Mazda Motor Corporation releases the newly developed Mazda Biante in Japan. The 2008 Biante minivan comes with an incredibly spacious interior, a unique and highly functional exterior and a high performance engine with increased gas mileage. According to Mazda’s press release, target sales per month are around 3,000 units.

 

The Mazda Biante minivan possesses the widest and longest interior dimensions in its class. Its cabin width is approximately 1,545 mm and its length around 2,990 mm.  It comes with a “living mode” function for its second row passenger seats, where the seats can be moved backwards by an incredible 863 mm for better leg room. Raising the rear seats and lowering the hip point of the minivan’s front seats, along with the use of the compact saddle-type headrests for the third and second rows could also create a more spacious setting for the van’s many passengers.

 

It also possesses dual sliding doors and ultra-low floors for easy access to the rear seats. These power sliding doors also come with touch sensors that prevent them from closing when there is something obstructing their path.

 

To keep the air inside the Mazda Biante clean and fresh, the minivan comes equipped with automatic air conditioner features like an allergy buster that removes viruses and allergens instantly. It also has an ion generator that neutralizes allergens, odors and bacteria. Its deodorizers are also crafted to neutralize unwelcome odors easily and efficiently.

 

As for engine performance, as can be expected from Mazda, the Biante is equipped with high performance direct-injection engines that offer more power, better fuel economy and great environmental performance to your ride. For more information on this excellent minivan, visit the Mazda Website today.

 

Main Source: Mazda.com

 

During this horrible time, I think it’s great that Mazda is extending a helping hand to those in need.

 

Mazda’s official website has recently released news of bringing the brand-new Mazda6 to the North American auto market. This Mazda6 is said to be specially designed for the North American customers, improving but still bringing to the plate, the superior driving performance and the sporty style of the company’s first generation Mazda6. The North American Mazda6 sports better engine displacement and a larger body to cater to the specific demands of the North American consumers. To suit the North American road conditions, Mazda North American Operations has further enriched the comfort and the handling of this high performance vehicle.

 

According to Mazda’s senior managing executive officer who is in charge of overseas sales and marketing, Daniel T. Morris, immediately after the release of the CX-9 and the CX-7, the all new and specialized Mazda6 is now the third vehicle from Mazda that has been specifically engineered and designed to meet the standards of the North American Market.

 

The brand new North American Mazda6 features Mazda’s 3.7-L V6 engine and the newly-designed 2.5-L, I4 (inline four-cylinder) engine. The brand new I4 engine is currently available in the Japanese and the European Mazda6 models. The all-new Mazda6 will be available as a four-door sedan and will be produced by the AutoAlliance International located in Flat Rock, Michigan. This will be a joint investment with the company’s partner Ford Motor Company.

 

For more on this great Mazda update, click here.

 

According to Mazda’s official website, the Mazda Motor Corporation has gone beyond its full-year sales forecast for the fiscal year 2007. Sales of Mazda units went beyond 1.36 million vehicles worldwide. This means an increase of 4.7% since FY 2006. The staggering numbers bodes well for the Mazda Motor Corporation, after finding out that FY 2007 had the best global sales results from Japan and the corporation’s 12 overseas markets. FY 2007 shows the best numbers recorded by Mazda since its boom in FY 2000.

 

As was mentioned, there are a total of 12 overseas Mazda markets on the corporation’s list. It has been an incredibly fruitful year for Mazda after achieving a record sale of around 326,586 units in Europe alone. Sales in Europe shows a 7.4% increase from last year’s sales—depicting the automaker’s best performance in Europe in the last 17 years. New fiscal sales year records were also created in Russia, Portugal and the UK. While key markets like Austria and France also showed year-on-year increase in sales.

 

In the corporation’s hometown Japan, Mazda sold an additional 255,741 vehicles showing a 0.2% to 4.8% increase in market share. While Mazda also achieved its best sales in Israel and Australia with 34,673 units (5.8% increase) and 79,292 units (18.0% increase).

 

In spite of being placed alongside highly competitive brands in the challenging North American market, Mazda also saw a year-on-year increase of around 6.8%. While also showing 294,725 units sold in the United States, marking a great 5.8% leap from last year’s sales. There were a total of 88,507 units sold in Canada, showing a 5.8% year-on-year increase, and 18,011 units sold in Mexico with a staggering 84.0% increase from last year’s sales.

 

All these sales mean a total volume increase of about 4.7% from last year’s sales. The award-winning Mazda 2 or Mazda Demio and Mazda 3 or Mazda Axela were undoubtedly well-received by the waiting market. Mazda CX-9 also proved to be a best-seller, especially after winning the 2008 North American truck of the Year award.

 

Click here to read more about this great news!

 

 

 

 

A Brief Glance at Japan’s Automotive History

 

The automotive history of Japan can be traced way back in 1917 when Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, Ltd., or what we now know simply as Mitsubishi Motors, introduced its first wave of passenger cars. Years later, Mazda emerged with its Mazda-Go DA Type in 1931. Nissan later followed suit in 1933 when it became an established automaker. After Nissan was the Toyota Automatic Loom Works, Ltd., now simply Toyota, with its passenger car called A1 Type being released in 1935. And finally post-war Honda began establishing its name in 1946.

 

When placed beside its contemporary automakers, there’s no disputing Mazda’s early start in auto making.

