Mazda Rx-7 Turbo Ii With 46k Original Miles on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Mazda says Skyactiv-X will come to the U.S, but not when

Mazda executives say the new 2.0-liter Skyactiv-X powerplant will still take some time to arrive to the North American market. The Skyactiv-X is a high-compression gasoline engine, and its 16:1 compression ratio is comparable to that of a diesel engine. "We have a lot of technology. And we are introducing each technology in each region when the time is right," said Mazda North America CEO Masahiro Moro at the SAE International WCX Conference, according to Automotive News. Moro stated that while the Skyactiv-X can indeed pass EPA emissions regulations, it's not in the immediate pipeline for U.S-bound Mazdas; the slightly less hardcore Skyactiv-G will be amended first. The launch-spec 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G engine in the new Mazda 3 will reportedly be supplemented by a 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G, which also has a bold compression ratio: according to Mazda, its ratio of 14:1 is the highest of any production gasoline engine. However, Moro didn't state the exact timeline for that Skyactiv-G's arrival, either. The compression ratio of the 2.5-liter "big block" available now is 13:1. In the 2019 model-year Miata roadster, the 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G makes 181 horsepower, and an earlier Slovakian Euro-spec leak mentioned the 2.0-liter 3's power figure at 164hp. The bottom line is thermal efficiency through being able to extract more energy out of gasoline, and moving from G to X would improve fuel economy by 20-30 percent while giving more power. If the Slovakian specifications are to be believed, the Skyactiv-X would make 178h p and 164 lb-ft in the Mazda3.

Las Vegas reporter makes literal street food

A reporter in the American Southwest did a test to see just how hot it was this week, and received her just deserts. With a promised high of 115 degrees in the Las Vegas Valley on June 20, Caitlin Lilly and Kira Terry of the Las Vegas Review-Journal decided to find out if they could bake cookies and cook breakfast using just the ambient heat of the day and some handy flat surfaces. First, the pair attempted to bake a couple dozen pre-mixed cookies on the dashboard of a Mazda. Starting around 1:00 pm, they left the cookies on a sheet tray propped up beneath the car's un-tinted windows. By 5:00 pm the cookies were done and, according to various R-J staffers, quite delicious. While the cookies were baking, they decided to make themselves something a little more substantial, something to justify the desert they had baking in the Mazda. They found a nice patch of parking lot and tried to fry an egg, some bacon, and a handful of shrimp. The shrimp cooked quickly, as shrimp are wont to do, but after 20 minutes the bacon only browned at the edges while staying raw in the middle. The egg remained uncooked, unfortunately, since even the hottest asphalt isn't hot enough to actually fry an egg. Record high temperatures are baking the American Southwest and Southern California as the region suffers the effects of a weather phenomenon called a " heat dome." Highs of over 100 degrees were reported throughout SoCal, Arizona, and Nevada, which is surprising for mid-June. The threat of wildfires is already astronomical, and people are suffering from heat-related illnesses. Recent Video:

Refreshed 2017 Mazda 3 and 6 get G-Vectoring Control

Back in June, we told you about Mazda's G-Vectoring Control system, which is an additional layer of unobtrusive cornering assistance to help maintain traction at the limits of adhesion. It's subtle to the point of being hard for a human being to detect, even a Mazda engineer, as we found out driving a G-VC equipped Mazda 6 around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. We knew then that the G-VC system would make it to the 2017 Mazda 3 and 6, but now all the details of both mildly refreshed cars are available. Let's start with the Mazda 3, which has a few more changes than its larger stablemate. As is standard industry practice, a mild facelift includes available LED headlights and taillights, a new grille, and a monochrome rear bumper. Inside, the slightly recontoured steering wheel now has available heating and the manual handbrake has been replaced by an electronic one. Fans of handbrake turns will frown, but those handles take up an immense amount of room (relatively speaking) inside the center console. The redesigned center storage bin takes better advantage of that newly freed-up space. Lastly, Mazda claims the 3 is quieter thanks to improved insulation and weatherstripping. The Mazda 6 was just refreshed last year, so the list of changes is even shorter. The larger sedan benefits from similar sound-reducing tweaks as the 3, and the entry-level 6 with a manual transmission now comes with the Mazda Connect infotainment system, a real upgrade from the older non-touchscreen system. One thing that both share is an available full color head-up display, which replaces a functional but ancient-looking monochrome unit. If you've been in a Mazda currently on sale with this old-looking system, you'll really appreciate the way this new one looks. We can't wait to try it out. Both new Mazdas go on sale in September. Pricing isn't available at this time. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2017 Mazda3 Unveiling View 15 Photos Related Gallery 2017 Mazda6 Unveiling View 14 Photos Related Gallery 2017 Mazda3 View 36 Photos Related Gallery 2017 Mazda 6 View 33 Photos Image Credit: Live photos copyright 2016 Drew Phillips / Autoblog.com Mazda Hatchback Sedan mazda 3