“Tips for driving in winter conditions
It’s that time of year again where the temperatures start to drop and we put our heating on to keep us snug and warm. It’s also the time of year when hundreds of car accidents happen, due to freezing conditions, icy roads and misty conditions. I you are a victim of an accident you should seek help from the experts in handling car accident claims as you may be entitled to compensation.
Driving in the winter can be very hazardous, so it is well worth thinking about ways you can drive safely on the roads and ensure that you and your family get home safely.
First of all, think about care and preparation of your vehicle. Like anything else, your car needs a little bit of TLC during the winter, otherwise you may end up suffering and stranded if you break down.
It’s worth getting your battery checked out. Winter is dark and gloomy, and it puts a strain on your electrical systems, such as your heaters (which let’s face it, we wouldn’t be without in the winter months) as well as your windscreen wipers and lights. Keep your electrical output to a minimum – avoid running anything for too long – turn your heaters down so they are at a comfortable temperature and turn off your rear window heater once the windows have cleared.
If you don’t use your car every day, it is a good idea to turn your car on and run the engine for a few minutes at the weekend. This will prevent seizing and limit the chance of your car not starting! If your car isn’t starting easily, try turning off all non-essential electricals (the radio, lights, windscreen wipers etc) and try to start the engine in short, five-second bursts, rather than constantly revving to try and get the engine to turn over. Leave 30 seconds between attempts to allow the engine to warm up and let the battery recover.”
Filed under: General | No Comments »
Mazda Takeri Concept
Mazda Motor Corporation showcased the global premiere of the Mazda TAKERI next-generation midsize sedan concept car at the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show. The show also saw the Japanese debut of the new CX-5 crossover SUV outfitted with the complete range of Mazda’s breakthrough SkyActiv technology, as well as other new technologies and production models.
The Mazda TAKERI takes advantage of Mazda’s new design language, “KODO – Soul of Motion,” to bring a new level of strength and allure to sedan styling. The TAKERI features SkyActiv technology, including the efficient and powerful new SKYACTIV-D clean diesel engine, to deliver dynamic performance and a comfortable ride. The combination of SkyActiv technology and other technology features, such as i-stop, Mazda’s idling stop system, and a new regenerative braking system, enable the Mazda TAKERI to achieve exceptional fuel economy.
The regenerative braking system efficiently converts kinetic energy to electricity during deceleration, stores it in capacitors, and then uses it to power the vehicle’s electric equipment, thereby reducing load on the engine and saving fuel. The regenerative braking system represents Step Two of Mazda’s Building Block Strategy. After renewing existing technologies, such as engines and bodies, Step One of the Building Block Strategy is idling stop technology (i-stop), Step Two is regenerative braking technology, and Step Three is electric drive technology (hybrid, etc.).
Filed under: Future/New Mazdas | No Comments »
There are several rumors flying around for these couple of years about the condition of Mazda MX-5 Miata. There are rumors that the new 2013 Mazda MX-5 Miata will be produced and returned to the basic styling of its 1989 model, so the new 2013 model will be fuel efficient (more efficient than the previous one), lighter, and also cleaner.
But now there’s realistic and official news from the company about the new 2013 Mazda Mx-5 Miata. Based on the realistic source – and also the drawing from the manufacturers’ artists itself – the rumors about the new ride seems to be confirmed. With the roadster style, the company is working very hard on the aesthetic part.
On the outer side of the car, there will be oval front grille that goes along the line of the side car. It’s based on the smiling face grille – which is kind of cute styling. The headlights will be available in teardrop shape with slanting model. Based on the sketch, the 2013 Mazda MX-5 Miata definitely goes back to its 1989 root. However, there’s a slight change on the machine area with the engine of Skyactive-G with 1.5 liter capacity, producing about 125 hp, along with 50 mpg system and also manual six speed transmissions. However, for American market, the engine will be available with 2.0 liter machine producing 145 hp.
