Mazda
Quick Drive: 2011 Mazdaspeed3
I’ll get it out of the way early; I prefer the original Mazdaspeed3 to this second-generation by a rather large margin. This car isn’t the same visceral indulgence that the original was. Everything has been numbed to a degree, including the first gen’s characteristic torque steer.
Quick Drive: 2011 Mazda CX-9 GT
Based on the chatter around the water cooler at the WR office when we were loaned our CX-9, I’ll probably be in the minority opinion here, but I actually don’t particularly care for Mazda’s big crossover.
Quick Drive: 2011 Toyota Venza
The Venza is kind of a jack-of-all-trades. Its driving nature is completely inoffensive. The six-speed auto swaps cogs smoothly and somewhat quickly, and the 3.5-liter V-6 can haul this fairly large vehicle around pretty quickly. It’s plenty versatile; thanks to a large trunk and a second row that folds completely flat. It’s even got the security of all-wheel drive. So what’s wrong with it? The answer is the Mazda CX-7.
2011 Geneva Motor Show Round Up
The Geneva Motor Show came and went last week, and we got a look at some new production cars, as well as some concepts that might give a glimpse into the near future of the automotive world. Earlier, we mentioned some of the cars we were looking forward to, and here is the rundown of the other vehicles that got their big reveal in Switzerland.
Driven: 2012 Mazda5
The hard-to-define Mazda5 sits lonely in its segment since the discontinuation of the Kia Rondo. That’s not to say that Mazda prefers to be the sole competitor—quite the opposite, in fact. Mazda welcomes the Ford C-Max to the arena, as the company claims to believe this will shed more light on the mini-minivan, or whatever you choose to call it. The company is confident the 5 will stand up to scrutiny, which is why they invited Winding Road to take it for a whirl.
Comparison Test: 2011 Ford Fiesta vs. 2011 Honda Fit vs. 2011 Mazda2
Ford’s Fiesta and Mazda’s 2 have both done a great job getting the motoring community amped up about small cars, continuing a trend that the Honda Fit really jumpstarted a few years ago. These small cars are anything but simple, basic transportation, offering quite a lot of style, comfort, and driving involvement to go along with their reasonable price tags.
Geneva 2011: Mazda Minagi Concept
Today in Geneva, Mazda unveiled its Minagi Concept, a compact crossover showcasing the company’s Kodo design language and SkyActiv technologies.
First Look: 2012 Mazda3
The 2012 Mazda3 made its debut at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, and it features a slight facelift, as well as Mazda’s new SkyActiv engine and automatic transmission.
Driven: 2011 Year In Review(s)
2011 has been a busy year in the Winding Road offices, with auto shows, new model launches, and the usual comings and goings of the automotive industry filling the virtual pages of our website. Even with all the activity, there has been a near-constant stream of automobiles filtering in and out of our parking lot, giving us no shortage of vehicular material to write about.
Photo Shoot: 2011 Long Term Mazda2
Hopefully you all are becoming familiar with our new team member, our long-term 2011 Mazda2. We are making a lot of memories with the little darling and capturing and committing those memories to a digital formart via photograph. It is only fair that we pass some of these great pictures onto you, our readers, so that you can share in our enjoyment of the 2.
Blog: Long-Term Mazda2 Takes On Snowpocalypse 2011
Still, with all of the coverage of this weather system, and considering the hearty thumbs up already given to our long-term Mazda2 by John Beltz for its winter driving prowess, I thought I’d go out and take a little drive this morning.
Mazda Announces Plans For 2011 Geneva Auto Show
While Acura has already announced part of its 2011 Chicago Auto Show lineup, Mazda has skipped ahead to its Geneva Show plans. When the world’s media descends on Switzerland for press days on March 1 and 2, Mazda will be treating them to a new concept titled MINAGI, as well as the Zoom-Zoom manufacturers SKYACTIV technologies.
Long Term Car: 2011 Mazda2
Today, we celebrate the first day of our three-month loan of the 2011 Mazda2 Touring with five-speed a manual transmission. You may recall how much we loved our time with the car at launch, or perhaps you read Tom Martin’s column in praise of the 2.
Spy Shots: A Smaller Mazda CX In The Works
Our spy caught this interesting find—a smaller Mazda crossover doing some winter testing.
LA 2010: Mazda Shinari Concept
Mazda has just unveiled the striking Shinari concept car. Featuring Mazda’s KODO design language, the Shinari is a four-door coupe in the mold of the Aston Martin Rapide and Mercedes-Benz CLS. A low riding car, with a classic long hood and short rear deck, the Shinari is a pure concept to illustrate Mazda’s future design direction.
SEMA 2010: Mazda Displays MX-5 Cup Car
This year at SEMA, Mazda is displaying the Mazda MX-5 Cup car, built to the specifications of the MX-5 Cup racing series.
First Look: 2011 Morgan Threewheeler
Hold on to your elbow patches, the flat cap and pipe smoking set are going to go bananas for this one. Auto history buffs and dads old enough to remember smoking in the delivery room will no doubt remember that British carmaker Morgan cut its teeth on a simple, economical vehicle known as the Threewheeler. The powered tricycle was designed by Harry Morgan, and produced from 1909 to 1953. Now, it’s set to make a comeback.
List: Ten Interesting Mazda2 Tidbits
After our time with the 2011 Mazda2, we can’t seem to get our mind off of it. For such a small car, it has really left a big impression on us. Hoping to put some of the Mazda2 thoughts to rest from bouncing around our heads, we’ve put together a list of some interesting things about the car that you may or may not have known.
Quick Drive: 2010 Subaru Impreza 2.5i Premium Sedan
In the ultra-competitive world of the small car, the Subaru Impreza seems to struggle. It doesn’t have the standout looks or better driving dynamics of cars like the Mazda3, or the Honda Civic. It is, however, one of the only cars available for under $20,000 that offers standard all-wheel drive. While this gives the Impreza a bit of an advantage on the competition, I don’t find it enough to make it a really worthwhile buy.
Driven: 2011 Mazda2
There exists a tendency, without having driven the car, to try to compare the new Mazda2 to cars one is already familiar with. After all, it shares DNA with the Mazda3, and even the Ford Fiesta. Beware these comparisons, as they will mislead you. The 2 is its own entity, occupying a new space in the company’s North American market, a segment which seems to be ballooning as drivers seek value and practicality. And this economy car is coming from a manufacturer that understands that the best cars are also fun cars. In a Venn diagram, picture the Mazda2 in the shaded area where pragmatism and enthusiasm intersect, and you’re off to a good start.
Quick Drive: 2010 Mazda3 i Touring
Mazda seems to excel at providing expensive thrills for economy prices. The current range is packed full of vehicles that can put a smile on your face, and I have always considered the 3 to be one of those cars. Our Mazda3 was the “i” Touring, means the base motor, a 2.0-liter I-4 and a decent amount of standard equipment.
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