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Mazda teases a new compact SUV for Geneva

Mazda waited until the lights were out to tease the tidy rear end of a brand new crossover. The Japanese automaker didn't say much about the model that will debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month, only calling it "a brand-new addition to the Mazda lineup," and "the second model in new-generation lineup." We're going to put our chips down on this being the next CX-3 crossover, which has been predicted to arrive by 2020. If that's so, we can expect a larger model than the one currently on sale. The present, first-gen CX-3 rides on the Mazda2 platform. The coming CX-3 will use the Skyactiv Vehicle Architecture supporting the new Mazda3, growing out of the subcompact class into the compact segment. According to one report last year, the extra girth is a play for better sales in the U.S. market. In 2017, Mazda sold more CX-3s in Australia than in the U.S. The stronger, stiffer platform will introduce Mazda3's delights such as the human-centric interior ergonomics, and hopefully the same driving dynamics that we called "the life of the compact sedan party" in our Mazda3 First Drive. Yes, that's all but certain to mean a torsion beam rear suspension, which was said to have been done for NVH reasons after Mazda said it "got a lot of complaints from the media" over the multi-link rear. The engine lineup should mirror the Mazda3 in the U.S., being the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder at launch, followed by the Skyactiv-X. We can probably expect more teasers before Geneva press days kick off on March 5. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Autoblog Minute: Highlights from the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show

The 44th Tokyo Motor Show is here with plenty of exciting new car reveals, like the stunning Mazda RX-Vision concept and the wild Nissan Concept 2020 Vision Gran Turismo. Autoblog's Chris McGraw reports on this edition of Autoblog Minute, with commentary from Autoblog's Managing editor, Steven Ewing. Show full video transcript text [00:00:00] The 44th Tokyo Motor Show is here with plenty of exciting new car reveals and lots of tech-heavy concept vehicles. I'm Chris McGraw and this is your Autoblog Minute. The Tokyo Motor Show opens to the public but for those unable to make it to Japan Autoblog is on hand to report. For more we go on location to Tokyo and Autoblog's Managing editor, Steven Ewing. [00:00:30] - [00:01:00] [Steven Ewing Interview] And that's your recap of the 44th Tokyo Motor Show, for our detailed coverage of the event be sure to head to Autoblo.com/tokyo-motor-show. For Autoblog, I'm Chris McGraw. [00:01:30] [Outro] Autoblog Minute is a short-form video news series reporting on all things automotive. Each segment offers a quick and clear picture of what's happening in the automotive industry from the perspective of Autoblog's expert editorial staff, auto executives, and industry professionals. Green Tokyo Motor Show Mazda Subaru Suzuki Coupe Concept Cars Autoblog Minute Videos Original Video Tokyo 2015

IIHS Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards get tougher: Here are the latest winners

Automakers love to trumpet the accolades from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, but the agency keeps making its best grades harder to achieve. For 2020, it is raising the bar again, requiring a better score in the passenger-side small-overlap crash test, wider availability of top-performing headlights, and automatic emergency braking systems that effectively avoid collisions with pedestrians, in addition to its previous benchmarks. Why the 2020 criteria is harder: To be named either a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+, the required performance in the passenger-side small-overlap crash test has been raised from Acceptable to Good, meaning that the model must achieve Good ratings in all crash tests. The Nissan Rogue, for example, scored an Acceptable in the passenger-side small overlap crash, and so it loses its Top Safety Pick rating for 2020. To achieve either of the top ratings, a vehicle's automatic emergency braking system must effectively avoid hitting pedestrians as well as other vehicles. (The automatic emergency braking system can be optional, but then the award applies to the model only when so equipped.) Any vehicle whose automatic emergency braking system does not include pedestrian detection would lose its TSP or TSP+ rating for 2020, the Ram 1500 being one example. To be named a Top Safety Pick+, the model can have no variant with headlights that achieve less than an Acceptable rating (most new cars have different headlights — often LEDs — that are exclusive to upper trim levels).