The 2013 Mazda MX-5 Miata release date will be available around 2013 fall, with debut around March 2013 at Geneva Auto Show.
Filed under: Future/New Mazdas | 1 Comment »
2012 Mazda 5
The Mazda5 fills so many niches that you might call it a wagon; others would say van, while my summation is a mini-minivan with sporty overtones.
That’s not using several words where one would do, but to more adequately describe this fun-to-drive little runabout.
It is even a vision of the near future. Ford’s upcoming Grand C-Max will have a lot in common with the Mazda5 . And both can look at the new Focus and call it kinfolk.
Ford and Mazda have had a financial and manufacturing alliance since 1979. Ford once held a controlling interest in the Japanese auto maker, but in recent years has cut the stake to 3%.
Even if Mazda did soften the ride a bit for the new model year, the Mazda5 still has a sporty nature on back-country roads. With 157 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 163 pound-feet of torque from its inline 4, the Mazda moved out quickly from red lights and stop signs — a nice surprise. But try to merge onto a fast-moving interstate and the need for more grunt makes itself known.
From a dead stop to a 60mph takes less than 10 seconds with the aid of a fast-acting, five-speed automatic transmission. Yet a driver’s left to wonder, “What would this be like with a small turbo?”
No, that wouldn’t do much to help gas mileage, rated at 21-28 mpg by the EPA. It runs on regular unleaded and gave me 25 mpg overall.
When it comes to the comfort side of the equation, there should be few complaints. There’s plenty of room for a 6-foot-tall driver. The tachometer and speedometer are placed in twin pods right in front of the driver. Auxiliary information comes from a small window in the instrument pane, and a bigger one just above the central stack.
Auto writers have complained for some time that the center stack info window washes out on even at the hint of a sunny day because of its poor contrast. And still, only after sunset, or in the shade, will you see what you have been missing all day.
The two bucket seats that comprise the second-row seating are multi-adjustable to accommodate wee ones on up to budding basketball players. They also get to control their own ventilation via vents and buttons at the end of the center console.
Wide open, the sunroof generates only a little wind noise and thanks to the overall mini-minivan design, eats up very little headroom. More athletically inclined kids can select the third-row seat. It’s a great launchpad for harassing their older siblings. The sliding side doors are easy to open and third-row seats are quite firm.
With all three rows of seating up, storage space is limited to 5.6 cubic feet. You may be able to stash a case of beer back there, but it would be sitting on its side. A case of your favorite wine would require folding the third-row of seats, easily done via the rear hatch. That increases carrying capacity to 27 cubic feet. Folding the second row increases that to 55.4 cubic feet for serious hardware store visits.
Three models are offered, with our tested Grand Touring package topping the list. With only two small options, the test vehicle went out the door at $24,720 including transportation.
Interior materials were on the economy side of the ledger. Fit and finish were good.
For those who don’t need the space available in a large van or sport utility, the Mazda makes for a very wise choice. The price is right; it will haul a fair amount of stuff, is economical and has a “recommended” rating from Consumer Reports.
It won’t turn heads in the neighborhood, but will mark the owners as very smart consumers.
2012 Mazda 6
The 2012 Mazda 6, which will come with many new features compared to the current generation. Mazda 6 is being developed on the platform of the future of automotive multi-purpose which means you have a new chassis and improved suspension and a new gearbox 6-speed automatic. Mazda 6 The 2012 also comes with new petrol and diesel engines including a 2.0-liter petrol CO2 emissions of 130 g / km and a 2.2-liter diesel sky promises emissions of 105 grams of CO2 per km.
The two 4-cylinder engines mentioned above provide the basis for the strategy of Mazda propulsion system worldwide, and 2.2-liter diesel is already in compliance with the Euro 6 emissions regulations come into force in 2013.
The Mazda 6 2012 also will be lighter than the current generation.
Filed under: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Minagi Concept - Future CX-5?
Only a few days after some rumors began spreading the word about the origins of the future Mazda CX-5, the Japanese automaker unveiled in North America the Minagi concept, the model on which the future CX-5 is expected to be based on.
