Mazda: What's coming in 2010 - - and beyond

CONFIRMED FOR 2010:

CX-7: (photo) The CX-7 gets a new base engine: A 161 horsepower version of the 2.5 liter four-cylinder found in the2009 Mazda6 and 2010 Mazda3. The 244 horsepower 2.3 liter turbo engine will continue as an option. Other changes include tweaked styling, a stiffer body structure, and improvements in NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness), with a particular emphasis on reducing wind noise.

CX-9: (photo) Mazda's big crossover gets its three-year facelift in the form of a bigger, happier grille, larger side mirrors, and other detail changes. The interior sees similar tweaks intended to give the CX-9 a more upscale look.

MAZDA3: (photos: sedan, hatchback) The Mazda3 is all new for 2010. Outside, the '10-3 gets Mazda's new corporate smiley-face grille; inside it gets a long list of standard and optional equipment of the sort traditionally found on larger cars -- dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, and push-button ignition. The 3 once again offers two engines; the 3i gets a 148 hp two-liter, while the 3s gets the 167 hp 2.5 from the mid-size Mazda6. Unchanged: The Mazda3's fun-to-drive demeanor.

• 2010 Mazda3 Sedan test drive and review
• 2010 Mazda3 Sedan photo gallery

MAZDA5: Electronic stability control is now standard.

MAZDA6: A new Touring Plus trim level, available on both 4-cylinder ("i") and six-cylinder ("s") versions, fits in between the Touring and the Grand Touring; it includes a moonroof, Bluetooth phone connectivity, electroluminescent gauges, a blind spot warning system, and an alarm. The Grand Touring model gets a new Technology Package which bundles Bluetooth and a color multi-information display.

MAZDASPEED3: (photo) The new version of the Mazdaspeed3 will once again share its 5-door body with the Mazda3 hatchback, with a big hood scoop to differentiate it from the regular 3 (and perhaps to make it look a bit more like the Subaru WRX). The 263 horsepower 2.3 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine is unchanged from the previous Mazdaspeed3, but the manual transmission's gear ratios have been revised. Mazda promises improvements to suspension, steering and braking which should make the new car's handling superior to the outgoing 'Speed3.

MX-5 MIATA: The entry-level SV model has been dropped, leaving the Sport as the least-expensive Miata. And speaking of the Sport, it's no longer available with the optional folding hard-top. The Grand Touring Premium Package now includes Bluetooth phone connectivity and SIRIUS satellite radio.

RX-8: The rotary-engine sports car gets new 10-spoke wheels with a rotary motif, and Grand Touring models now come with a moonroof and Sirius satellite radio as standard.

TRIBUTE: Mazda's version of the Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner gets some new standard equipment: An outside temperature gauge for all models, garage-door opener and auto-dimming rear view mirror on Grand Touring and HEV (hybrid) models, and a one-touch open/close moonroof for the HEV. Steel Blue and Ingot Silver join the paint palette.

BEYOND 2010:

MAZDA2: (photo) Mazda plans to enter the subcompact market by bringing the Mazda2 hatchback -- already sold in other markets, including Europe and Japan -- to the United States and Canada. Mazda will show the North American-bound version of the Mazda2 at the Los Angeles Auto Show; it is scheduled to go on sale in late 2010 as a 2011 model.

Mazda CX 7 Sports Crossover 2010

Mazda CX-7 2010 was introduced back in March 2009. Mazda has officially announced today that Mazda CX-7 Sports Crossover 2010 will be on sale beginning November 1st with a price tag of £25,785 on the road. Continue reading for high res car pictures and details of the car.

Mazda 6 US-spec

The original Mazda 6, introduced in late 2002 for the 2003 model year, made Zoom-Zoom the two most evocative words in the automotive lexicon. This sport sedan was the first Mazda vehicle to benefit from the spirit of a true sports car infused in a five-passenger, 4-door sedan. That revolutionary combination created a commotion in the mid-size class where strict practicality, affordability, and economy of operation usually leave no room for driving... 

2011 Mazda BT-50

2011 Mazda BT-50 - Front Angle Picture

Mazda has unveiled the All-New BT-50 at this year’s Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. The new BT-50 is an active lifestyle vehicle that signifies a new direction in the utility segment, intended to further extend the appeal of a utility from traditional business users to a wide range of customers.

          

Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18.000

If you intend to buy a car, but you don’t have enough money for an Enzo or a Veyron, then you should know that you can buy really nice car under $18.000. Is true you won’t be able to run with 200 mph, but is good to know which are the best car to buy in your budget.

In choosing the elite 10 Coolest Cars under $18,000, kbb.com used the same combination of objective and subjective criteria that many consumers use in examining this category. Safety, fuel economy, environmental impact, interior size, comfort and fun-to-drive were all items on the consideration list. And each vehicle was examined through the subjective magnifying glass of what is cool. The list of qualifying vehicles under $18,000 was put together using our New Car Blue Book values, which reflect real-world transaction prices and provide a more useful comparison point than Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). The good news here is that all the vehicles on this list can be purchased for $18,000 or less, demonstrating that there are great alternatives for those who demand coolness but who don’t want to spend a dotcom fortune on their ride.

Ton 10 Coolest Cars under $18,000

• 2007 Chevrolet Silverado Classic: $16,590
• 2007 Ford Focus SES 2-Door Hatchback: $16,590
• 2007 Honda Fit: $15,937
• 2007 Hyundai Tiburon: $17,157
• 2007 Jeep Patriot: $14,985
• 2007 Mazda MAZDA3: $17,993
• 2007 Nissan Versa: $13,206
• 2007 Scion tC: $17,235
• 2007 Suzuki SX4: $17,038
• 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit: $15,474

First Drive: 2010 Kia Forte

Give Kia credit; it's not afraid to take on a monumental task. The ambitious Korean automaker didn't start selling cars in the United States until 1994, and a mere fifteen years later it offers a full range of vehicles, from the entry-level Rio sedan to the seven-passenger Borrego SUV to the spunky, funky Soul "urban passenger vehicle." As with almost every other carmaker, its sales are down this year (although Kia's 6.8 percent drop looks positively paltry compared with the double-digit dips suffered by most of its competitors). The faltering economy hasn't stopped Kia from forging ahead with its product plans, however. In fact, the automaker boasts that not only have there been no cutbacks, but in May, it spent more money marketing its products than during any other month in company history.

Which brings us to the all-new Forte. With the Forte, Kia has set its sights on the notoriously competitive (and profit-challenged) compact sedan segment, and it is aiming squarely at the powerhouses that currently dominate the market: the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla. That's no small task, and one at which Kia's erstwhile small sedan, the Spectra, utterly failed.

Compared with the Spectra, the Forte has a more dynamic look, with a distinct wedge-shaped profile and a wider stance. Its trunk is cavernous, with 14.7 cubic feet of cargo volume that can be further extended by lowering the split-folding rear seats. The cabin is nicely appointed, with cloth or leather seats, a user-friendly center stack, steering-wheel-mounted controls, standard Sirius radio, and Bluetooth.

The Forte is available