Mazda MX 5 WikipediaMiata redirects here. For the Japanese bicycle manufacturer, see Miyata. The Mazda MX 5, released as the Mazda MX 5 Miata in North America and as the Eunos Roadster in Japan, is a lightweight two seater roadster with a front engine, rear wheel drive layout. The 2016 Mazda CX3 has a little less space than similar subcompact SUVs, but it offers great fuel economy, a smooth ride, and it definitely turns heads. Is the 2016 Mazda CX9 Touring a burnout bandit in frontdrive form Read the CX9 First Test review with photos youll only find at Motor Trend, here. Check out the Mazda Mazda 3 review at CARandDRIVER. Use our Car Buying Guide to research Mazda Mazda 3 prices, specs, photos, videos, and more. Manufactured by Mazda in Hiroshima, Japan, the model debuted in 1. Chicago Auto Show. The MX 5 was conceived as a small roadster with light weight and minimal mechanical complexity limited only by legal and safety requirements, while being technologically modern and reliable. The MX 5 is conceptually the evolution and spiritual successor of the British sports cars of the 1. Triumph Spitfire, Austin Healey 1. MG MGA, and particularly the Lotus Elan. The second generation MX 5 NB was launched in 1. NC model was launched in 2. ND was released in 2. It continues to be the best selling two seat convertible sports car in history 1 and by April 2. MX 5s had been built and sold around the world. Production of the MX 5 had fallen by 2. ND model. Since the launch of the third generation, Mazda has consolidated worldwide marketing using the MX 5 name with the exception of the United States where it is marketed as the MX 5 Miata. The name miata derives from Old High German for reward. Generations and overvieweditThe MX5s first generation, the NA, sold over 4. May 1. 98. 9 to 1. L 9. 8 cu in straight 4 engine to 1. L 1. 10 cu in engine thereafter with a de tuned 1. Motor Trend reviews the 2016 Mazda CX3 where consumers can find detailed information on specs, fuel economy, transmission and safety. Find local 2016 Mazda CX3. The 2017 Mazda 3 is near the top of our favorite compact cars on sale today. Its good performance, good fuel economy, and good value make for a very good car. Overview Eager to capitalize on an expanding trend, Mazda added a third crossover to its lineup for 2016 called the CX3. Smaller than the compact CX5 and the three. The second generation NB was introduced in 1. The third generation NC was introduced in 2. L 1. 20 cu in engine. Launched at a time when production of small roadsters had almost come to an end, the Alfa Romeo Spider was the only comparable volume model in production at the time of the MX 5s launch. Just a decade earlier, a host of similar models notably the MG B, Triumph TR7, Triumph Spitfire, and Fiat Spider had been available. The body is a conventional, but light, unibody or monocoque construction, with detachable front and rear subframes. Over the course of the week, I spent extensive time with the 2016 Honda CRV, Mazda CX5, and Jeep Cherokee to see which was best. Brian LeonJeep. The MX 5 also incorporates a longitudinal truss, marketed as the Powerplant Frame PPF, providing a rigid connection between the engine and differential, minimizing flex and contributing to responsive handling. Some MX 5s feature limited slip differentials and anti lock braking system. Traction control is an option available on NC models. All models weighed approximately one tonne. With an approximate 5. Inducing oversteer is easy and very controllable, thus making the MX 5 a popular choice for amateur and stock racing,5 including, in the US, the Sports Car Club of Americas Solo. Spec Miata race series, and in the UK, the 5. Image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/2016-mazda-mazda6-silver-driving-front-quarter.jpg' alt='3 Edition Mazda Touring 2016' title='3 Edition Mazda Touring 2016' />Club Racing championship. Raddatz and Otten won the AASA Australian Endurance Championship in 2. The MX 5 has won awards including Wheels Magazine s Car of the Year for 1. Sports Car Internationals best sports car of the 1. Car of the Year Japan and 2. Australian Car of the Year. The Miata has also made Car and Driver magazines annual Ten Best list 1. In their December 2. Grassroots Motorsports magazine named the Miata as the most important sports car built during the previous 2. In 2. 00. 9, English automotive critic Jeremy Clarkson wrote The fact is that if you want a sports car, the MX 5 is perfect. Nova Scotia Anglers Handbook For The Recently Deceased there. Nothing on the road will give you better value. Nothing will give you so much fun. The only reason Im giving it five stars is because I cant give it fourteen. Design genesiseditIn 1. Bob Hall, a journalist at Motor Trend magazine who was an expert in Japanese cars and fluent in the language, met Kenichi Yamamoto and Gai Arai, head of Research and Development at Mazda. Yamamoto and Gai Arai asked Hall what kind of car Mazda should make in the future 8I babbled. British sports car doesnt exist any more. I told Mr. Yamamoto that somebody should build one. In 1. Hall moved to a product planning position with Mazda USA and again met Yamamoto, now chairman of Mazda Motors, who remembered their conversation about a roadster and in 1. Hall the go ahead to research the idea further. At this time Hall hired designer Mark Jordan to join the newly formed Mazda design studio in Southern California. There, Hall and Jordan collaborated on the parameters of the initial image, proportion and visualization of the light weight sports concept. In 1. 