1993 Mazda Rx-7 Base Coupe 2-door - Forged Ls3 8.8 Cobra Irs on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Stock Miata beats bunch of high-powered cars in wet 1/4-mile drag race

When is a stock, 167-horsepower Mazda MX-5 Miata quicker than a Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Mustang, Lamborghini Gallardo, Lotus Elise and a Porsche 911? When it's raining. Sort of.
Mazda Canada arranged a unique drag race to show off the fact that the Miata's optional power retractable folding hardtop can go from top-down to top-up in just 12 seconds flat. In this video, all six cars line up for a drag race, and it starts to rain (well, sort of - but you'll have to watch the video all the way to the end to see what we mean). The green flag is waved, and the timer starts as soon as the convertibles begin to put their tops up. But because the Miata's roof mechanism gets the car's roof back up a full 5.1 seconds quicker than the second-place car, the Mazda gets a serious advantage off the line for the actual drag race.
It's a fun video. And while we've spoiled the results (come on, the video was uploaded by Mazda, you knew the Miata was going to win), be sure to see how it all unfolds, below.

Mazda Hazumi Concept shows up ahead of Geneva

Last week, Mazda officially teased its Geneva-bound Hazumi concept, showing little more than an aggressive headlamp design. But now, thanks to the magic of the Internet, another rendering of the Hazumi has appeared on the web, and, well, it's totes adorbs.
In Mazda's original release from last week, we were told that the name "Hazumi" means "spring up" or "bound" in Japanese, and is "particularly well-suited to a small car that appears to be bursting with energy." And now that we're getting a nearly full glimpse of the thing, we absolutely have to agree. The company's Kodo design language offers aggressive style in a cute little shape, and the usual raft of concept car-spec treatments (no mirrors, huge wheels, etc.) make it look even more comical and delightful.
Indeed, the Hazumi is understood to preview the next Mazda2 subcompact, and if this concept car points the way forward for Mazda's tiniest hatch, consider us totally geeked. Mazda is also set to debut its new 1.5-liter Skyactiv-D diesel engine at the Geneva Motor Show next week, and while the company hasn't confirmed if that powerplant will make its way into the next Mazda2, it sure makes sense, at least overseas. Stay tuned.

Mazda specs new MX-5 Miata with accessories

It's been 26 years since Mazda showcased the original Miata at the Chicago Auto Show, and now it's returned with a conceptual take on the new model, decked out with all the accessories and optional equipment your roadster-loving heart could desire. Or at least some of 'em, anyway. This show car is painted Ceramic Metallic (Zoom Zoom-speak for "white") and spec'd out with a full aero kit (including front air dam, side sills, rear skirt and lip spoiler) all done up in gloss black, 17-inch BBS wheels and Brembo brakes with red calipers. Mazda is also showcasing a carbon-fiber luggage rack for the new MX-5 that weighs less than two pounds and includes and integrated brake light. "The concept parts and accessories we have showcased at the Chicago Auto Show," said Mazda's North American chief Jim O'Sullivan, "were developed to give customers a look at what is possible for the new cars to make them truly one-of-a-kind, adding to that excitement." See them shown off in our high-res gallery of live photos, above. MAZDA UNVEILS 2016 MX-5 MIATA ACCESSORIES CONCEPT DESIGN AT CHICAGO AUTO SHOW CHICAGO, Feb. 12, 2015 -- The only thing better than the all-new 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata is a personalized 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata. Today at the Chicago Auto Show, where the first-generation MX-5 Miata was introduced to the world in 1989, Mazda revealed an MX-5 accessories design concept of the next-generation roadster that will hit showrooms this summer. At the Chicago Auto Show, Mazda revealed a 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata accessories design concept for the next-generation roadster that will hit showrooms this summer. "There is so much MX-5 history at the Chicago Auto Show, and we wanted to continue building on that," said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations. "The MX-5 is the soul of our company, and its enthusiast following both inside and outside of Mazda drives us to keep innovating new ideas for it and the rest of our lineup." Painted Ceramic Metallic, the 2016 MX-5 accessories concept will be on display from Thursday, February 12 through Sunday, February 22 and includes an Aero Kit, BBS Wheels and Brembo Brakes as well as a Luggage Rack shown separately in Mazda's display. MX-5 concept accessories include: - Aero Kit (Front Air Dam, Side Sill Extensions, Rear Bumper Skirt and Rear Lip Spoiler): The gloss-black Aero Kit is the same package found on the 2016 MX-5 Global Cup Car that debuted at SEMA in November.