Jalopnik: demio

The Mazda Demio Chiara Edition

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 10:45:00 EST

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.

Mazda Demio 'Chiara' Special Edition on Sale in Japan

HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation has announced the launch of the Mazda Demio 'Chiara' special edition model in Japan to celebrate the new Mazda Demio having won the 2008 Automotive Researchers' and Journalists' Conference of Japan (RJC) Car of the Year award. It goes on sale today at Mazda, Mazda Anfini and Mazda Autozam dealerships nationwide.

The Chiara, which means brilliant or bright in Italian, is based on the 13C-V grade Demio (the front-wheel drive (FWD) model which is powered by a 1.3-liter Miller cycle engine and a continuously variable transmission [CVT]) or the electronically controlled four-wheel drive (e-4WD) 13C grade model. The Chiara special edition features the exclusive Golden Red Mica — a vivid shade of red sprinkled with gold flakes - as an exterior color choice. The interior includes custom seat covers featuring a multistripe pattern, which enhances the special edition model's distinctive style. Special equipment for the Chiara provides improved convenience through an advanced keyless entry and starter system, an auto light system, water-repellent coating for glass surfaces and rain sensing front wipers, which were all originally set as factory-installed options for the standard Demio model.

The manufacturer's suggested retail price for the Mazda Demio 'Chiara' special edition is 1,410,000 yen for the FWD version and 1,550,000 yen for the e-4WD version. Both prices include consumption tax.

Features of the Special Edition 'Chiara' Mazda Demio
Base models

Base models are the 13C-V grade Demio (1.3-liter DOHC Miller cycle engine with a continuously variable transmission [CVT], front-wheel drive) or the 13C grade (1.3-liter DOHC engine with four-speed automatic transmission, electronically controlled four-wheel drive [e-4WD]).

Special equipment
- Exclusively designed seats
The Chiara's seats are given a distinctive, stylish look through red multistriped fabric which covers the center of the seat bottom and seatback. These distinctive seat covers are artfully matched with the black color of the seat sides and headrest.
- Silver bezels on the steering wheel
The quality feel of this model is heightened with silver bezels on the steering wheel spokes.
- Advanced keyless entry & starter system with immobilizer
- Driving comfort package
This optional package is offered as standard equipment for the Chiara. The package includes the following features: auto light system, rain sensing front wipers, and water-repellent coating (windshield, front door glass, door mirrors). The dark-tinted glass (rear doors/liftgate) is also a part of the package for the 13C-based model (the e-4WD Chiara) and specially offered to the model, while originally equipped for the 13C-V-based model (the front-wheel drive Chiara).
- Auxiliary jack
The center console comes equipped with an external input terminal where portable audio devices can be connected.
- Tachometer
A tachometer contributes to more economical driving by displaying the engine revolutions. The speedometer's white background is complemented by sliver accents around the gauge panel rim.
- Fully-automatic air conditioning and Areru [Allergy] Buster® with filter
Full air conditioning comes as special equipment for the 13C-based model (the e-4WD Chiara). Full air-conditioning is standard on the the 13C-V-based model (the front-wheel drive Chiara). The fully automatic air conditioning unit comes equipped with a filter that traps allergy-inducing materials.

Body colors

A choice of five exterior colors is available: the new, exclusive Golden Red Mica as well as standard colors Crystal White Pearl Mica, Radiant Ebony Mica, Sunlight Silver Metallic and Brilliant Black.

Factory installed options
- Discharge headlights, front foglamps or 15-inch aluminum wheels
- 'Audio-less specification' (a center panel with free space for an audio system) or leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Mazda Goes Miller Cycle With Demio for Japan

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 31 May 2007 07:42:25 EDT

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

Press Release:

Mazda Develops New Naturally-Aspirated MZR 1.3L Miller-cycle Engine
- The new MZR 1.3L engine powers the all-new Mazda Demio to achieve a fuel economy of 23.0 km/L and qualify for Japan's Green Tax exemptions -

HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation has developed a new, naturally aspirated MZR 1.3L Miller-cycle engine, which will power the all-new Demio (known as the all-new Mazda2 in overseas markets) when it goes on sale in Japan in July 2007. In combination with Mazda's first continuously variable transmission (CVT), the engine will assist the new Demio to achieve a 10-15 mode fuel economy of 23.0 km/L, an improvement of approximately 20 percent over the 19.2 km/L rating of the current model.

Newly developed from the current MZR 1.3L DOHC aluminum engine, the naturally-aspirated MZR 1.3L Miller-cycle engine employs delayed closing of the intake valves in order to reduce pumping losses and improve thermal efficiency through a higher expansion ratio. Intake valve timing is optimized by the Sequential Valve Timing System to provide improved fuel efficiency over the current MZR 1.3L engine when cruising and accelerating. In conjunction with the CVT, which transfers torque at low speeds without power loss and eliminates gear-shift shock, the setup achieves excellent fuel efficiency as well as a smooth and exhilarating ride.

In addition to this new, highly efficient powertrain, the all-new Demio has been made approximately 100 kg lighter than its predecessor through weight reduction techniques, which have resulted in nimble handling and significantly improved fuel economy.

The Demio model with the naturally aspirated MZR 1.3L Miller-cycle engine combined with the CVT transmission achieves a fuel economy that is rated as 20 percent or better than the level specified by Japan's 2010 fuel economy standards. Exhaust emissions are also at least 75 percent lower than 2005 standards, which conforms to Japan's Super Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle (SU-LEV) standard and qualifies the Demio for Green Tax exemptions.

Through its Sustainable Zoom-Zoom plan that was announced in March 2007, Mazda declared its intention to pursue the harmony felt between driving pleasure and environmental and safety features, and its quest for an advanced Zoom-Zoom world. This includes the ongoing desire to create captivating design, to provide our customers with continual driving pleasure and to develop improved safety and environmental technologies.

Related:
Geneva Pre-Show: The New Mazda2 [internal]

Spy Photos: More Mazda2

Ray Wert — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 10:20:00 EST

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

2008 Mazda2 Spy Shots [The Car Connection]

Spy Photos: Mazda2

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 11:16:41 EDT

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.

SPY PHOTOS: Mazda2 [internal]

Related:
Coming to America: 2007 Mazda 2? [internal]