98. 3, the idea turned concept was approved under the Offline 5. Mazda initiative that sought to change the way new models were developed. Thus, under head of project Masakatsu, the concept development was turned into a competition between the Mazda design teams in Tokyo and California. The Californian team proposed a front engine, rear wheel drive layout, codenamed Duo 1. British roadster ancestry, but their Japanese counterparts favored the more common front engine, front wheel drive layout or the rear mid engine, rear wheel drive layoutcitation needed. The first round of judging the competing designs was held in April 1. The mid engined car appeared to offer favorable qualities, although it was known at the time that such a layout would struggle to meet the noise, vibration, and harshness NVH requirements of the project. It was only at the second round of the competition in August 1. Duo 1. 01 won the competition and was selected as the basis for what would become the MX 5. The Duo 1. 01, so named as either a soft top or hardtop could be used, incorporated many key stylistic cues inspired by the Lotus Elan, a 1. International Automotive Design IAD in Worthing, England was commissioned to develop a running prototype, codenamed V7. It was built with a fiberglass body, a 1. L 8. 5 cu in engine from a Mazda Familia and components from a variety of early Mazda models. The V7. 05 was completed in August 1. US where it rolled on the roads around Santa Barbara, California and got positive reactions. The project received final approval on 1. January 1. 98. 6. The models codename was changed to P7. Toshihiko Hirai. The task of constructing five engineering mules more developed prototypes was again allocated to IAD, which also conducted the first front and rear crash tests on the P7. While Tom Matano,1. Mark Jordan, Wu Huang Chin, Norman Garrett, and Koichi Hayashi worked on the final design, the project was moved to Japan for engineering and production details. By 1. 98. 9, with a definitive model name now chosen, the MX 5 was ready to be introduced to the world as a true lightweight sports car, weighing just 9. Although Mazdas concept was for the MX 5 to be an inexpensive sports car, at introduction the design met strong demand, with many dealers placing customers on pre order lists and several dealers across North America increasing the vehicle markup. Jinba ittaieditMazda used a design credo across the four generations of the MX 5s development the phrase Jinba ittai, dimba itai,1. English as rider jin and horse ba as one body ittai. With the first generation of the MX 5, the phrase was developed into five specific core design requirements That the car would be as compact and as light as possible while meeting global safety requirements. That the cockpit would comfortably accommodate two full stature occupants with no wasted space. That the basic layout would continue with the originals front midship rear drive configuration with the engine positioned ahead of the driver but behind the front axle for 5. That all four wheels would be attached by wishbone or multi link suspension systems to maximize tire performance, road grip, and dynamic stability. And that a power plant frame would again provide a solid connection between the engine and rear mounted differential to sharpen throttle response. First generation NAeditThe MX 5 was unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show on February 1. US1. 4,0. 00. 1. Mazda CX 3 GT Review Rating. The subcompact SUV segment is booming. Of the many new cars on the market, the 2. Mazda CX 3, a five door subcompact crossover SUV based on the Mazda. The tech offerings are very good on the top GT trim line, the Mazda CX 3 GT, which we reviewed, but only so so below that. The CX 3 drives well, offers a full suite of driver assists, and offers great fuel economy. It trumps the Honda HR V in every category except backseat roominess and cargo capacity, and is a very solid choice among subcompact SUVs. Price and Trim Lines. The Mazda CX 3 comes in three trim lines. The Sport model starts at 2. Touring trim starts at 2. GT starts at 2. 