Presented for the first time last month in Geneva, the Minagi concept previews a production version model that will be the embodiment of the Japanese new KODO design theme, one that Mazda promises to become “the forerunner to the launch of Mazda’s upcoming next-generation products” and “symbolize the evolution of the Mazda brand for a new era,” as the car maker said when it first presented the model.
“I wanted to convey something different from the Mazda SHINARI. I felt a compact crossover SUV was the perfect vehicle to express agility and focused movement; the flexibility of four limbs moving in unison, and an upright posture,” said Masashi Nakayama, Minagi chief designer.
The new era for Mazda will extend far beyond the exterior aspect of the car. On the inside, and underneath, the car maker fitted an array of technologies that are meant to dazzle the competition: SKYACTIV engine and transmission.
Mazda did not make any mentions of the features that it will take from the Minagi and transplant into the CX-5. The production of the new model, which will kick off sometime next year, will however come just in time to fill the gap between the CX-7 and Mazda CX-9, by adding a compact crossover to the range.
This is the ‘90 RX-7 of Merritt Nord. He bought it from a person who worked at the Department of Labor and has given it new custom paint and top.
by Robert Thomas and Frank Ochal
Welcome to all of the many new members that have joined the club since the last magazine. Look for your name in “Meet the New Members”. Thanks to this issue’s contributors.
We have a new website for mobile phone users at www.mazdaclub.mobi . It is easier to read on smart cell phones than the regular website.
We have updated our payment form on our website to directly take credit card and PayPal payments. Your credit card is now checked for accuracy and verified and your order is placed into a shopping cart of items awaiting checkout. This type of program should be very familiar to people who pay for items on other Internet websites and is available on the PayPal/Credit Card website button. The old form will also remain for members that are comfortable with it.
I am happy to inform you that MC Technical Sections is now available which contains a complete copy of all the Technical Sections, topics, questions and answers published in the OnlyWay from 1998 thru 2007. It is available on CD-Rom only for PC or Mac in pdf format. It is indexed by subject for easy reference and contains articles, topics, questions and answers and is available in the Club Store section of each OnlyWay and on the website at www.mazdaclub.com . Another new item in the store is a complete copy of the past ten years of the OnlyWay available on CD only for PC or Mac.
Finally the club has a new and much improved message board. This is something that many of our members have wanted for a long time. Be sure to check it out. You can access through the club website at www.mazdaclub.com or directly at http://board.mazdaclub.com .
You can now find us on the popular networking sites www.myspace.com , www.facebook.com and www.friendster.com in the groups/clubs section.
You can access it through the club website at www. mazdaclub.com or directly at http://board.mazdaclub.com . We have a members only section of the message board. You can use the user id and password on page 3 of each OnlyWay or you can get a personal id and password. To do so, register and then logon to the message board and send a message to us. This allows you to access the MEMBER ONLY QUESTION & ANSWER and UPKEEP & PERFORMANCE HINTS area. It also allows you to post items in the FOR SALE and WANTED sections as well as post photos in the MEMBER PHOTOS area. Club member access allows posting of items for sale and photos and access to the club Members Section. Also there is a now a Local Groups/Activities section.
The club also now has a blog located at http://blog.mazdaclub.com . Members can publish or comment on the Blog by logging in as a member.
The Mazda Club has a new photo gallery located at http://photos.mazdaclub.com . The same login is used for the gallery as the Message Board. Members can download photos to this gallery.
We now offer a 3 year membership or renewal rate which includes a free t-shirt or technical sections CD. And in response to many members we now have a 3 year eMembership for $50 which also includes a free t-shirt or tech CD. So save some money and get a free t-shirt or tech CD in the process! Remembers our web site address is easier to get to. It is simply mazdaclub.com and our new general email address is info@mazdaclub.com .
We have a “members only” section of the web site. To access it you must use the USER ID and PASSWORD found on page 3 of this issue. In this section you can access the Only way, technical support contact info and access the spare parts lists received. Also now you can to create your own id and password for the members only section. Submit the form on the members only page to do this.
