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Japan may aid carmakers facing U.S. tariff threat

TOKYO — Japan is considering giving carmakers fiscal support including tax breaks to offset the impact from trade frictions with the United States and a sales-tax hike planned for next year, government sources told Reuters on Wednesday. Going into a second round of trade talks with the United States on Sept. 21, Japan is hoping to avert steep tariffs on its car exports and fend off U.S. demands for a bilateral free trade agreement that could put it under pressure to open politically sensitive markets, like agriculture. "If the trade talks pile pressure on Japan's car exports, we would need to consider measures to support the auto industry," a ruling party official said on condition of anonymity because of sensitivity of the matter. The auto industry accounts for about 20 percent of Japan's overall output and around 60-70 percent of the country's trade surplus with the United States, making it vulnerable to U.S. action against Japanese exports. Japan's biggest automakers and components suppliers fear they could take a significant hit if Washington follows through on proposals to hike tariffs on autos and auto parts to 25 percent. Policymakers also worry that an increase in the sales tax from 8 percent to 10 percent planned for October 2019, could cause a slump in sales of big-ticket items such as cars and home. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has twice postponed the tax hike after the last increase from 5 percent in 2014 dealt a blow to private consumption, which accounts for about 60 percent of the economy. To prevent a pullback in demand after the tax hike, the government may consider large fiscal spending later when it draws up its budget for next year, government sources said. "One option may be to greatly reduce or abolish the automobile purchase tax," one of the government sources said. The government is also considering cuts in the automobile tax and automobile weight tax to help car buyers, the source added. Reporting by Izumi Nakagawa and Tetsushi KajimotoRelated Video: Image Credit: Getty Government/Legal Isuzu Mazda Mitsubishi Nissan Subaru Suzuki Toyota Trump Trump tariffs trade

Mazda RX-Vision Concept revives the rotary

Mazda continues fighting to keep the rotary alive, and with the RX-Vision concept at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show, the company unveils its dream for the engine's revival in a curvaceous sports coupe. Before any fans burst with excitement at the prospect, Mazda only "hopes" to have this gorgeous shape available in showrooms someday, for now. The RX-Vision starts with the classic elements of a front-engine, rear-wheel drive sports coupe by combining a long, low hood, short rear deck, and a passenger compartment way at the back. From there, Mazda's stylists add the swooping touches of the brand's Kodo design language. The result looks thoroughly modern and still subtly evokes generations of the RX-7 in the sculpted fenders and flowing roofline. Under that shapely hood hides Mazda's next-generation rotary, which the company has dubbed the Skyactiv-R. Unfortunately, details about it are quite scarce at the moment, including the displacement or even the number of rotors the engine uses. Still, Mazda is abundantly clear that development of the mill is very much moving forward. Mazda's designers opt for a retro flair inside with the deeply dished steering wheel and gauges in three pods. The rest is simple and elegant with a minimalist, metal gearshift rising from the center console and leather straps for door pulls. Finishing things off is a clean mix of red and black upholstery with a little carbon fiber for contrast. Expect live shots from Tokyo soon to show how the RX-Vision looks under the lights. Related Video: Mazda Reveals Mazda RX-VISION Concept -- Powered by next-generation rotary engine SKYACTIV-R, represents Mazda's vision of the future -- HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation unveiled the rotary-powered Mazda RX-VISION sports car concept at the Tokyo Motor Show*1 today. The rotary engine is a symbol of the company's "never-stop-challenging" spirit. RX-VISION represents a vision of the future that Mazda hopes to one day make into reality; a front-engine, rear-wheel drive sports car with exquisite, KODO design-based proportions only Mazda could envision, and powered by the next-generation SKYACTIV-R rotary engine. Rotary engines feature a unique construction, generating power through the rotational motion of a triangular rotor. Overcoming numerous technical difficulties, Mazda succeeded in commercializing the rotary engine, fitting it in the Cosmo Sport (known as Mazda 110S overseas) in 1967.

Ford, Toyota clean up in Best Car For The Money Awards

The U.S. News Best Cars for the Money Awards picks winners by looking at the average transaction price, five-year total cost of ownership, the regard a car has from the automotive press, reliability figures from J.D. Power and Associates and safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The result, according to the magazine, is "the best combination of critical acclaim and long-term value."
Ford nabbed six of the 21 categories that received awards this year, the Focus, Fusion, Fusion Hybrid, Taurus, Escape and Edge getting trophies. Toyota and its Lexus and Scion sub-brands took another five, the Tacoma and Tundra owning the two categories given to pickup trucks. The other ten awards were split between Honda with three, Buick with two, and one each for Subaru, BMW, Hyundai, Chevrolet and Mazda.
Follow the link to see all the winners and read about why they were chosen.