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Revised Mazda CX-3 Gets Mechanical Upgrades
The facelift for the Mazda CX-3 focuses less on styling and cosmetics and more on the mechanical side of the upgrade. It gained minimum changes to its styling and interior, but more was done on the suspension and engine lineup.
As a rival to the Nissan Kicks, the Mazda CX-3 styling enhancements are very minimal: a touched-up grille and darker pillar trims are the most obvious change. Aside from that, nothing else seems to have been touched by the Japanese automaker. Inside, Mazda ditched the manual handbrake with an electrical item. It freed up space enough for the repositioned infotainment controls, a central armrest, and a cubby space beneath.
Making the front seats more supportive is more padding while the rear seats have a folding center armrest with cupholders. According to Mazda, there are other features such as a thicker roof lining, sound insulation in the doors, and revisions to the door sill trims and rear glazing.
The biggest change can be seen in the mechanical upgrades. Mazda overhauled the springs, dampers, and front anti-roll bar on the new CX-3. Together with a revised steering system, the 2018 CX-3, which was already a fun mini SUV to drive, will ride and handle better than its predecessor.
The engine lineup has gotten a bit of a shake. Though the petrol engines remain the same: a 2.0-liter unit that can produce 119 or 148 horsepower. But the recent adjustments to the pistons and injectors will improve the torque and fuel economy. The previous 1.5-liter diesel was replaced by a 1.8-liter unit, which now makes 113 horsepower, 10 horses more than the current model.
The diesel and the 119-horsepower petrol are paired with a front-wheel drive while the 148-horsepower is an all-wheel drive only.
The revised CX-3 is available starting August 31. The price for the base model is $24,484.46.
2018 Mazda CX-5 Diesel EPA Figure Is Out And It Is Not Looking Good
Americans have been waiting for the diesel version of the Mazda CX-5 for years, and now that it has arrived, the market will surely be disappointed with its Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ratings. Though the CX-5 has finally been certified, the bench numbers are not looking good and may even be the reason for the CX-5 diesel’s possible low sales in the US.
EPA published its estimates for a CX-5 diesel at 28 mpg city and 31 mpg highway for the front-wheel-drive version and 27/30 mpg with all-wheel drive. The city mileage improved by just 3 mpg compared with the gasoline version while highway mileage, which is normally the reason anyone buys a diesel engine, did not improve at all.
Mazda confirmed previously that the CX-5’s 2.2-liter turbo-diesel four, which is rated at 173 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque overseas, will be available in the US for the 2017 model year. It took some time for the Japanese automaker to have the engine tested by the EPA. Even its promise of a diesel engine for the Mazda 6 sedan is in jeopardy of being realized.
Even before the emissions scandal that rocked Volkswagen, Mazda has been having trouble meeting EPA requirements without sacrificing the crossover’s performance. Its Skyactiv-D engine “could be made to drive the way we wanted or it could meet U.S. emissions, but not both.”
Based on these EPA ratings, it looked like Mazda had chosen to go ahead with its high-performance machine. But since the engine must also reduce nitrogen oxide and particulate matter, Mazda had to increase fuel consumption. This will keep the particulate filter clean by burning off excess soot.
The CX-5 diesel is not looking too good seeing as its competitors have better EPA ratings: the Chevrolet Equinox diesel matched the CX-5’s city rating but trampled upon its highway rating with 39 mpg (front-wheel drive) or 38 mpg. The Jaguar F-Pace 20d is rated at 26 city/33 highway and the much heavier Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel 4WD (21/28 mpg) and Range Rover Sport Td6 (22/28 mpg) are almost rated the same as the smaller CX-5.
2019 Mazda CX-9 Receives Simple Update, Now With More Gear
For a bit more money, you can get the 2019 Mazda CX-9 with much more exciting gear, including the Apple CarPlay and the Android Auto. This is a perfect upgrade for a crossover that the family loves because of its sheer functionality and style.
The Mazda CX-9 is better than ever. That is if you ever found something wrong with Mazda vehicles before today. Almost all Mazda cars and crossovers have always been right on the money—they are not exactly extravagant and they are not out-of-the-box imaginative, but they are always a good value for money because of their functionality and their style.
Mazda improves the interior comfort of the CX-9 too. Noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) values have been lowered by using a thicker headliner and thicker floor mats. The Japanese automaker said this move is supposed to aid “in ease of conversation and enjoyment.” The company also retuned the suspension on all version, making riding the CX-9 a smoother, finer, and more enjoyable experience.