We send out an email newsletter in addition to the regular Only Way for members that have given us their email address. This is in addition to the Only Way and is not intended to replace it. So send us your email address if you have one. If you have not received an eOnlyWay by this time it is because we either do not have an email address for you or not the correct one.
Do not worry if you do not have an email address as you will get all of the information sent in the eOnlyWay in the regular OnlyWay but it may be in a different format and at later date because of printing and mailing time.
Help spread the enjoyment of club membership. Tell other Mazda owners about our club and if they join have them put your name and address on the membership application. You will receive a $5 credit good towards renewal or membership for each member you recruit. See page 16 of the magazine.
We still are in need of additional people for our technical staff. If you think you would like to help your fellow members in this way, please contact us. It can be a great way to publicize your business while helping out your fellow Mazda Club members.
If you have a recommendation on service and body shops send it to us so that we can assist other members looking for help. Our database containing such information is still small and we need your input to make it a worthwhile service for our members.
Thanks for your support!
Filed under: OnlyWay magazine | No Comments »
by Michael Austin from Car & Driver
Don’t be alarmed if you’re not too familiar with the Mazda5. After all, Mazda only sold about 16,000 in 2010. Chrysler sold as many Town & Country minivans every two months last year, but Mazda’s is still an impressive feat considering that the 5 has almost zero marketing support.
So let us reintroduce the Mazda 5, which has been updated for the 2012 model year with new sheetmetal, a new engine, and a new dash. For those buyers enlightened enough to spec a manual transmission in their tiny van—only about 5 percent of U.S 5 adopters—the 5’s five-speed is replaced by a six-speed for 2012. Unfortunately, the van tested here was equipped with an automatic. Mazda says this mini-minivan is aimed at young families looking to move up from an economy car but who don’t want the high sticker price or sluggish handling of a bigger van—given that narrow niche, the 5 would probably sell in small numbers even if it did receive marketing support. The fully loaded Grand Touring model we tested—sunroof, automatic xenon headlights, heated power mirrors, Sirius satellite radio, leather seats (heated in front)—comes in under the magic $25,000 limbo stick, at $24,670.
No Hiding the Stowaway
But wait, isn’t this the same pitch Ford gives for the upcoming C-Max? Although both vehicles can trace their underpinnings back to the same Ford global C-platform, neither company admits to much collusion. They’re clearly different vehicles, as evidenced by the Mazda’s second-row center console that folds into the right-side seat bottom. In the C-Max, it’s the middle seat that folds in exactly the same way. Suspiciously similar stowage aside, the vans at least look nothing alike. The 5 gets new front styling with a smiley-face grille, just like those on the Mazda 2 and 3. And its sides now feature the “sand ripple” creases first seen on the Nagare concept car. In the back, horizontal taillights replace the vertical stalks of the old 5.
Inside, the same three-row, six-passenger seating configuration remains. Noticeably absent is the option for navigation, as Mazda says its customers would rather buy a $100 portable nav unit than suffer the higher price of a factory piece. We’re still a little bit skeptical of this plan when the big players in the small-car field are offering more luxury and features than the segment has ever seen before. On the C-Max, for example, Ford plans to offer everything but the kitchen sink—Ford Sync will be available, though—including power side doors and a power hatch. We do expect, however, that such options would push the C-Max’s sticker well above the 5’s maximum. A C-Max equipped like the 5 tested here should price out similarly.
Four-Cylinder 5
Under the hood, the Mazda 5 freshens up with a 2.5-liter inline-four similar to that in the 3, 6, and CX-7. Compared to the outgoing 2.3-liter, the 2.5 has 4 more hp—157—at a power peak 500 rpm earlier, at 6000. Torque increases 15 lb-ft to 163 and also tops out 500 rpm lower, at 4000. Highway fuel economy inches up 1 mpg to 28, although our as-tested result of 23 is closer to the 21-mpg city figure. On the test track, the new vanlet runs from 0 to 60 mph in nine seconds flat and covers the quarter-mile in 17.1 at 82 mph. It’s far from blistering, but 0.4 second quicker to 60 than before.
