2003 Mazda Protege5 Base Hatchback 4-door 2.0l on 2040-cars

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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

Mazda5 may not be long for this world

The concept behind building a smaller but still useful minivan like the Mazda5 always seemed like such a good idea. However, since the little people hauler's introduction, there has been the rise of the compact crossover in the US, which fulfills a similar niche for many buyers. The future is not looking good for the utilitarian Mazda. Autocar from the UK reports that company officials confirm the Mazda5 is being discontinued there, with no replacement planned. Autoblog reached out to Mazda North America, but the company would not verify future product changes in this region. Though, the model's cancellation would hardly be a surprise to follow in North America, as well. The minivan market is a tough place these days, and dealers tend to prefer more expensive models for their high margins. Even FCA US is abandoning the inexpensive portion of the segment for the next-gen Chrysler Town & Country. The Mazda5 isn't exactly a sales standout, either. Mazda sold 11,613 of them in all of 2014, which was a 16.4 percent drop from 13,884 in 2013. To compare to larger, more expensive minivans, Honda moved 122,738 units of the Odyssey last year, and Toyota did 124,502 examples of the Sienna. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2012 Mazda5 View 31 Photos News Source: AutocarImage Credit: Mazda Mazda Minivan/Van mazda5

Next-gen Mazda2 designed for 'predominantly feminine' appeal

We can't ever think of a time we've heard anyone accuse the current Mazda2 of being too edgy, which makes reports of a softer design for the next-gen model a little surprising. Autocar reports that when the new 2 debuts next fall, it will have a "softer, more feminine appeal" than the current design.
This description lends a little more credibility to the Japanese magazine image we saw of the car back in July. Aside from Mazda's Kodo-inspired signature face, that picture did reveal softer lines, especially along the side of the car. This softened styling is to appeal to the car's target market, which Mazda's European design chief is reported to have called a "predominantly feminine customer base." Last we heard, though, Mazda might keep the next 2 out of the US due to slow sales.
The 2015 Mazda2 will reportedly ride on a shortened version of the platform used for the CX-5, but Autocar mentions that its platform could also be the basis of a new subcompact crossover - possibly to go up against vehicles like the Buick Encore and the upcoming Honda Fit-based crossover called the Vezel.