2002 Mazda Protege5 Base Hatchback 4-door 2.0l on 2040-cars

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Mazda and Isuzu to collaborate on a new pickup truck

After decades, Mazda has finally untangled itself from its relationship with Ford. The last vestige of that partnership is the BT-50, a rebadged version of the global Ford Ranger pickup truck. Once the BT-50 ends production, Mazda has announced that it will collaborate with Isuzu to develop its next generation of pickup trucks. The BT-50 was co-developed with Ford's Australian division. In their current iteration, the BT-50 and its Ranger twin were never on sale in the United States. Mazda's last pickup in the US was the B-Series, itself also a rebadged version of the old Ford Ranger. Isuzu pulled out of the US passenger vehicle market in 2009, although it still sells commercial vehicles here. Isuzu, continuing a long and complicated relationship with General Motors, co-developed the diesel engine that currently powers the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. In select markets, Isuzu sells a rebadged version of the Colorado as the D-Max. Details on the Mazda/Isuzu tie-up are scarce. A single press release simply says "Isuzu will produce next-generation pickup trucks for Mazda, based on Isuzu's pick-up truck model." This isn't the first truck collaboration between the two companies. Since 2004, Mazda has sold the Titan, a rebadged version of the Isuzu Elf commercial truck. The Elf is sold in the US as the Isuzu N-Series. Those in the US hoping for a new competitor in the midsize-truck segment shouldn't get their hopes up for the new truck. There are currently no plans to bring them here. There is hope, though, that Ford will bring the Ranger replacement stateside sometime in the next few years. Related Video: News Source: MazdaImage Credit: WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images Isuzu Mazda Truck

Turbocharged 2018 Mazda6 EPA mileage figures released

A few months after the reveal of the new turbocharged variant of the Mazda6, we now know how much more fuel the force-fed family sedan will require. The EPA rating puts it at 31 mpg on the highway, 23 in the city and 26 combined. That is less than the naturally aspirated model with either an automatic transmission or a manual, the former of which gets 35 mpg highway, 26 in town and 29 combined. But the naturally aspirated Mazda6's 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque are well short of the turbo engine's 250 horsepower and 310 pound-feet. The turbo Mazda6's fuel economy also puts it right in the range of similarly powerful sedans in the mid-size arena. In fact, almost every 2018 2.0-liter turbocharged sedan in the segment gets 26 mpg combined, including Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata, Chevy Malibu, Buick Regal, and most versions of the Honda Accord, with only a difference of 1 or 2 mpg in city or highway results. The V6 Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima also hit this 26 mpg fuel economy mark. As far as power is concerned, the Mazda6 is also very even with the competition, most of which makes right around 250 horsepower, though the Toyota Camry's naturally aspirated V6 is a class-leader at 301 horsepower. But the 6's advantage is in torque. None of the mainstream family sedans touch the Mazda's whopping 310 pound-feet. The 2.0-liter Honda Accord and Ford Fusion come the closest at 273 and 275 pound-feet respectively. To beat the Mazda6 would require going for the Ford Fusion Sport, which is a unique step up in the segment with a turbocharged V6 making 380 pound-feet. The Fusion Sport takes a serious hit in the fuel economy department, though, getting just 20 mpg combined. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Should you buy a leftover 2015 or a brand new 2016 model?

One of the most common questions I get asked as a car dealer and auto auctioneer is, "When is the best time to buy a new car?" The answer is usually the time period between Labor Day and the middle of November. That's because this is when new car dealers and the manufacturers are trying to get rid of their current-model-year vehicles to make way for a small army of 2016 models. Rebates, incentives, cheap financing, and overstocks of unpopular models all help create the liquidity needed to turn the old inventory into a new set of wheels for the buying public – often at a very reduced price. But sometimes the "old" new car isn't a better pick than the "new" new car. It depends on a lot of factors, including the car in question and the differences from one model year to the next. I recently received an email from Jeff, who is interested in the Mazda CX-9 and asks whether he should buy a 2015 model or wait for the new version that will debut soon in LA. I'll use his as the example case. Length of Ownership The longer you own a vehicle, the less model year depreciation will be an issue. For example, the difference in value between a five-year-old Mazda 6 and a six-year-old version is about $1,500 according to the Manheim Market Report ($5,600 vs. $4,100). But if you look at the difference between 10-year-old and 9-year-old versions of that same vehicle, the price difference shrinks all the way down to $200. Because Jeff plans to own his new crossover for many years, the 2015 model wins in this category. View 19 Photos Rebates and Incentives The current CX-9 has a $4,000 cash incentive from Mazda. This is in part because Mazda still has quite a few left over. That $4,000 rebate for the current model is already coupled with even stronger discounts at the dealer level for those leftover 2015 models. TrueCar is showing that a loaded 2015 model can be had for $7,000 off the sticker at $28,600. You may even be able to beat that price by negotiating the deal yourself. Another thing to consider is that new models tend to be in high demand when they launch, which means that your purchase price will likely be substantially higher with the new model than it will with a leftover 2015. Again, financially speaking, this is a vote for the 2015 model. New Stuff It's also important to weigh what new features will come along with the updated model and how important they are to you.