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2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata battles Toyota GT86 on track

It's got two doors and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine up front, driving the rear wheels. It's made in Japan, and as far as bang-for-your-buck goes, it's a downright bargain. So which are we talking about, the Mazda MX-5 Miata, or the Toyobaru coupe known alternately as the Subaru BRZ, Scion FR-S, or Toyota GT-86? The answer is "yes," and it just goes to show, roofs notwithstanding, how close these two vehicles really are to one another. Which one is your favorite may come down to a matter of personal taste, but for its latest video, Auto Express set out to find out which laps faster around the track. On paper at least, the Toyota's 200 horsepower will trump the Mazda's 155 any day of the week, and twice on Sunday. Then again, the Miata does weigh a good 400 pounds less, even with the 2.0-liter engine and despite its convertible bodystyle – but is that enough to make up the difference? You're going to have to just watch the video for yourself to find out. All we'll tell you is that the match is pretty darn close – what you might call a photo finish, if they were actually racing each other at the same time as opposed to each racing the clock separately. So watch the video above and voice your support for your favorite little Japanese sports car in the Comments section. Related Video:

Mazda patents show rotary engine for range-extended EV

Two years ago, Mazda introduced a fascinating range-extended electric car called the Mazda2 RE Range-Extender. It took an electric Mazda2, and dropped in an itty-bitty 330cc rotary engine. It wasn't the rotary-powered sports car we had hoped for, but it seemed like a unique way to keep the quirky engine alive and kicking. But not long after the car's reveal, it seemed to disappear. Now the basic idea has resurfaced with a few modern updates in a couple of US patents. The first patent is pretty straightforward and describes a range-extended EV similar to the BMW i3. At the front is an electric motor driving the front wheels. At the back is an internal combustion engine that powers an electric generator. In the middle is a lithium-ion battery for storing and delivering electricity. It's the same set-up as that Mazda2. The second patent is for an engine start-and-stop system, but specifically for rotary engines. The system is designed to shut off a rotary engine when not needed, much as modern piston engines do. It also stops the rotor in a position that closes the intake port to ensure no fuel or exhaust emissions slip out through the intake tract. This is necessary since there are no valves in a rotary, and air and exhaust come through ports that are "opened" and "closed" by the rotor itself. The patent also describes the possibility of firing a spark plug after the fuel has been cut to eliminate any leftover fuel emissions. This system would theoretically improve a rotary engine's fuel economy and emissions significantly, which would be a boon as those are two of the rotary's major weaknesses. The rotary-engine patent also includes the same range-extended powertrain drawing as the first patent. It's there as a description of a possible application. And in such an application, where the rotary wouldn't have to run all the time, the system could take advantage of the rotary's inherent strengths. Weight can be kept low thanks to the engine's small dimensions, which should help in keeping the car sprightly and efficient. Rotaries are renowned for smoothness, too, so it shouldn't need too much refining and sound deadening, the latter of which adds more weight. The small size would also help with packaging, leaving more space for people, cargo, or possibly batteries. And since it has been patented, the company may be looking to bring the system to market.

Mazda's slick new CX-4 crossover is sadly only for China

Mazda just unveiled the CX-4 crossover at the Beijing Motor Show, introducing the sleek new crossover exclusively for the Chinese market. The CX-4 rides on the same wheelbase as the CX-5, and is just as wide. It even packs the same powertrain options: 2.0- or 2.5-liter inline fours from Mazda's Skyactiv-G series, mated to the same six-speed manual or automatic transmissions. It measures a little longer from bow to stern than the CX-5 (albeit shorter than the CX-7), but the key part here is that it's shorter in height – shorter even than the smaller CX-3 – thanks to its sleek coupe-like roofline. The resulting impediment to interior space may make little sense from a practical standpoint, but it sure does make it look good. Consider the CX-4, then, to bear a similar relationship to the CX-5 as the BMW X4 does to the X3, or the Coupe versions of the Mercedes GLC and GLE to their conventional counterparts – albeit with styling more similar to the Infiniti QX70, particularly at the back. The question is whether the US market is ready for a more budget-oriented five-door crossover coupe in the same way that it has embraced those more upscale offerings. Mazda doesn't seem to think so; at least not for the time being. For our part, looking at the CX-4, we're not so sure. What do you think? Related Video: Mazda Unleashes New Mazda CX-4 Crossover SUV - On display now at the Beijing Motor Show, sales in China start in June - HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation has unveiled a new crossover SUV, the Mazda CX-4, at the Beijing Motor Show (Auto China 2016).*1 The latest edition to Mazda's new-generation lineup adopts SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY and KODO—Soul of Motion design throughout and goes on sale in China in June. The CX-4 was made to exceed existing categories and stereotypes. The dynamic design is unmistakably KODO in form and the planted stance and sleek, coupe-like cabin combine to give the model an outstanding presence. Customers will appreciate the exceptional functionality and user-friendliness, including the ease of entering and exiting the vehicle and the flexible cargo space. With SUV-like ground clearance and Mazda's i-ACTIV AWD*2 all-wheel drive system, the CX-4 is ready to take on a wide range of road conditions and offers a combination of outstanding environmental and safety performance (Sustainable Zoom-Zoom) and a Jinba-ittai driving feel with excellent handling thanks to its low center of gravity.