Mazda has announced a recall of nearly 174,000 vehicles from the 2010 and 2011 model years. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the driver's seats in some of those vehicles may suffer from problems that interfere with a motorist's ability to remain in good driving...Read More»
When you see folks pulled over for speeding or other moving violations, what kind of car are they driving? Does it seem as if some makes and models get ticketed more often than others? If you answered "yes" to that second question, you're not seeing things. According to Insurance.com, some cars...Read More»
Minicars are big business nowadays. That's often because they earn good gas mileage -- nothing to sneeze at, given today's increasingly higher fuel prices. They're also easy to maneuver and park, which is a nice bonus for urban dwellers. What most minicars don't do well, however, is protect their...Read More»
In Japan today, Mazda and Toyota announced a new partnership that should be of keen interest to drivers. Beginning in the summer of 2015, Mazda will build a new Toyota subcompact for the North American market. The car will be manufactured at Mazda's new plant in Salamanca, Mexico -- a plant that's...Read More»
The 2011 Mazda Mazda2 is uncomplicated; and that's quite nice. While vehicles like the MINI Cooper or the Ford Fiesta can feel a bit overwrought or even gimmicky for some tastes, especially inside, it feels like Mazda has intentionally gone for a simpler—yet sporty—look and feel for its...Read More»
While the 2011 Mazda2 is respectable for safety, it’s not Top Safety Pick material. That's the message to take away from official safety ratings released this past week by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The Mazda2 earned top 'good' results for frontal offset and the new...Read More»
Have you heard about this crazy thing called Facebook? No? You should check it out, as the cool kids used to say. You know, back when Facebook was cool. Now, Facebook's become a marketing tool for everyone, including the auto industry. We're as guilty as the rest, but we're not quite as guilty as...Read More»
If you use Facebook -- and of course you do -- you know how much fun games like Farmville and Petville can be. Take a look at your news feed, and you'll see dozens of updates from nearly forgotten high school acquaintances, each begging you to help with chores and other drudgery so they can unlock...Read More»
2010 is going to be a busy year for new cars, crossovers, SUVs, and trucks, as the industry continues to recover from a horrific 2009. Here's a look at five new or redesigned models that might appeal to modern families. This list is presented in no particular order. 1. 2011 Buick Regal: This new...Read More»
The 2011 Ford Fiesta interior wowed 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show attendees, but the 2011 Mazda2, the corporate cousin of the Fiesta, couldn't be compared--Mazda hadn't finished it yet. Today Mazda let loose the final product, and though it looks to be a nice environment for a fun-to-drive and...Read More»
After decades of shares product development, Mazda and Ford Motor Co. look poised to go separate ways. According to comments made by Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, last week to Bloomberg, Ford is planning to go it alone with future vehicles. It's not altogether surprising. In late...Read More»
Whether it was an odd coincidence or a calculated move, the 2011 Ford Fiesta and 2011 Mazda2 were both introduced at the LA Auto Show, on the same day. What makes it significant is that they’re closely related. While we’ve heard varying figures, it’s fair to say that they share more than just...Read More»
After seeing the three Mazda2 models that Mazda was showing at its LA auto show stand—one plain, one with a tuner look and snowboards mounted on top, the other with a strong motorsports tone—we couldn’t help but wonder whether Mazda is planning to go a little Scion with its ‘2’. According...Read More»
Though the two curtained-off stages at the Mazda stand here at the first press day at the Los Angeles auto show were merely ceremonial—everyone knew they covered the new 2011 Mazda2—there were still some surprises. For one, Mazda brought out a couple of Mazda2 models tricked out with lifestyle...Read More»
Mazda may be a little late to the table when it comes to electric vehicle technology but the automaker is determined to catch up and has since announced that it will start trials of a new electric drive system in its compact Mazda2 hatchback. As we all know, the Mazda2 is set to go on sale in the...Read More»
• What is it?: The 2011 Ford Fiesta’s Mazda sibling • The basics: Funky styling, and “zoom zoom” philosophy • On sale: Fall 2010, with a public showing at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show • Price: Less than $16,000 (est.) Compact hatchbacks have for a long...Read More»
It's not quite the glamorous Staples Center--home to the Grammys and a certain celebrity endpoint this year--but just next door to the tabernacle of music sits the Los Angeles Convention Center. The convention center's the next roosting spot for the car world, as the industry sets down next month...Read More»