The Mazda 5 handles better than the meager steady-state cornering figure of 0.81 g would suggest. Turn the steering wheel and the front tires change your path without delay. All of the controls and responses are in harmony, making it easy (and fun) to wring the most out of the Mazda 5. When’s the last time you wanted to wring anything but your own neck in a minivan?
A Mazda 5 with a manual would be quicker, of course, and less expensive, too—the manual is only available in the $19,990 Sport model. More important, its mere availability is a reminder that Mazda is one of the few brands that continues to cater to people who care about driving. That mindset is evident even in the slushbox-equipped 5 that we tested. Most of the fun of the Mazda 3 is here, only with about 500 extra pounds. So, while the Mazda 5 isn’t the Miata of minivans—nothing really is—it is a reminder that family hauling doesn’t mean you have to give up on fun driving.
Filed under: General | 1 Comment »
Mazda5
A good use of words. Take for example Karakuri – used to describe its very clever seating system and which comes from a word used to describe trickery! Apt because of the smart way the seats fold.
And more latterly we have Nagare – Mazda’s design theme which roughly translated means flow and is the flow-inspired concept behind the future of the marque’s design theme.
It first emerged in 2006 at the Los Angeles Motor show when Mazda unveiled the concept car Nagare which gave a flavour of what was to come.
This month we have the launch of the all-new Mazda5, emerging from the Nagare theme. It’s the Mazda that really does go with the flow. Well almost but we’ll come to that later.
The all-new 5 MPV is the first car to be completely styled using the nagare design language.
Inspired by the flowing elements found in nature, the Mazda5 is instantly distinguished by its boldly sculpted flanks.
These distinctive contours are complemented by the company’s striking face with a five point grille, which it shares with the Mazda3 which also provides the underpinnings for the MPV, piercing headlamps, and a steeply raked windscreen angle resulting in a sleek and svelte silhouette.
There appear to be three waves which undulate down each flank, emphasising nagare.
All very pleasant but when you get to the rear it looks a little ‘heavy bottomed’ and ungainly which doesn’t sit as prettily as the rest – the design appears to have run out of the ‘flow’ but more of that later.
Getting in and out of the Mazda5 is now even easier. Its large, twin sliding rear doors – a ‘first in class’ feature unique for the Mazda5 in its sector – open to a wide 686mm and extend just 160mm beyond the bodywork when open, giving exceptional access in even the tightest spaces. Sport models come with power sliding doors as standard.
The seven-seat layout offers excellent flexibility and plenty of space for all on board.
The three rows of seats create a wide range of passenger-luggage combinations – from seven seats, to four seats with a generous luggage compartment for longer journeys to just two seats and a vast, flat-floored cargo area for hauling larger items.
Its seven seats can be flipped and folded to create a variety of load-carrying configurations thanks to Karakuri!
The Mazda5 range debuts with two engines and a third to come early next year. The two petrol-powered MZR units – a 115ps 1.8-litre and a 150ps 2.0-litre DISI – will be joined by a 115ps 1.6-litre MZ-CD turbo diesel unit. The three powertrains are all Euro Stage 5 compliant.
The 2.0 litre is perky and more than capable of dealing with a full load but the 1.8 is underpowered and loaded up will struggle at times. I suspect the diesel will be the best drive.
Inside, the interior is one of Mazda’s best with all the major controls easy to operate and you don’t need to read the handbook from cover to cover to understand them.
It may appear a little on the plastic side but look at the price you are paying – and besides that this is meant for families and will easily wipe clean!
Standard equipment levels are generous and include six airbags, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Traction Control System (TCS), two ISOFIX child seat anchor points, air-conditioning, cruise control, a six-speaker CD audio unit and alloy wheels across the range.