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Mazda brings slick sports-car concept to Tokyo

Mazda teased a slick spots-car concept Wednesday that will debut at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show. The as-yet unnamed concept promises to blend elements from the company's heritage with a sleek and modern shape. It apparently takes the form of a front-engine, two-door coupe – always a favorite configuration – with a sloping roofline and classic hood-to-greenhouse ratio. It'll be displayed alongside the Koeru concept (which returns home for its Japanese debut), a handful of MX-5 Miatas, and a classic 1967 Cosmo Sport 110S – the marque's original, rotary-powered sports car. We have a good feeling that it's the latter from which the new concept principally draws its inspiration, albeit with different dimensions than the long-tailed original - and hopefully a little RX-7 thrown in for good measure. We'll have to hold on a while longer to find out, but we're looking forward to seeing the finished product. Mazda to Unveil New Sports Car Concept at Tokyo Motor Show -- Japan-debut of Mazda KOERU and racing-spec Mazda Roadsters among fourteen models on display -- HIROSHIMA, Japan, Sept. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda Motor Corporation will hold the world premiere of a new sports car concept model at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show, which runs from October 30 through November 8.*1 A total of 14 models will be on display at the Mazda stand, including crossover concept Mazda KOERU making its first appearance in Japan, two racing-spec Mazda Roadsters (known as Mazda MX-5 outside Japan) and the Cosmo Sport (110S outside Japan), first introduced in 1967. The design of the sports car concept to be unveiled in Tokyo is modern but maintains a sense of lineage and authenticity, appearing almost to condense Mazda's entire history of sports car development into a single model. In line with the company's theme for the Tokyo Motor Show this year, "Accelerate toward our dreams," Mazda will make an appeal for the brand's unique approach to driving pleasure. In addition to the sports car concept, Mazda KOERU will be on display along with new-generation models featuring SKYACTIV Technologies and KODO—Soul of Motion design. A motor sports exhibit will feature racing-spec Roadsters and the Cosmo Sport will complement a heritage display showing Mazda's history of convention-defying engineering.

2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata configurator fulfills your droptop dreams

The first batch of 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miatas are already at dealers, but Mazda is finally launching a configurator for its completely revised sports car. Even if pricing doesn't come as a surprise, you can still have some fun creating one to your own specific tastes. The major equipment changes on the Miata happen between the Sport, Club, and Grand Touring trims, and options are generally kept light. The real standout is the Brembo/BBS package for $3,400 that's exclusive to the Club version. It adds Gunmetal 17-inch BBS wheels, Brembo front brakes with red calipers, side sill extensions, a rear bumper skirt, and keyless entry. On the Sport and Grand Touring, $1,200 buys the Appearance Package with a front air dam, side sill extensions and rear bumper skirt. There's also keyless tech for $130 on them. Mazda also offers a few items to dress up the convertible's looks. There's a choice of a black or body color rear lip spoiler for $350, and Soul Red Metallic paint adds $300. For protection, clear film for the front and rear paint is $125, all-weather floor mats go for $90, and wheel locks cost $55. Finally, a cargo net is $50. We ticked every applicable box on the Club trim above to make its $28,600 base price leap to $33,790, after the $820 destination charge on all models. Happy building. Related Video:

Masamichi Kogai new Mazda president and CEO

There's some executive rearranging going on in the top suite at Mazda Motor Corporation in Japan, with current CEO Takashi Yamanouchi telling reporters there "I'd like to hand over the work to younger people" now that the company has returned to profitability. Yamanouchi became CEO on November 19, 2008 of an independent Mazda that had to fight for its future in the immediate aftermath of the global financial crisis. What followed was four years of losses before finally getting back to black last year.
Masamichi Kogai (pictured) will be appointed the new president and CEO on June 25, pending approval at the company's annual general shareholders' meeting. Kogai assisted Seita Kanai with the production-efficiency initiative that Mazda called Mono Tsukuri Innovation, which worked to give export-dependent Mazda the best chance at profitability in spite of a rising yen. Kogai, lately in charge of production and purchasing, has been with the company since 1977 and worked in areas from R&D to logistics.
Kanai, who headed the Mono Tsukuri effort and was among the leadership on Skyactiv, will be promoted from executive vice president to vice chairman. Akira Marumoto will become executive VP of Mazda and assistant to new president Kogai. Yamanouchi will remain Chairman of the Board. There's a short press release below to make it official.