Mazda Launches New Mazda2 Sports Sedan Offensive With Celebrity “Pae” Arak As Presenter

Bangkok, Thailand – March 16 2010 – Mazda Thailand has announced its plans to further penetrate the highly-competitive Thai automobile market. After the tremendous success achieved with the Mazda2 5-door hatchback that rocked the Thai subcompact market when introduced in late 2009 and achieved sales of 5,500 units, Mazda is now introducing the much-awaited sports sedan version of the Mazda2. For the Sedan version, another style of popular musician/actor “Pae” Arak Amornsupasiri is being presented, clearly stressing upon the sporty elegance with unique styling of the new Mazda2 sports sedan. This strategy is targeted at members of “Generation NOW”, who have been raised in the digital age and have a unique lifestyle just like the new Mazda2, which comes with a launch campaign – “New Mazda2 Life Continues”. Like other models, the new Mazda2 sports sedan comes with the strong Mazda “Zoom-Zoom” identity with its sporty and distinctive design, as well as a large and comfortable interior and 5-star European NCAP crash rating. The new Mazda2 sports sedan is a high-quality sub-compact car that promises driving enjoyment and is available for Thai customers at a starting price of only Baht 535,000.

John Ray, managing director at Mazda Thailand, said the extremely successful launch of the Mazda2 hatchback in mid November 2009 has given Mazda a dramatic leap forward with unprecedented sales success. “The success level of the Mazda2 surprised our Mazda’s competitors who are watching us closely now,” John said. “It is important for us to work more closely with our dealers in order to ensure our success this year through various projects and initiatives. Apart from our sales success, Mazda has always given importance to expanding our sales and after sales service network and our objective is to have 130 Dealers across the country by December this year and all will feature the new Mazda Corporate Image and cater to the increased sales and servicing demand. We will also ensure a higher level of customer satisfaction in vehicle sales, financing, parts or service, as well as elevate the Mazda brand to a stronger position among the leaders in the Thai automobile industry,” he said.

John Ray added that for 2010, Mazda has set a sales target of 35,000 units, which reflect a 164% sales growth over 2009. “The new Mazda2 sports sedan and the 5-door hatchback model will be our most important products this year, and the combined sales target for these two models has been set at 24,000 units. Meanwhile, the Mazda3 will maintain its excellent performance with sales of 5,000 units and sales of the Mazda BT-50 sport pickup is expected to reach 6,000 units, plus another 78 units of premium models namely the Mazda CX-9 and Mazda MX-5.

The new Mazda2 sports sedan comes into the small passenger car market with an image that is sportier but still provides families with a car that responds better to the customer needs and requirements. In addition, the Mazda2 comes with innovative technology and stylish design that captivates all, whether standing still or in motion. With Mazda’s renowned suspension expertise, safety protection with 5-star Euro NCAP crash rating and the 103-hp MZR power plant that offers excellent performance across the engine speed range, the new Mazda2 sports sedan will surely capture the hearts of Thai car buyers.

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Mazda Motor Corporation has commenced sales of the facelifted Mazda Atenza (known overseas as the Mazda6) for the Japanese market. Available in three body styles — Sedan, Sport (five-door hatchback) and Sport Wagon — Mazda’s globally acclaimed mid-size car has been refined and evolved, and it goes on sale today at all Mazda and Mazda Anfini dealerships throughout Japan.

The Mazda Atenza has attracted a wide range of customers with its sporty styling and exceptional driving performance. The enhancements for the freshened Mazda Atenza are based on the Zoom-Zoom evolution development concept, and include improvements to its environmental and safety attributes, driving performance, interior and exterior design, and quality levels.

The 2.0-liter engine Atenza models, available in both the Sedan and Sport Wagon body types, have been updated with Mazda’s direct injection MZR 2.0L DISI*1 gasoline engine. This engine provides plenty of power as well as outstanding fuel economy that exceeds Japan’s “2010 fuel economy standard plus 15%.” All grades equipped with a 2.0-liter engine qualify for Japan’s eco-car incentive program and are subject to 50 percent less tax under the government’s eco-car tax reduction program. Additionally, the entire Atenza range, including front-wheel drive (FWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD) grades, qualify as Super-Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles (SU-LEV) by achieving exhaust emissions that are at least 75 percent lower than the levels set in the Japanese Government’s 2005 exhaust emissions standard.