There are a number of different versions for the CX-9: Sport, Touring, Grand Touring, and Signature. They have special packages such as the Sport Package which is available for Sport, and the Premium Package available for the Touring trim.
You can choose to have the Mazda CX-9 with either a front-wheel drive or an all-wheel drive, except for the Signature since that comes standard with an all-wheel drive. The Sport trim will sell for $32,380 (front-wheel drive) and $34,080 (all-wheel drive). There’s a $1,290 option for the Sport Package.
The Touring will cost $35,330 (front-wheel drive) and $37,130 (all-wheel drive). The Touring Premium Package will add $2,390 for both trims. The Grand Touring costs $40,840 (front-wheel drive) and $42,640 (all-wheel drive) while the Signature trim gets a price tag of $45,365 for the all-wheel drive.
The available color options for the all-wheel drive are Soul Red Crystal ($595), Machine Gray Metallic ($300), and Snowflake White Pearl Mica ($200).
Extra Power For 2019 Mazda Miata RF Means Price Increase
For months, we have waited anxiously for information about the newest Mazda MX-5 Miata for the 2019 model year. Little by little, we got details about the car’s 2.0-liter I4 that makes 181 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque.
This increase in power (the current generation is 26 horses weaker) means an increase in price, too. The base model for the Miata RF will have a price tag of $33,240, including an $895 destination charge. That’s for the Club trim level with a six-speed manual transmission.
The price increase of $435 also gets a telescoping steering wheel, new door stops, updated cupholders and seat levers, standard rear-view camera, and 17-inch wheels. Reportedly, all of these are now coming as standard to all variants of the car.
The Club 6MT will have options such as Brembo brakes and BBS wheels for an extra $3,770, or the Brembo, BBS, and Recaro package for a cool $4,670.
On the other hand, the MX-5 Club with a six-speed automatic transmission will come with paddle shifters and sport mode for $33,840. This trim is not going to be available with the Brembo/BBS packages. The Club 6AT will, however, get the i-ActiveSense package option for $450. The package will include the Smart City Brake Support and lane-departure warning.
The Grand Touring trim will start at $34,230 with a six-speed manual transmission. This is $585 more than the outgoing model. For an extra $750, the Grand Touring 6MT can get the GT-S package that includes a front shock tower brace, limited-slip rear differential, Bilstein dampers, and a hand-painted black roof.
The Grand Touring with six-speed automatic gets a price tag of $35,305. If you want it with Auburn Nappa leather, that’s another $300.
The new MX-5 Miata RF is available in three premium colors—the Soul Red for an extra $595, the Machine Gray Metallic for $300, and the Snowflake White Pearl Mica for $200.
2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata Gets More Power, Now Has 181 HP
The Mazda MX-5 Miata is one of the most popular sports car in the history of automotive. It is so successful that there have been clamors for a much-needed update. Thankfully, Mazda heard all those appeals and decided that 2019 is the time for the MX-5 Miata to get additional power and a higher red line.
Yes, the rumors are true. The MX-5 Miata is getting a significant bump in power. It now has 181 horsepower. That’s 26 horses more than the previous generation’s engine. This little details was courtesy of Japan’s Car Watch, which recently had an opportunity to give the test mule a try.
According to the report, the 2019 Miata will be powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that can produce 181 horsepower at 7,000 rpm. That’s an increase of 26 horsepower from the current output of just 155 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. The Miata’s predecessor has an output also of 148 pound-feet of torque, but the 2019 version would have a bump to 151 pound-feet of torque.
There are significant changes in the powertrain, which accounts for the increase in power output. Specifically, Mazda added new pistons that are 27 grams lighter and new connecting rods that weigh 41 grams less than the ones fitted in the current generation.
The car’s redline increasing is due to the automaker’s installation of larger diameter throttle body, larger exhaust valves, and wider exhaust piping. The redline went up to 7,500 rpm from 6,800 rpm. Predictably, these updates would improve thermal efficiency and would lower emissions.
Moving inside the car, the Miata gets a telescoping steering wheel for the first time ever. The wheel has 1.2 inches adjustment and has a tilt function that will allow the wheel to move by as much as 1.7 inches.
Aesthetically speaking, the Miata will get a caramel brown top, full-tan leather interior, and bright finishes for the wheels.
