NOW IN STOCK - The All New 2011 MAZDA2
The MAZDA2, “WORLD CAR of the YEAR” comes to America
It's not a claim we make lightly but with the Mazda 2 we can make it with total confidence. Just ask the judges of the prestigious World Car of the Year competition. They named the Mazda 2 the 2008 overall winner. The subcompact car that rates 40 miles per gallon on the European combined driving and is getting rave reviews. What makes the Mazda2 a winner? It’s practicality, environmental credentials and driving dynamics. The Mazda2 scored atop in each category.
Now the marvelous MAZDA2 will be coming stateside in spring of 2010. Although US prices for the 2011 Mazda2 are still to be announced, it will be priced competitively with its rivals. Projected pricing is $14,000-$16,500 range. The Mazda2 will go nose to nose with the Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris, and another new comer - the 2011 Ford Fiesta.
Mazda2 Power
The MAZDA2 will be powered by an eco-friendly 1.5 liter Japanese 4-cylinder gasoline engine (102-horsepower). The U.S.-market 2011 Mazda 2 offer a standard 5-speed manual transmission, with a 6-speed option possible or and 4 speed Automatic Transmission. The focus of this segment is MPG. However, this little jem like all Mazda's, has the soul of a sports car or as we like to say "ZOOM ZOOM (concentrated)".
Offering Cutting Edge Design for 2011
The 2011 MAZDA2 design offers a bold, sporty shape. The faintly wedge-shape body has an energetic forward thrust. The MAZDA2s slick contours give it a sense of motion even when it is still. It embodies the Zoom-Zoom philosophy. The Mazda2 is offered as 5 door hatch making it as versatile as it is practical. The car coming stateside is more refined than the second-generation that debuted in Japan, Europe, and other world markets during 2007. Style queue include a curved nose with a prominent five-sided Mazda grille, headlights pulled back into rounded fenders, a Mazda family trait which was inherited from the RX-8 sports car, a rising window line, a prominent lower-body "swoosh," and a tail ending just inches beyond the rear wheels.
Lightweight and Affordable
The MAZDA2 redesigned overseas employs a unit body construction that uses 40-percent more high-tensile steel than before. That allows structural members to be thinner and thus lighter versus regular steel without compromising rigidity or crash performance. To increase rigidity, a steel brace linking the front strut towers, an item usually reserved for pricey high-performance cars. A lower mass allows using lighter suspension components, and other under-pinnings. The new MAZDA2 has made huge strides in fuel economy as well, weighing 220 lb less than the previous model, without compromising its overall size. The MAZDA2 earns high marks for quietness, ride comfort, and handling versus many competitors. Mazda's weight reduction plan is price focused, avoiding aluminum body panels or carbon-fiber seat shells. After all, affordability is a must in the entry-level class
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THE DRIVE!
Overall, the Mazda2 is fun to drive. The chief designer of the Mazda2 was also responsible for the Mazda RX-8 and it shows. Though it’s a sub-compact it still has the soul of a sports car. The Mazda2 is incredibly light and agile car, a high priority for all Mazda models. A lighter weight vehicle makes for a more agile and nimble drive and better fuel economy, which leads to more savings and lower CO2 emissions. America's 2011 Mazda 2 will boast the same refinement, ride comfort, and handling that have made it popular overseas. No one knows whether the 2011 U.S. model will match the excellent 40-mpg European rating, but it will certainly get a competitive rating, another plus considering the economy and upcoming changes in federal mpg requirements. Mazda says the current 1.5-liter model does 0-60 mph in a little over 10 seconds. Also included on the '2' will be disc and rear-drum brakes with available ABS, electrically assisted power steering, 4-wheel independent suspension with front struts and a simple twist-beam rear axle, and front and curtain side airbags.
Cabin Features for the '2'
The 2011 Mazda 2 will be available with air conditioning, power windows, power locks, and other expected conveniences. Don't look for weighty items like motorized seats or a power sunroof that reduce fuel economy and performance. The MAZDA2 will be pitched to younger first-time buyers, so options will be geared to that audience..
Summary
Despite its worldwide success, the MAZDA2 wasn't slated for U.S. sale. Officials sited size and profitability. However, that was before fuel reached record prices and Americans started buying smaller, thriftier cars. The Mazda2 promises high mpg, quality and "zoom-zoom" persona. This segment has exploded in the States and Mazda is jumping into the fray, planning to capitalize off the reputation of the MAZDA3, it’s most successful model.