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The Mazda3 (known as the Mazda Axela in Japan) with European specifications has been awarded the maximum five-star rating by the European New Car Assessment Programme*1 (Euro NCAP) in its 2009 combined safety performance test.

From 2009, Euro NCAP has implemented a new evaluation system that awards a single overall vehicle safety rating that combines the scores achieved in four areas of assessment: Adult Occupant Protection, Child Protection, Pedestrian Protection and Safety Assist.

The Mazda3 inherits and evolves the first generation model’s combination of dynamic, sporty styling and exhilarating driving performance. With this maximum safety rating from Euro NCAP as well as its recognition as a 2009 Top Safety Pick from the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)*2, Mazda3 is among the safest cars in the world.

Mazda3 is the second Mazda model to be awarded the maximum five-star rating under the new Euro NCAP evaluation system. The Mazda6 (Mazda Atenza) with European specifications received five stars in February 2009. Mazda models in Europe that received the highest possible five stars for Adult Occupant Protection under the previous Euro NCAP rating system include the Mazda5 (Mazda Premacy) in September 2005 and the Mazda2 (Mazda Demio) in December 2007.

Production of the Ford Focus and Mazda 3 in the ASEAN region may shift from the Philippines to Thailand following a $500 million factory expansion by Auto Alliance Thailand, according to well-placed sources.

The two compact cars would become the third pair of Ford/Mazda-related products to be made at the Thai plant. The other models made are the Ranger/BT-50 light trucks and the pending Fiesta/2 subcompacts, whose assembly start at the end of this year.

AAT, a 50/50 joint venture between Ford and Mazda, has more advanced facilities than the factory in the Philippines; one source said that it is only logical to move production of the cars to Thailand now that there is more assembly space.

Although the current 3 has already expired in most world markets and has been replaced with a second-generation model, sales of it here are likely to continue for another year.

As soon as Mazda ASEAN is ready to sell the new 3, its assembly could take place in Thailand, according to the source. A year later, in 2011, Ford would be gearing up to launch the third-generation Focus which, like the 3, will be sold in both sedan and hatchback forms.

In the past two years, passenger cars have suffered a smaller slump in sales than pickup trucks in Thailand, mainly because smaller vehicles have better fuel efficiency. Meanwhile, the country is experiencing a shift in motorization, in which many people are turning to cars instead of pickups or motorcycles.

The AAT factory’s production capacity will increase to 275,000 units per year from 175,000, primarily serving export markets. The total investment of AAT is now worth $1.5 billion.

Source : Edmunds.com

Ford and Mazda Inaugurate New US$500 Million Passenger Car Plant at AutoAlliance Thailand
State-of-the-art manufacturing technologies will be used to produce new Mazda2 and Ford Fiesta for domestic and export markets

RAYONG, Thailand – July 13, 2009 – Ford Motor Company and Mazda Motor Corporation today celebrated the official opening of a new US$500 million passenger car plant at their joint-venture manufacturing facility, AutoAlliance Thailand (AAT). The inauguration represents the culmination of an additional investment and expansion program of this global manufacturing hub, which was announced in 2007.

To celebrate the new plant’s opening, Thailand’s Crown Princess, HRH Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, was joined by U.S. Ambassador, Eric John, Japan Ambassador, Kyoji Komachi, and senior executives from Ford, Mazda and AAT in a formal ceremony at the new state-of-the-art facility in Rayong’s Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate.

The completed expansion increases the total annual production capacity at AAT to 275,000 units. The new passenger car facility will produce the Mazda2 and Ford Fiesta compact cars for sale in Thailand, and export throughout the ASEAN region, as well as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. AAT already exports Ford and Mazda pickup trucks to more than 130 markets around the world.

“The completion of this investment underscores the significance of AAT for our regional operations and its strategic role as a global manufacturing and export hub,” said David Alden, president, Ford ASEAN. “The ASEAN region is a critical component of our overall growth strategy in Asia, and the further diversification of products manufactured at AAT will be a fundamental driver of this growth.”

