Modified Cars Blog » Mazda

Good-bye RX-8

Brett — Tue, 11 May 2010 10:21:58 +0000

The knowledgeable folks at Motor Trend are reporting that the Mazda RX-8 may be phased out of the North American market when the 2011 model year comes to an end. Mazda has already announced that the RX-8 will no longer be available in Europe after 2011. The reason cited is the new Euro V emissions standards that the venerable Wankel engine cannot meet. However, the problem in the U.S. seems to be related to poor sales, with only 300 units sold in the first quarter of 2010!

The RX-8 was first introduced in 2001 at the North American International Auto Show as the successor to the RX-7. Its 4 port 1.3-Liter 13B-MSP Wankel rotary engine produced 210 bhp while the six port version produced 250 bhp! It won several international motoring awards including 2003 International Engine of the Year, the 2003 Japanese Car of the Year, the 2003 Australian Car of the Year, the 2004 Singapore Car of the Year, and the 2004 U.S. Best Sports Car.

Rumor has it that the RX-8 is merely making way for the introduction of the next Mazda RX-7.

Suzusho Supasse V supercar to debut at Tokyo

Brett — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:34:36 +0000

Suzusho, the Japanese kit car specialist, is to debut its all-new Surpasse V later this month at the Tokyo Motor Show in Japan. The Suzusho Surpasse V with its “aluminum twin-tube monocoque spaceframe” and fiberglass body was designed by Formula 1 designer Kenji Mimura and has a few distinct styling cues from the Pagani Zonda and Ferrari Enzo! Like the Lotus Exige S, the Suzusho Surpasse V is a light weight sports car weighing in at just 1,874 lbs!

Powering the Surpasse V is a tuned 2.3-Liter DOHC turbo engine from the Mazda Mazdaspeed3 that produces a maximum power of 270 bhp at 5,500 rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission that is also derived from the Mazdaspeed3.

The car is expected to go on sale in the second half of 2010 with a price tag in the $50,000-$80,000.

[Source: Suzusho]

Mazda MX-5 Superlight Concept Details Released

Brett — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 08:28:02 +0000

As we reported last month, Mazda is to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Mazda MX-5/Miata roadster with the Mazda MX-5 Superlight concept car, which will make its debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show later this month, and the release of a special-edition Mazda Miata in the Japanese domestic market (JDM). Recently, details of the Mazda MX-5 Superlight have been released, as have a range of images of the little roadster.

Designed and developed at European R+D centre in Oberursel, Germany, the Mazda MX-5 Superlight concept car is a two-seater model with no windscreen, and befitting its name, the Mazda MX-5 Superlight concept car weighs in at just below a ton at just 995 kg or 2,194 pounds!

Powering the concept car is the production MX-5′s MZR 1.8-Liter four-cylinder petrol engine that produces a maximum of 126 bhp at 6,500 rpm and 123 lb-ft of peak torque at 4,500 rpm. The engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission. The light weight Mazda MX-5 Superlight concept car accelerates from zero to 62 mph in 8,9 seconds, one second faster than the stock Mazda MX-5 1.8, and achieves a healthy 37.3 mpg, bettering the production model’s 33.6 mpg. CO2 emissions are also lower at 150g/km compared to the stock MX-5 1.8′s 167g/km.

Technical Specifications:

Body Type : Roadster Monocoque
Seating capacity: 2
External Dimensions:
- Overall length: 4,020 mm
- Overall width: 1,720 mm
- Overall height (unloaded): 1,110 mm
- Wheelbase: 2,330 mm
- Track (front/rear): 1,540/1,545 mm
- Ground clearance: 106 mm
Engine: MZR 1.8-litre petrol
Max. power: 126 PS (93 kW) at 6,500 rpm
Max. torque: 167 Nm at 4,500 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Front/rear suspension: Double wishbone/Multi-link
Damper (front/rear): Bilstein® monotube
Tyre size: 205/45 R17
Brake type (front/rear): Ventilated discs/Solid discs
Brake diameter (front/rear): 300/280 mm
Acceleration 0-100 km/h: 8,9 s
Fuel consumption (combined): 6,3 l/100km
CO2 emissions (combined): 150 g/km
Min. kerb weight (without driver): 995 kg

[Source: Mazda]

Mazda MX-5 Superlight Concept Car

Brett — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:45:42 +0000

Mazda is to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Mazda MX-5/Miata roadster with the release of a special-edition Mazda Miata. The Miata, as the MX-5 is named in Japan will, however, be a JDM special and will be available (only in Japan) in two varieties: an RS soft-top with a 6-speed manual transmission, and a VS retractable hard-top with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Both vehicles only get cosmetic makeovers so we don’t miss out on much, other than the Crystal White Pearl Mica paint, black and red RECARO bucket sport seats, extra cabin padding, clear front fog lights, a strut tower brace, and 20th anniversary badging.

The rest of us will get a chance to marvel at the Mazda MX-5 Superlight concept car which will make its debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. This extra light-weight version of the Mazda MX-5 has been designed at Mazda’s studio in Frankfurt, Germany to improve handling, fuel economy, and CO2 emissions. The ‘radical’ design of the concept car features no windscreen! As yet, no details have been released on the concept car’s engine and drivetrain.

[Source: Mazda]

Nissan 200SX Successor?

Brett — Wed, 13 May 2009 23:36:18 +0000

Just a few months ago, amidst the doom and gloom of tumbling car sales, we reported that Nissan put its GT 2012 plan on hold but it seems that things are changing, according to Auto Express anyway. Auto Express is reporting that Nissan is reviving plans for one of the models that fell under the GT 2012 plan, i.e. a new turbocharged 2-Liter 4 cylinder, front-engined, rear-wheel-drive (FR) sportscar to replace the Nissan 200SX (or Nissan Silvia as it was called in Japan) that as discontinued in 1998. According to Auto Express the small sports car will be a rear-wheel-drive two-seater roadster to rival the Mazda MX-5, the Honda CR-Z and the next Toyota MR2.

The still unnamed roadster will be built on the 370Z platform and will take its styling cues from the 370Z and the Nissan Urge concept, which made its world debut at the Detroit Auto Show in 2007. The sports car will be powered a new turbocharged 1.6-liter petrol engine that will feature Nissan’s new Variable Compression Ratio (VCR) Piston Crank System that uses a multilink connecting rod to vary the compression ratio. Under light load conditions, the engine will use a higher compression ratio and low turbo boost for improved thermal efficiency and fuel economy, but under heavy acceleration, the VCR system will shift to a lower compression ratio with higher boost pressure for greater power! According to inside sources, the engine will produce a maximum power in the region of 200 to 225 bhp, enough to propel the car from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 140 mph, while producing low CO₂ emissions and a fuel economy of around 35 mpg!

According to Auto Express, Nissan hopes to keep the price right around $20,000 and hopes to have the car in dealers’ showrooms by 2011.

[Source: Auto Express]