Mazda Motor Corporation has announced the sales launch of the all-new Mazda Axela (known overseas as the new Mazda3) in the Japanese market. Mazda’s mainstay model has been fully redesigned and updated with a host of new features, including the ‘i-stop’ engine stop/start system.

Since the Mazda Axela first debuted in October 2003 it has become a core model in Mazda’s lineup, selling over two million units worldwide and currently comprising over a third of its annual global sales. For the second generation Axela, the development team was determined to once again exceed customer expectations. As a result, the new model inherits and evolves Mazda’s highly acclaimed sporty performance and exterior styling. Additionally, it arrives with an outstanding interior with greater quality and functionality, and offers advanced environmental and safety features.

All 2.0-liter front-wheel-drive (FWD) models are equipped with i-stop, Mazda’s unique engine stop/start system, which uses combustion energy to restart the engine in just 0.35 seconds, about half the time of most other competing systems. The i-stop system also suppresses noise and vibration as the engine shuts down and restarts, ensuring that drivers experience a natural driving feel with no sense of discomfort. Prices for models with i-stop start from an affordable 1,890,000 yen (including sales tax).

The 2.0-liter FWD Axela with i-stop provides 15 percent better fuel economy than the previous model.^*1 The 1.5-liter Axela models are newly equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This combination enables a sporty ride and top class fuel economy^*2 of 18.4 kilometers per liter. All models in the Axela range qualify as Super-Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles (SU-LEV), achieving exhaust emissions that are at least 75 percent lower than the levels required by the Japanese government’s 2005 exhaust emissions standard. Additionally, six of the nine model grades qualify for Japan’s eco-car incentive program as well as tax reductions of 50 or 75 percent under the government’s eco-car tax reduction program.

Together with its superb environmental performance, the new Mazda Axela also boasts more spirited driving performance. Mazda’s engineers achieved notable weight reduction while efficiently increasing the vehicle’s body rigidity, and reworked the aerodynamics so that the new Axela provides enhanced handling and straight-line stability at high speeds. Drivers can enjoy substantially improved comfort and cabin quietness due to reduced road noise, engine vibration and wind noise.

The updated exterior design, which features a new version of Mazda’s hallmark five-point grille, carries forward the original model’s sporty impression and injects an added touch of dynamic and refined styling. click here to read the rest of the article

Nothing really exciting here, just a bunch of small things have been added to the RX-8 in Japan like rain-sensing windshield wipers, auto-light system, and news colors... Yep... nothing amazing.

HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation has added fresh features to the four-door, four-seat rotary-powered Mazda RX-8 sports car for the Japanese market. The updated models go on sale today at all Mazda and Mazda Anfini dealers nationwide.

Standard equipment across the entire RX-8 range has been updated with popular features that provide added comfort and convenience. The updates include rain-sensing windshield wipers and Mazda’s auto-light system (which switches the headlights on automatically according to ambient light conditions). Two additional exterior body colors, silver and gray, reflect the RX-8’s high quality and accentuate its exceptional sports car styling.

Main features of the freshened Mazda RX-8
-Rain-sensing windshield wipers, auto-light system, water-repellent coating (on the front door windows and door mirrors) and Mazda’s advanced keyless entry and engine start system now come as standard equipment on all model grades.
-The addition of two new body colors – Aluminum Metallic and Metropolitan Gray Mica – brings the available exterior range to seven colors.
-Revised model grade lineup (base model was renamed Type G).
-Audio-less specification standard for all model grades (to best match each driver’s needs, the space for a head unit in the center panel is left open. The Audio-less spec allows for a variety of audio systems).

Mazda Motor Corporation today announced that it has built the first Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE vehicle with Norwegian specifications, developed specifically for participation in HyNor, Norway’s national hydrogen project. The first unit will take part in ceremonies marking the official opening of HyNor’s hydrogen filling stations. The initial opening ceremony will be held in Oslo on May 11, 2009. The RX-8 Hydrogen RE will then undergo certification to meet local standards and will be used for maintenance staff training. Mazda plans to commence leasing of Norwegian specification RX-8 Hydrogen RE models in Norway in summer 2009.

Unlike the RX-8 Hydrogen RE currently being leased in Japan, the HyNor-specification Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE is based on the latest European-specification Mazda RX-8 with left-hand drive and a manual transmission.

The HyNor project aims to enable hydrogen vehicles to travel along a 580-kilometer stretch of highway by establishing a chain of hydrogen stations between Stavanger and Oslo in Norway. Mazda agreed to collaborate with HyNor on the project in November 2007 and began validation of the RX-8 Hydrogen RE’s driving performance on Norwegian public roads in October 2008.

Twenty years ago Mazda debuted the first MX-5 to the world at the Chicago Auto Show and they’re back in town to celebrate. Maxing out the spending card, Mazda celebrated the Miata MX-5’s 20th birthday party with old concepts, race cars and something Detroit didnt see… food.

We can’t help thinking that the designers over at Mazda have taken criticism of the dull-looking Mazda3 MPS to heart. In a fit of rage it seems someone started sketching big wings and a crazy bonnet scoop on to the car and these have somehow made it to production.

The new Subaru Impreza-esque face is not bad-looking by any means but it is a bit like Colin from accounts putting on a spangly disco suit for the Christmas party.

Joking aside, the fact that the car never looked like it was a fire-breathing 256bhp monster – one of the most powerful hatchbacks ever – has now been rectified, and it has a new lease of life.

There are now chunky alloys, a roof spoiler and a curiously smiley face surrounding the 2.3-litre DISI turbocharged engine. The car should hit 60mph in around 6 seconds and reach 155mph.

It is slightly lighter than the previous car and thus has better economy. It will be first seen at the Geneva motor show in March and should arrive in Britain in the following months.

Mazda has released a video teaser of its new 256bhp baby. It doesn't tell us much about the new car, but gives us a glimpse of what it looks like on the road. And thankfully not a 'zoom-zoom' in sight...