The completion of this new investment increases Ford and Mazda’s total joint investment in the vast AAT facility to more than US$1.5 billion since 1995.
“The new passenger car plant at AutoAlliance Thailand will play an important role as a production base in Mazda’s global strategy. The new plant employs the industry’s latest flexible manufacturing technologies, ensuring world-class quality, safety and environmental friendliness,” said Masaharu Yamaki, executive vice president, Mazda Motor Corporation.

“AAT continues to be a global success story in terms of the superb cooperation between Mazda, Ford and AAT employees who constantly strive to achieve a shared vision of success. I have every confidence this teamwork will enable us to overcome the current market challenges and lead us to further business growth,” added Yamaki.

The new highly-flexible passenger car plant utilizes the latest auto manufacturing technologies, automated systems and process, and includes a new stamping line and body shop, trim and final process area. Warehouse storage has also been expanded to handle the increased production volume and a new cafeteria has been built.

The completed paint shop can now accommodate both pickup trucks and passenger cars, and uses the world-class and environmentally-friendly Three Layer Wet Paint System, which dramatically reduces VOC and CO2 emissions and waste, and improves painting quality.

“The completion of the new AAT passenger car plant represents a tremendous achievement that is shared by all of our stakeholders – Ford, Mazda, the Thai government, and in particular, the Board of Investment, our suppliers, and certainly our dedicated AAT employees,” said Kiyotaka Shobuda, president of AutoAlliance Thailand.

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Mazda Motor Corp said on Thursday it expected to develop a diesel engine that was cheaper and about as fuel-efficient as some hybrid cars by 2011 as part of its efforts to improve mileage without the aid of costly electric systems.

The Hiroshima-based automaker has set a target of raising its global car fleet’s fuel economy by 30 percent by 2015, and plans to rely on advances in internal combustion engines, automatic transmissions and vehicle weight reduction to reach that goal.

As one pillar of that plan, Mazda is working on a clean diesel engine with a displacement of about 2.0 liters that would be as fuel-efficient as a 660cc gasoline microcar and a “mild” hybrid car, Mazda’s head of research and development said.

“We believe that improving today’s conventional engines at a low cost is the most effective way to get fuel-efficient cars to proliferate,” R&D Chief Seita Kanai told reporters in Tokyo.

Gasoline-electric hybrid cars are gaining popularity but still carry a premium over conventional gasoline and diesel cars.

Hybrid proponents such as Toyota Motor Corp have argued that tighter emissions regulations in future would mean that cleaning the exhaust from diesel engines could cost as much as or more than gasoline-electric hybrid technology.

But Kanai said Mazda’s new diesel engine would cost less, not more, partly due to its proprietary single-nanotechnology, which reduces the use of precious metals in emission-cleaning catalysts, and a new diesel particulate filter that negates the need for expensive after-treatment parts.

Kanai said Mazda would begin mounting electric devices such as an electric motor in a hybrid car during the second stage of mileage improvements.

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HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation’s sporty SUV, the Mazda CX-7, will be the first passenger vehicle produced by a Japanese automaker to be equipped with a urea selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system. Mazda’s SCR is smaller than previous systems, which is a significant improvement that enables it to be installed in passenger cars. It will be combined with Mazda’s newly developed clean, highly efficient MZR-CD 2.2L turbo diesel engine.

Planned for introduction in 2009, together with the new facelifted Mazda CX-7, Mazda’s SCR system will purify the nitrous oxides (NOx) that are generated in diesel exhaust gases. This will be a welcome addition to the Mazda CX-7’s new diesel engine, which provides better fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions than equivalent gasoline powerplants.

Urea SCR systems spray aqueous urea* directly into the exhaust gas flow where it purifies NOx through a chemical reaction. Unlike technologies that use extra fuel to burn off NOx, this method minimally affects fuel economy and power output. However, because an aqueous urea storage tank and other specialist equipment are required, space limitations in passenger vehicles have restricted the use of SCR systems to trucks and buses. This is not the case with Mazda’s SCR system.

Mazda’s MZR-CD 2.2L turbo diesel engine actually produces low volumes of NOx, which means that the SCR system needs to remove less NOx in post processing, resulting in a reduced amount of urea used. This means a smaller tank is required, allowing it to be comfortably installed in the Mazda CX-7.

