Mazda
Quick Drive: 2013 Mazda CX-5 Sport
There is a definite upside to this little engine, though, in that it is very fuel-efficient. Achieving 26 miles per gallon in the city, and an impressive 35 mpg on the highway, the manual-equipped CX-5 is a class leader when it comes to sipping fuel. We found stretching out the life of a tank of gas to be surprisingly easy on a long highway trip, even with two other passengers and the cargo area packed pretty tightly. We saw nearly 32 mpg over the course of 535 miles, during our week of use.
Quick Drive: 2012 Volvo C70 Inscription
If you are looking for a stylish, comfortable, reasonably priced, four-person convertible, you could do much worse than the Volvo C70 Inscription. If you are looking for a fun-to-drive, fast, sharp droptop, then you’ll probably want to look elsewhere.
Comparison Test: 2012 Mini Cooper S Roadster vs. 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition
The Mazda has been the undisputed king of the roadsters since it burst on to the scene 23 years ago. The Mini’s been one of our favorite hot hatches, but we’ve been plenty curious to see just how the all-new Roadster matched up with the legendary MX-5. To find out, we spent a day shooting, videoing, and most importantly, driving these two awesome roadsters. This’ll be a fun one.
List: Involvement Index Giant Killers For Under $30,000
In particular, the middle of our index is populated with some extremely affordable performance machinery, which can be every bit as involving as cars that cost double or even triple the price. Perhaps the most exciting thing about this list is how it’s set to grown in the coming months. With cars like the Scion FR-S/Subaru BR-Z, Ford Focus ST, and Hyundai Veloster Turbo all set to arrive before the end of 2012, there should be no shortage of affordable involvement options.
Driven: 2012 Kia Sorento EX AWD Seven-Passenger
While it’s not what we’d call fun to drive, the Kia Sorento is a seriously comfortable family hauler, with good looks, decent fuel economy, and an unbelievably reasonable price tag.
New York 2012: Mazda Takeri Concept
Officially, this is the Mazda Takeri Concept. Don’t let the name fool you, though, this is essentially the 2014 Mazda6.
Secondhand Gems: $20,000 Family-Sized Fun
In our search for responsible, affordable family machines that aren’t completely mind numbing to drive we’ve rounded up a pair of crossovers and the aforementioned minivan. They all rank well in terms of safety equipment and crash worthiness. They all offer three-row seating. They all achieve at least an EPA-highway rating of 24 miles per gallon. And at approximately $20,000, they’re affordable by the masses.
Winding Road Issue 80 Is Now Available!
In the newest issue of Winding Road, we take the Fiat 500 Abarth to the track to see what sets it apart. Plus, we review tons of other great cars this month’s issue.
Rumors: Industry Report—VW BlueSport Production Rumored Again
GoAuto is reporting that there is a good possibility VW’s competitor to the Mazda MX-5 will be produced after interviewing Ulrich Hackenberg, a senior management member at VW, at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.
Driven: 2013 Mazda CX-5 Sport FWD
With the 2013 CX-5, Mazda is starting with a blank slate. This clean-sheet design will be Mazda’s volume crossover, as the CX-7 and Ford Escape-based Tribute will be (or already have been in the Tribute’s case) phased out.
Rumors: Industry Report—Convertible GT-86 Gets The Green Light
There’s no doubt that the Toyota GT-86/Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ rear-wheel-drive sports car has been one of the most eagerly anticipated vehicles of the last few years.
Base Versus Loaded: 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Yes, it may be the middle of February, and there may be snow storm barreling towards your brave editorial staff, but that hasn’t stopped us from thinking about two-seat roadsters. One of our favorites is the Mazda MX-5 Miata. This affordable little roadster can be had with a five-speed transmission in the base model for just over $24,000.
First Look: 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition
Mazda unveiled the 2012 MX-5 Miata Special Edition at today’s Chicago Auto Show. The limited-run (only 450 will be produced) roadster is mainly an aesthetics package, giving the MX-5 a bit more of aggressive edge.
Rumors: Industry Report—New Subaru Turbo Technology
A report on Motor Trend’s website detailed the plans for several upcoming Subaru models—including the new WRX, due out sometime in 2014—as well as some interesting new potential technology coming from the Japanese manufacturer.
Quick Drive: 2012 Mazda3 Skyactiv Five-Door
As ever, the Mazda3 has got to be seen as almost the default compact car choice for any driver that a) cares about handling and good driving dynamics, or b) wants a sizeable hatchback that still offers great fuel economy.
Miata Challenge Project: Chapter 2
When we last left our hero…we said we had bought a Miata for a new one-track series that some people we know are creating. These guys are aiming for novice racers who’ve done HPDE or track days, as well as folks who want to step up from their first taste of racing in ChumpCar or LeMons.
Miata Challenge Project: Racing On A Budget
We’re joining a new racing series in order to answer a question many of you may have: what does it really cost to go racing? Proponents of activities like sailing or horse racing or skiing will all tell you to be sure you understand the costs before you get in too deep. Or, as the adage goes, “a sailboat is a hole in the water into which one pours money.” That’s funny, but it doesn’t really do much to tell you whether you can afford the sport. We’ll try to give you an idea over the course of the next few issues.
Miata Challenge Project: Chapter One
We’re joining a new one-track series. We thought some of you might be interested in following this for several reasons, so we’ll do regular posts.
Winding Road Video: 2012 Mazdaspeed3 On Snow Tires – Quick Drive
Thankfully, right in time for our first (and so far only significant) taste of snow this season, we received a 2012 Mazdaspeed3, shod in eighteen-inch Bridgestone Blizzak snow tires. The MS3 is the perfect vehicle to test the difference between summer and winter tires, as its high-horsepower and high-torque engine and front-wheel-drive layout tend to be quite hard on front-end grip. Switching from summer to winter tires means giving up some ultimate grip, as the winter rubber features a lower contact patch due to the various grooves that siphon water out from under the tire.
My Thanksgiving: 2012 Mazda CX-9
Despite its age, the CX-9’s utility and driving character make it a fine choice for those that need utility but still value driving pleasure. If this sounds like you, then you should get down to your local Mazda dealership.
Ask It: Winding Road’s Thanksgiving Cars
With a very long Thanksgiving weekend ahead of us, we’re thankful that we’ve got some great cars to speed us through the first part of the holiday season. To celebrate, we’re going to run a three-way Ask It post. We’ll tell you (below) which of us is driving what over the holiday weekend, and you can fire away with questions about the vehicles we’re testing. Next week, we’ll put together a follow-up with individual answers to your posts.
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