5,8. Every CX 3 has front wheel drive, and includes remote keyless entry, push button start, a rear camera, and the Mazda Connect infotainment system. You can add Mazdas i Activ AWD system for 1,2. Touring and GT trims with the 1,4. Technology package and the 1,9. Activ. Sense package. The all wheel drive CX 3 GT with i Activ. Sense and the aptly named Soul Red paint is the priciest possible configuration at 2. The Touring trim adds blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert, advanced keyless entry proximity unlock, heated leatherette seats with cloth inserts, a center armrest, two USB ports, and a leather wrapped steering wheel and shifter at the base level. The Technology package is really a comfort and music option that adds a decent size moonroof, a cargo cover, and satellite and HD radio. The high end CX 3 GT includes the Technology package option, plus a HUD like active driving display, navigation, steerable LED headlamps also LED fog lamps, daytime running lights, and tail lights, a seven speaker Bose stereo system, paddle shifters, and leather and suede two tone seats that look like big saddle shoes. The i Activ. Sense Package adds adaptive cruise control, Smart City Brake Support, Smart Brake Support, Lane Departure Warning, automatic high beam control, rain sensing wipers, and auto onoff headlamps. The single enginetransmission choice is a 2. Sky. Activ Drive. Amazingly, the engine has a 1. Preliminary ratings have the Mazda CX 3 at a best in class 2. Activ AWD system. Performance and Capacity. Mazdas slogan is zoom zoom, so its no surprise that the CX 3 handles well. Driving twisty canyon roads like Mulholland Highway outside Los Angeles, both the front drive and AWD models are in their element. To move 2,9. 00 pounds with 1. The CX 3 goes from 0 6. SUV. Backseat room is fair, but others, like the new Honda HR V, provide more space. If its just two people in the vehicle, youll have plenty of room for a weekend or week long trek, especially with the nice cabin appointments on the Grand Touring. Active Safety Assistance. The subcompact buying segment includes young couples on their way up, urbanites who need more than Uber, college kids with rich parents, and Millennials and Boomers scaling back but still interested in the tech and safety features of their previous rides. Here, Mazda nailed it. Adaptive cruise control on the CX 3 worked well, although it only covers the range of 1. ACC would be better. Mazda partly fills that gap below 1. Smart City Brake Support SCBS, along with Smart Brake Support SBS. SBS uses radar to track vehicles up to 6. SCBS uses a windshield mounted laser to track the car ahead in the range of 3 1. It should eliminate or minimize the effect of a low speed collision. Blind Spot Warning and Lane Departure Warning work similarly to most other models, meaning a warning light and a beep rather than a steering wheel or seat vibration. For LDW, when our test car reached the lane marking, it emitted a powerful low frequency rumble from the speakers. Mazda says it emulates the lane marker rumble. If youre an audiophile, youll say it sounds like a blown loudspeaker that can only buzz. Mazda allows you to switch to a traditional beeping sound, but wed prefer the option of switching to steering wheel vibration. Mazda, like Mini, uses a small head up display in the form of a plastic reflector atop the instrument cluster that rotates into position when the car starts up. This HUD is called the Active Driving Display, and it shows speed and cruise control settings. For most CX 3 drivers, the line formed by the rear edge of the hood cuts across the middle of the ADD. Its also uncertain how the system will hold up if someone tries to manually retract it, or drops a tablet on the dash, but it would probably break. Mazda Connect. Mazda Connect works well, though it isnt our favorite infotainment system. You can use the 7 inch touch screen or the i. Drive like control wheel and function buttons on the console. Navigation gets the job done, but quick typists may have to wait a fraction of a second between each key press. There is no split screen except upcoming turns, so you cant see both navigation and music at the same time. You can control phone based apps like Pandora, Aha, and Stitcher, but theres no word on backwards compatibility with Apple Car. Play or Android Auto though Mazda has announced future support for those systems. In a nice touch, Mazda Connect is wired to allow dealer installation of the navigation system if your CX 3 doesnt come with it, an upgrade Mazda says will cost about 4. Mazda also offers a remote start system controlled by your i. OS or Android smartphone with a 5. Should I Buy the CX 3 Theres a lot of competition in the subcompact SUV segment, including the Honda HR V which is basically a bigger Honda Fit, the Buick Encore, and wed also add the Mazda. Of these, the Honda HR V is the most direct opponent to the CX 3. The HR V is taller, wider, longer, and does a better job hauling cargo with its Magic Fold second row seats. However, the CX 3 handles better, gets better fuel economy, and Mazda offers a wider selection of driver assist features. If youre looking for a subcompact SUV, either car is a very solid option.