 

Introducing the Mazda-Go DA Type

 

In 1931, Mazda established its name as a competitive automaker after first unveiling its unique creation—a three-wheel truck known as the Mazda-Go DA Type.

 

Mazda wanted to produce a vehicle with excellent performance and a great maximum-loading capacity to boot. The Mazda-Go’s engine was created in-house with a transmission that included a rear deferential, a reverse gear other components that were patented by the Toyo Kogyo Company, the predecessor of what we now know as Mazda Motor Corporation. The Mazda-Go’s introduction to the public managed to set in motion the complex and rich history of Japan’s 3-wheel truck market.

 

Details on the Mazda-Go

 

The Mazda-Go, also known simply as the “TCS”, referred to an open, three-wheeled truck that heavily resembled a motorcycle that had an open truck bed. These trucks were operated with the use of handlebars. They were also powered with a 1-cylinder engine/transmission combination device that was air-cooled.

 

It was marketed by Mitsubishi in Japan and is now known as the first autorickshaw on the market. The unique design of the Mazda-Go would later produce many design-variants including the Daihatsu Midget and the Hopestar.

 

 

Establishing the “Mazda” Name

 

Mazda started using its brand name when the company first introduced the Mazda-Go to the public. Before coming out with the Mazda-Go, the company was still wrestling with other name ideas like “Tenshi-Go” and “Sumera-Go”.

 

All these ideas were hastily swept aside when it became clear that the right action was to bring honor to the family name of Mazda’s then-company president, Jujiro Matsuda.

 

The name “Mazda” would later be associated with Japan’s God of Light, Ahura Mazda, as a great marketing technique. This strategy was a great way of bringing light to the image of the compact and high performance trucks, in hopes of better brand-name association.

 

Also, the lettering used by Mazda was combined with the corporate emblem of Mitsubishi. During this time, Mitsubishi was the company that was responsible for the sales of the Toyo-Kogyo three-wheel truck. The combined lettering would later be the registered trademark for these unique and early trucks.

 

 

Toyo Kogyo Advertising for the Mazda-Go Models

 

Since the early beginnings of Mazda, the Toyo Kogyo was already very much involved with how the models were advertised. On 1936, the company began to take its lead when it started the Kagoshima-Tokyo Caravan Campaign.

 

During this campaign, all four different Mazda-Go KC t5ypes and a single Mazda-Go DC Type was paraded on the road, covering all the 2700 kilometers that separated Tokyo and Kagoshima.

 

This was all done in a period of 25 days, a remarkable feat during this time that was done to promote the excellence and high performance of the vehicles in an attempt to appeal to all probable customers.

 

Needless to say, the campaign was a success, permanently creating a niche for Mazda in the automotive market.

 

Since this time, Mazda has produced hundreds upon hundreds of high performance and premium quality vehicles, easily making it one of the most popular and dependable car brands on the market. Consider this quick “Blast-from-the-Past” a fantastic way of tracing Mazda’s humble beginnings.

 

 

Mazda 2 has completely trampled competition to earn the title of “World Car of the Year.” It wasn’t an easy win. As expected, tough competition was encountered with competitors like the Mercedes Benz C-class and the Ford Monteo.

 

There were 39 brand new vehicles from all around the world battling it out for this year’s prestigious award. Fifty motoring journalists acted as critics, choosing the 2008 World Car of the Year through secret ballot, and Mazda 2 emerged victorious.

 

Results were announced during the New York International Auto Show.

 

The World Car of the Year’s winner is determined through thorough evaluation of the vehicle’s quality, safety, style and other factors.

 

Aside from being crowned the World Car of the Year, it’s important to note that the Mazda 2 supermini was also a finalist in the competition’s “Top Design” category. It was graded alongside the Volvo C30 and the Audi 38.

 

It shouldn’t really come as a surprise. Mazda 2 may come in a small package, but it’s both economical and easy to drive. Trust Mazda to come up with a vehicle that addresses the consumer’s needs.

 

Also called Mazda Demio, the two-door Mazda 2 is not being marketed in the US yet. It is, however, available in Europe, Japan and other markets. This spring, a four-door version of the Mazda 2 will be available in China.

 

For people residing in the good ol’ U S of A, you shouldn’t worry too much. Mazda executives are eyeing the United States for possible marketing of this incredible car. The Mazda 2 is the perfect car for the young and the young at heart.

 

I guess it’s true what they say, great things do come in small packages.

 

**Side Note:

 

It’s been over a month since my last post. I’ve been rather busy traveling and going to different auto shows. I’m proud to say that my friend Lyn now owns a great Mazda 2. She got one in lime green, just like the picture you see up there.

 

According to Lyn, the Mazda 2 is really a fuel-saver. Unlike her previous car, which was a regular SUV, the Mazda 2 isn’t a gas guzzler. These days, we get to travel from city to city without having to refuel at every stop. Convenient, right?

 

Another thing I love about the Mazda 2 is that it’s comfortable to drive. In short, no wrestling with the steering wheel needed. It also has a nice, sleek look that makes it appear sporty and yet elegant at the same time. Trust Mazda to put their customers’ needs first.

 

I drove Lyn’s Mazda 2 after an outing with some friends, and I tried to see its steering and curve speed. I’m happy to inform all of you that the Mazda zips and “zoom, zooms” cleanly and smoothly—and no, I didn’t go through the street curb this time.

 

I’m seriously looking forward to owning my own Mazda 2, one of these days. Until then, I’ll be taking Lyn’s car for numerous “test drives”.