda Metro and a whole host of other brand names) is going to play a key role in that effort. The little DY-platformed FWD sub-compact's been a big hit in the segment in all of its names in both the European and Asian markets. But will it show up here in the US market? We don't know, but let's let quick-to-the-shutter spy photog Brenda Priddy give you her take as she just caught some shots of what's probably the next Mazda2 undergoing cold weather testing in Sweden:
    "there has been some speculation that the third-generation Mazda2 may reach the States when it arrives for the 2008 model year. The upcoming Mazda2, which is an evolution of both the MX-Micro Sport Concept and the Sassou Concept from the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show, should begin arriving in select markets late this summer."
    The 2008 model year sounds a wee bit earlier than when Mark Fields told us a b-segment would be arriving on these shores, but we were talking about the Ford brand in that conversation, weren't we? – Ray Wert More »
    Spy Photos

    10:20 AM on Mon Feb 12 2007
    By Ray Wert
    442 views, 2 comments

    Latest by FЯeeMan is slowly cЯawling out of the new commenting system: Hmmm... the sweater & hood make sense for the cold weather testing. more »

  • spy photos

    Spy Photos: Mazda2

    All the pundits are talking this morning about how Ford US missed the small-car revolution by leaving the money-losing Focus (not an entirely unfun car) to languish without a significant upgrade since the first Bush administration. We'd heard a rumor Ford was looking at bringing an even smaller car based on the worldly Fiesta platform to the US to compete with the Toyota Yaris et. al. That car was suggested to be the Mazda 2, or MicroSport, though AutoWeek reported recently the project was killed due to cost considerations. This is that car. Maybe the new management will reconsider. More »
    Spy Photos

    11:16 AM on Fri Sep 15 2006
    By Mike Spinelli
    1,461 views, 9 comments

    Latest by Rabbi Dave: ah sorry i was thinking of another one they mentioned that said 2008, the b and c platforms say ""development more »

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