Prices Revealed For The 2019 Mazda CX-3 Small Crossover
The pricing for the 2019 Mazda CX-3 crossover has been released. The subcompact SUV will have a starting price of $21,365 when it arrives in dealerships later this month. That’s a $280 increase from the current model, including a $975 destination and handling fee.
Fuel Efficiency
Aside from the pricing, the company just released the EPA rating. The front-wheel-drive version gets 29 miles per gallon in the city and 34 on the highway for a combined 31 mpg. The all-wheel-drive version is rated at 27 mpg in the city, 32 on the highway and 29 combined. These are the exact ratings for the outgoing model. And here we are wondering about Mazda’s promised improved fuel economy.
Performance
During the New York Auto Show, we saw a glimpse of what’s to come in the 2019 Mazda CX-3 crossover. It would carry the same 2.0-liter Skyactiv four-cylinder that produces 148 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque. It will be mated with a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift and sport modes.
The new model also gets Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control driving technology, as well as a sportier and retuned suspension and improvements, making the driving experience quieter and more refined. There’s also an electronic parking brake, a redesigned center console and armrest, additional storage space, and redesigned front seats and additional rear armrest with built-in cupholders.
Standard features include a new direct tire-pressure monitoring system and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, two USB ports, a rearview camera, hands-free Bluetooth calling and audio pairing capability, and the 7-inch Mazda Connect full-color infotainment and diagnostic display, controllable via voice command or control knob.
For an extra $1,100, you may also get the new Sport i-ACTIVSENSE Package composed of safety technologies such as smart city braking support with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, radar cruise control with stop-and-go function, LED headlights and LED combination tail lights.
The Touring trim level adds 18-inch wheels and keyless entry while the top-level Grand Touring starts at $26,720 and $28,120 for front- and all-wheel-drive configurations, respectively.
Photos by: Road Show
2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata To Get 181 Ponies
The Mazda MX-5 Miata has never been known to produce as much power as its contemporaries. The current model of the Miata only has 155 horsepower, which is much less than the power produced by the previous generation of the car. That will soon change, however, as reports said Mazda is giving the 2019 MX-5 Miata a bump of 26 horsepower to see the current production to 181 ponies.
This became evident in the VIN notice sent by Mazda to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that listed the 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata as having a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that can produce 181 horsepower. That is 26 more horsepower than the current generation has now. It is also the most every from a production model Miata.
What the NHTSA document failed to specify is if the 2.0-liter engine is only an evolution of same Skyactiv-G unit currently found in the Miata. The brand is about to come out with a “high-tech, gas-fed supercharged, compression-ignition-capable” Skyactiv-X engine sometime in the next year or so. This will be used on the next-generation Mazda 3 compact. It is estimated to have an output of 181 horsepower, the same one listed for the 2019 Miata.
For the next models, we’re expecting the Skyactiv-G to position itself as a cheaper alternative to the Skyactiv-X. It could be an entry-level option and still receive developments and updates from Mazda. The automaker confirmed nothing short of that. With that being said, it’s not entirely impossible for the Skyactiv-G to still be the engine we’ll see on the 2019 Miata, considering that it is highly capable of the additional 26 horsepower needed for this new Miata.
Once upgraded, the G would have better intake and exhaust plumbing while the engine internals will rise by a few hundred revolutions per minute. The Skyactiv-G engine has a 13:1 compression ratio and uses premium gasoline.
Tearing Down a Mazda MX-5 Miata Engine in a Timelapse Video
The engine truly works wonders in a car. After all, it is the heart of a vehicle. Despite its complex function, do you know how easy it is to dismantle it into pieces? The video above shows the teardown of a Mazda MX-5 Miata engine in a timelapse presentation.
A video released by the YouTube channel “How a Car Works” demonstrates how the Miata engine was disassembled down to the valves, crankshaft, cylinders, timing gears, rods and other major components. Looking at it, it appears that tearing down an engine is fairly easy, given the right tools and working space.
The video was made to promote the channel. As implied by its name, it features video courses explaining how a car works. So far, it has other videos showing the MX-5 Miata’s subframe and the operation of same car’s steering system. It looks like they either have a fondness for the MX-5 Miata or they are sponsored by a Mazda dealer. It is also likely that they are supported by the Mazda company itself.
Going back to the power unit, the visible markings state that it is a DOHC 16-valve engine. According to Motor Authority, it might have come from UK-spec right-hand drive MX-5.
