2010 Mazda Miata Grand Touring -- Retractable Hard Top - 32 Mpg - Very Nice! on 2040-cars

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2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata configurator fulfills your droptop dreams

The first batch of 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miatas are already at dealers, but Mazda is finally launching a configurator for its completely revised sports car. Even if pricing doesn't come as a surprise, you can still have some fun creating one to your own specific tastes. The major equipment changes on the Miata happen between the Sport, Club, and Grand Touring trims, and options are generally kept light. The real standout is the Brembo/BBS package for $3,400 that's exclusive to the Club version. It adds Gunmetal 17-inch BBS wheels, Brembo front brakes with red calipers, side sill extensions, a rear bumper skirt, and keyless entry. On the Sport and Grand Touring, $1,200 buys the Appearance Package with a front air dam, side sill extensions and rear bumper skirt. There's also keyless tech for $130 on them. Mazda also offers a few items to dress up the convertible's looks. There's a choice of a black or body color rear lip spoiler for $350, and Soul Red Metallic paint adds $300. For protection, clear film for the front and rear paint is $125, all-weather floor mats go for $90, and wheel locks cost $55. Finally, a cargo net is $50. We ticked every applicable box on the Club trim above to make its $28,600 base price leap to $33,790, after the $820 destination charge on all models. Happy building. Related Video:

Next Mazda CX-9 spied for first time

After plenty of rumors, we finally have our first look at the second-generation Mazda CX-9. Development of the crossover look to be very far along based on these of production bodies hidden under form-fitting camouflage. The overall aesthetic, based on what we can see here, is very much in keeping with Mazda's handsome Kodo design language. The CX-9 you see here looks pretty much like a Mazda3 scaled up about 279.3 percent, with a five-pointed grille and expressive headlights prefacing a sculpted, swooshy body. In back, there's an aggressively raked rear window that won't do any favors for cargo capacity, but makes for a handsome silhouette. And if previous Mazdas are any indication, we'd expect the CX-9 to feature a very handsome, high-quality cabin, although it's impossible to see in these images. According to our spy photographers, the new CX-9 will abide by Mazda's Skyactiv philosophy, which should make for both an entertaining an efficient three-row crossover. A 2.5-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder will be the engine of choice, replacing the antiquated V6 of the current model, and will be available with an all-wheel-drive system. While this engine is slated for the CX-9, enthusiasts should take note that this first Skyactiv turbo will likely form the basis of future Mazdaspeed efforts. As previously reported, the CX-9 will make its debut this November at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show as a 2017 model. Should any info pop up before then, expect to see it here.

2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata named World Car of the Year

Kicking off Day Two of the New York Auto Show, the World Car of the Year awards are finally being handed out. The overall winner is, as God himself intended, the Mazda MX-5 Miata. It beat the Audi A4 and the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. The unique thing about these awards are that they aren't limited to the US domestic market (that's why they're called the World Car of the Year awards). For example, nominees for the overall award included the Skoda Superb, Renault Kadjar, and Subaru Levorg. In the Performance category, the forbidden fruit was repped by the Honda Civic Type R. But both the Civic and the Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe were beat out by a far more expensive competitor – the new Audi R8. The fourth-generation Toyota Prius and the second-generation Chevrolet Volt, were two of the big finalists for the World Green Car of the Year award. They both lost out, though, to the Mirai fuel-cell car. Yes, a hydrogen car beat out two of the world's premiere hybrids. The luxury race that was perhaps the hardest to predict. That's because each of the three finalists have received near universal acclaim. In the end, though, the BMW 7 Series beat out the Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90. Finally, we have the World Car Design of the Year, where the overall winner (MX-5) and the Mazda CX-3 faced off against the new Jaguar XE. While both the CX-3 and XE are handsome vehicles, the WCOTY committee realized the answer is always Miata, and awarded Mazda's iconic roadster another 2016 award. Related Video: AND NOW THERE IS ONE... MAZDA MX-5 - 2016 WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR NEW YORK – March 24, 2016 - For Immediate Release The Road to World Car journey ended today with the declaration of the MAZDA MX-5 as the 2016 World Car of the Year. The winner was announced during a press conference hosted by the New York International Auto Show, Bridgestone Corporation and Autoneum. 2016 marks the 10th anniversary of the partnership between World Car and the New York show, and the third consecutive year that the World Car Awards have retained their ranking as the number one automotive awards program in the world in terms of media reach. Mazda Motor Corporation is no stranger to the World Car Awards program – now in its 12th year. The Mazda2/Mazda Demio was the 2008 World Car of the Year. While the Mazda3 (2014), Mazda6 (2013) and Mazda MX-5 have all earned "Top Three in the World" status as voted by our 70 plus international automotive journalists that make up the jury.