2005 Mazda 6 I Sedan 4-door 2.3l on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Chicago Auto Show page claims 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata to produce 155 hp [UPDATE]

UPDATE: Mazda wasn't willing to confirm or deny the figures cited by the Chicago Auto Show, although we're betting the 155-horsepower figure is a bit on the low side. As for the CAS page, a Mazda spokesman told Autoblog that they "aren't sure where they got that number." The horsepower estimate has since been pulled down. Well, someone may have made a boo-boo. The Chicago Auto Show is currently hosting a page that claims the Mazda MX-5 will produce 155 horsepower, courtesy of a 2.0-liter, Skyactiv four-cylinder. If this is correct, it'd be the first time the MX-5's US power output had been revealed. The 155 hp figure would account for a 12-hp drop from that of the outgoing MX-5, though, a corresponding weight loss should still improve the power-to-weight ratio for the 2016 model. Now, the CAS page could simply be following previous reports, including one from Autoblog. As recently as October, it was being reported that the MX-5 would be powered by a 2.0-liter, Skyactiv four-cylinder, a version of which is producing 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque in the Mazda3. Naturally, we've reached out to Mazda for comment – or perhaps even confirmation – on the info from CAS, although we aren't expecting a reply until at least later this morning (darn time zones). Of course, as soon as we hear anything, we'll update this story. Related Video:

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is truly a four-season sports car

For all intents and purposes, the Mazda MX-5 Miata is a product of California. I know it says Hiroshima on the shipping container, but the car belongs to the Golden State as it was dreamt up in Irvine and honed its driving skills on the roads near Santa Barbara. And logic would dictate the Miata would be useless in any situation other than direct sunlight. That's what drivers from other states would think, anyway. It's the time of year when those of us from the west coast fly out to places where it's snowy and icy and everyone laughs at us because the cold and white stuff essentially shuts us down. Make fun of Californians driving in the rain or freaking out when the outside temperature dips below 55 degrees. What can we say, we're just out of our element. Perhaps, then, it's surprising the Miata handles snow a lot better than I do. I found this out when Mazda sent me to Crested Butte, CO, for a little fun on a frozen track. Yes, there was a lot of sideways action, but it had more to do with the two California residents inside than with the car. The company really invited journalists to Colorado to get an idea of how its all-wheel-drive crossovers perform when things get snowy and icy. But the real show was watching how we navigated the autocross course they set up for the rear-drive Miatas that Mazda brought along. The Miata had a good heater, but it was my laughter caused by immense admiration that kept me from freezing my fingers off. Armed with a set of Bridgestone Blizzak winter tires, the Miata performs just about how you'd expect it to – if you're light on the gas and quick with the steering and have a good amount of patience in you. It all works well if you're a pro driver, less so if you're not a frequent track visitor, regardless of the weather. But fortunately we were using the fourth-generation Miata, which has to be the most forgiving sports car ever. On pavement, it behaves like a compact hatchback. Put it in sixth and it's relaxed and compliant, with a ride that doesn't beat you up and an engine that knows when you just want to get where you need to go. Provoke it, however, and it rewards you with predictable responses from the controls. It does the same thing on ice, if you have a firm grasp on how a car responds to the frozen stuff. Starts are tricky, even in second gear, if you underestimate the power from the 2.0-liter four.

Autoblog fan favorite car ads from Super Bowl XLIX

Super Bowl XLIX is in the books, and the New England Patriots emerged victorious. Of course, if you're like us, the big game wasn't so much about the battle between the east coast and west, so much as a fight between the world's automotive advertisers. We collected and collated all of last night's new ads and put them together for you to vote on. And yes, we're limiting this year's contest to last night's new features. That's why you aren't seeing Dodge's epic Wisdom among our collection of commercials, and it's a similar story with Chevrolet's Truck Guy Focus Group series, which highlights the new Colorado. You can still vote for your favorites. We won't be closing the voting on our Super Bowl page, so while the winners and losers are correct as of this writing, it's entirely possible that there could be some changes in the rankings as time goes on. So, without any further ado, here are the winning ads based on your voting. Nissan: With Dad Fiat: Ready For Action Jeep: Beautiful Lands BMW: Newfangled Idea Mercedes-Benz: Fable NASCAR: America Start Your Engines As for those ads that failed to impact you, loyal readers, Toyota was the absolute, undisputed loser. The Japanese brand ran four ads in total – two for Toyota and two for Lexus – and all of them have negative tallies as of this writing. Lexus' Make Some Noise and Lets Play and Toyota's One Bold Choice and My Bold Dad both had very weak showings among the commercials that aired, although they weren't alone. Neither Mazda nor Kia scored particularly well, despite featuring celebrity magic act Penn and Teller and former James Bond, Pierce Brosnan, respectively. Chevrolet was the winner of the losers, as of our writing, recording the fewest downvotes for its audience-punking The Big Game ad. If you want to take a second look at the losing ads, you can head back to our Super Bowl page for the complete collection. But for now, head into Comments and let us know what you think of the results.