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How long will the 'golden age' of performance last?

High-powered sports and luxury cars were everywhere at the New York Auto Show, prompting the obvious question for enthusiasts: How long will this golden age of performance last? Industry leaders have some time before regulations elevate the Corporate Average Fuel Economy level in 2025. Even then, they expect cars rippling with power to survive in some form. "Is it the end of an era," I don't think so," said Ola Kallenius, Daimler AG board member for Mercedes-Benz cars marketing and sales. "That performance element of individual mobility I don't think will ever go away." Kallenius, who oversaw the company's AMG division from 2010-2013, expects it to continue to grow. Last year, AMG sold a record 68,875 units around the world, an increase of 44.6 percent over 2014, with strong growth in the US, China, and Germany. Still, there's always the potential for gas to spike, and pending fuel economy regulations are looming. That could lead AMG to add electrification to its products, Kallenius said, pointing to the electric SLS as a test case. Chevy is also thinking ahead, said Al Oppenheiser, chief engineer of the Camaro. He wouldn't bite when asked about electrification for the Camaro (he did say "never say never"), but admitted in 2025 "it's going to be pretty tough to sell V8s." For now, things are rosy for muscle cars, and Chevy confidently showcased the 640-hp Camaro ZL1 in coupe and convertible form in New York. "I think that this is truly the golden age of performance," Oppenheiser said. It's hard to disagree. News & Analysis News: The 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF was a show-stopper in New York. Analysis: There was a palpable energy when this RF — for Retractable Fastback — was revealed the night before the show at a trendy off-site venue near the Hudson River. Even as a parade of SUVs and flashy luxury cars rolled out the rest of the week, the Miata remained a hot topic. The Retractable Fastback is really a clever targa top, with part of the roof stowing behind the seats, adding about 100 pounds compared to the standard convertible. It makes the car more practical and arguably more attractive. The RF continues Mazda's tradition of selling the Miata with a hardtop variant. The first and second generations offered a detachable one, and a power retractable hardtop (a $1,700 option) was available on third-gen models. Judging by its reception in New York, the RF could prove to be even more popular than its predecessors.

First batch of 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miatas lands in US [w/video]

Have you been patiently awaiting the arrival of the all-new 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata? Then we're glad to report that your patience has paid off. In fact, even if you haven't been so patient, we're still glad to report that the wait is finally over, as the first batch of the new Japanese roadsters has arrived on American soil. The initial batch of several hundred MX-5s arrived at the port of San Diego from the factory in Hiroshima on board the Phoenix Leader, a 636-foot vehicle carrier ship registered in Panama and operated by Japanese shipping giant NYK Lines. The vehicles are currently being processed at the SoCal port, with deliveries to commence "in the next several weeks," according to Mazda in the brief statement below. The fourth-generation Miata, designated generation ND, mad its global debut at the Paris Motor Show, and its US debut at the LA Auto Show. Production commenced in Japan this past March. The new roadster arrives in US showrooms with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (the smaller 1.5 kept away from these shores), a six-speed manual (replacing the previous five-cogger), a folding soft roof (no retractable hard top this time), and a starting MSRP of $24,915 (plus an $820 destination charge). That, of course, is for the base Sport model, with higher-spec Club and Grand Touring trims also on offer. Along with the images above, you can watch footage of the vehicles driving off the ship in the video below. Might we recommend, however, muting the cheesy soundtrack and playing something more suitable over it instead. Neil Diamond's (Coming to) America ought to do the trick... today! This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Mazda Welcomes the First Shipment of All-New 2016 MX-5s Mazda North American Operations today welcomed the first shipment of the all-new 2016 MX-5s. They will begin their port processing procedures and deliveries will follow in the next several weeks. Featured Gallery 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata: US Arrival Mazda Convertible Performance mazda mx-5 san diego port

Mazda, Suzuki, Yamaha — more vehicle data fabrication found in Japan

TOKYO — Mazda, Suzuki and Yamaha improperly tested vehicles for fuel economy and emissions, the Japanese government said on Thursday, revealing fresh cases of compliance failures by manufacturers. The results came to light after the Japanese government had ordered the automakers to check their operations after revelations of improper testing at Subaru and Nissan last year. The conduct of automakers globally has come under intense scrutiny after Germany's Volkswagen AG admitted in 2015 to installing secret software in hundreds of thousands of U.S. diesel cars to cheat exhaust emissions tests, and that as many as 11 million vehicles could have similar software installed worldwide. In the Japanese cases, the carmakers have not broken any laws or prompted massive recalls. But a growing list of improprieties has tarnished the image of the country's manufacturing industry for high-quality products and efficiency. Suzuki, Mazda and Yamaha cleared vehicles for emissions or fuel efficiency even in cases where they were tested under invalid conditions, the ministry said in a statement. The errors related to slight deviations in the speed of the vehicles during testing that should have invalidated the test results. The automakers examined tests they had conducted over different periods of time, and in Suzuki's case they stretched back to 2012. None of the automakers found significant problems with actual emissions and fuel economy performance of the vehicles, which were destined for sale in Japan, and do not plan any recalls. Suzuki, Japan's fourth-largest automaker, said that of 12,819 sample vehicles tested for fuel economy and emissions since June 2012, around 50 percent of them had been inspected improperly. "I deeply apologize and will lead efforts to prevent recurrence," Suzuki Chief Executive Toshihiro Suzuki told a news conference. Mazda said there were irregularities in 4 percent of similar inspections on its cars, or just over 70 vehicles. In Yamaha's case, irregularities were found in 2 percent of inspections, or just a handful of vehicles. Both Mazda and Yamaha apologized. Suzuki and Yamaha shares fell 6 and 5 percent, respectively, and Mazda shares were down 1 percent, underperforming a steady benchmark Nikkei average. In July this year, Nissan admitted it had improperly measured exhaust emissions and fuel economy for 19 vehicle models sold in Japan.