The base model of the MX-5 Miata is powered by a 1.8-liter engine in the US. It is likely that the video shows the smaller 1.6-liter UK version of it. The output of the inline-four engine is estimated to be somewhere between 90 and 130 hp.
Based on Mazda’s UK website, the MX-5 Miata roadster has a starting price of £18,795. It embodies the KODO design, which combines sportiness with stylish appeal.
For two consecutive years, the Mazda MX-5 Miata has won the “Whatcar? Car of the Year” award under the “Best Convertible” category. The giver of the award is considered to be Britain’s top monthly car review magazine.
3 Variants Stand Out For The 2018 Mazda 3
The new Mazda 3 may not be as popular as Honda Civic right now, especially when it comes to the Si and Type R variants, but it has an appeal that cannot be denied, too. As the Civic’s direct competitor, the Mazda 3 added new standard equipment to its lineup and made the powerful 2.5-liter engine more readily available.
1. Sport Variant
The Sport variant of the compact sedan is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that can produce 155 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 150 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm. It comes with a six-speed manual transmission and a $18,970 price tag. The six-speed auto transmission will add $1,050 and the hatchback style has a $1,250 premium.
The standard equipment would be an automated emergency braking (available across all variants), 7.0-inch infotainment screen, Bluetooth phone and audio, push-button start, and cloth seats. With the $1,000 Preferred Equipment package, owners can also get blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert plus 16-inch alloy wheels (standard for the hatchback), satin chrome interior trim, and heated side mirrors with turn-signal lamps.
2. Touring Variant
The Touring has a new 2.5-liter engine that has an output of 184 horsepower at 5700 rpm and 185 lb-ft of torque at 3250 rpm. The price tag starts at $20,965 with the hatchback version adding $750 on top of that.
Standard equipment includes leatherette seats with heated front, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rain-sensing windshield wipers, automatic headlights, dual-zone automatic climate control, a new dark silver alloy wheel color, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.
For an additional $1,500, owners can get a nine-speaker Bose audio system, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a sunroof.
3. Grand Touring Variant
Mazda 3’s loaded version has a starting price of $24,020 with a six-speed manual transmission but for $24,770, you can have it in the hatchback version with manual gearbox. An automatic transmission adds another $1,050.
The Grand Touring will have all the standard and optional equipment on the lower trims, plus black or off-white leather seats, a color head-up display, and all-LED exterior lighting. If you want more, there’s the $1,600 Premium Equipment package that will add navigation, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist, and traffic-sign recognition, plus adaptive front headlights, a heated steering wheel, and paddle shifters (with the automatic transmission).
Expect the Mazda 3 to arrive this month.
Top 3 Features of the Long Road Racing “Ultimate MX-5”
Long Road Racing, which has been reputed for its amazing work on some tuner packs, released one for 2017 Mazda MX-5 called the Ultimate MX-5. If you have a 2016 or 2017 MX-5, but felt that it has not lived up to expectations, you may want to look at what Long Road Racing is offering.
1. Exterior
According to TopSpeed, LRR did not give much focus on upgrading the exterior details of the MX-5, though it offers a lot of wheel and tire combinations. In particular, it’s suggesting customers to get the 17-inch Ray’s forged wheels which are wrapped in BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2 Ultra high-performance tires.
MX-5 owners would be hard-pressed to look for tuners that offer exterior upgrades for the sports car. The MX-5 already looks good enough as an entry-level performance car, and tuners should focus on giving it more power than upgrading its aesthetics.
2. Interior
LRR’s focus is to make the MX-5 feel more like a race car in the interior. This means stripping it off of all the comforts associated with a luxurious car, and fitting it with race-spec elements, safety equipment, and all-around weight shedding. Some of the race car-spec elements are a roll cage with NASCAR-style bars on both sides of the car, a centralized command center (which means removing the AC system) for power, fire bottle, and pump overrides.
There would also be head net constraints, Lifeline Zero 2000 fire system, seat mounting plates, foot well floor panel, a dead pedal, and a steering wheel with no air bags.
3. Drivetrain
This is where LRR truly went all out. The MX-5 is fitted with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, and LRR wants to boost its 155-horsepower output through a Setrab engine oil cooler, a race-proven water radiator, gold heat reflection materials, and motor-mounted positive location limiters.
Other upgrades are new limited-slip differentials, differential and transmission oil coolers, and pumps for upgrades.
Pricing
LRR did not release a price tag for the tuning package because it would depend on what the clients want done on their MX-5. Customers can customize their package based on their desired enhancements.