As well as complying with Europe’s most stringent (Euro V) emissions regulations, the freshened CX-7 will provide plenty of Zoom-Zoom, perfectly balanced with eco-friendly performance.

* Urea is a harmless substance that is commonly used in lotions and hand creams.

The new Mazda6 (known as the Mazda Atenza in Japan) with European specifications has been awarded the five-star maximum rating by the European New Car Assessment Programme* (Euro NCAP) in its 2009 combined safety performance test. This accolade officially makes Mazda6 one of the safest cars in the world.

For 2009, Euro NCAP has implemented a more stringent evaluation system that awards a single overall vehicle safety rating combining the scores achieved in four areas of assessment: Adult Occupant Protection, Child Protection, Pedestrian Protection and Safety Assist. The Mazda6 was in the first group of vehicles tested under the new framework.

Seita Kanai, Mazda’s senior managing executive officer in charge of R&D and Program Management, said, “Mazda6’s maximum safety rating from Euro NCAP is a reflection of the progress Mazda has made in harmonizing driving pleasure with safety and environmental performance under our Sustainable Zoom-Zoom plan. Going forward, we will strive to fulfill our corporate social responsibilities by further advancing Mazda’s eco-friendly and safety technologies.”

Mazda models in Europe that received the highest possible five stars for Adult Occupant Protection under the previous Euro NCAP rating system include the Mazda5 (Mazda Premacy) in September 2005 and the Mazda2 (Mazda Demio) in December 2007.

While the first generation Mazda6 combined unique and attractive styling with exceptional driving performance, the new Mazda6 has further developed these characteristics and added substantially enhanced safety performance that complies with the world’s strictest safety standards.

2010 Mazda CX-7 2.5 Litre makes its Canadian premiere at the Canadian International Auto Show

Refreshed 2009 Mazda MX-5 also to debut as well

(Toronto, ON): Two Mazdas will make their Canadian debut at the 2009 Canadian International AutoShow. The first is the 2010 Mazda CX-7, which receives a new engine option: a 161 horsepower, naturally aspirated 2.5 litre four-cylinder that is also found under the hood of the 2009 Mazda6 and 2010 Mazda3. The second is the refreshed 2009 Mazda MX-5, which receives updated styling in addition to engineering and equipment upgrades. Mazda’s stand will also include the redesigned 2010 Mazda3, in both 4-door sedan and 5-door hatchback body styles.

2010 Mazda CX-7
For the 2010 model year the CX-7 is the recipient of an exterior and interior styling refresh to complement a host of engineering refinements. Leading the way is a new engine option. Making its first appearance under the hood of the CX-7 is Mazda’s all-new naturally aspirated DOHC 16-valve 2.5 litre MZR four-cylinder that produces 161 horsepower at 6000rpm and offers maximum torque of 161 lb-ft at 3500rpm. It is available with Front-Wheel Drive coupled to a 5-speed automatic transmission. Continuing as the top engine option is the familiar MZR 2.3L DISI Turbo (direct injection DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder) engine. Output remains the same, 244 horsepower at 5,000 rpm with 258 lb-ft of torque at 2,500 rpm.

A theme of refinement carries over to the 2010 CX-7’s Mazda-derived platform architecture by incorporating improvements in body rigidity, lower noise, vibration & harshness (NVH) levels as well as reduced wind noise. The exterior design of the 2010 CX-7 features revised front and rear fascias with the front adopting the larger five-point grille design similar in appearance to recently redesigned RX-8, MX-5 and Mazda3.

On the inside the 2010 CX-7 receives higher quality materials, a new design for the gauges including blackout meters that feature three-dimensional dials and a 3.5 inch super-twisted nematic (STN) monochrome and 4.1 inch thin-film transistor (TFT) colour Multi Information Display (MID) positioned at the top of the instrument panel to provide the driver with enhanced information. Bluetooth compatibility provides a wireless connection for Bluetooth compatible mobile phones and portable audio devices. The front seats gain a three-position memory function for the driver’s seat and a power adjustable recliner for the passenger’s seat. A Blind Spot Monitoring System, similar to the one found on the Mazda6 & CX-9 is now available to assist the driver in avoiding collisions with other vehicles when changing lanes or merging with traffic.

Final specifications, pricing, trim levels and options will be announced at a later date closer to when the 2010 CX-7 goes on sale.

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