The New Mazda MX-5 Icon

Mazda has recently introduced a new 'Special Edition' MX-5 soft-top model to its product line-up this summer, finished in a patriotic choice of red, white or blue paint - in celebration of its status as 'Britain's favorite sports car brand'. Mazda has delivered one in every four sports cars sold in the UK this year.

The aptly named 'Mazda MX-5 Icon' is the latest edition of the world's best-selling roadster and is specially designed to appeal to British drivers looking to purchase their very first soft-top roadster this summer. A true sports car, the rear-wheel drive MX-5 delivers unrivalled handling, driving dynamics and wind-in-the-hair motoring.

The Mazda MX-5 Icon is available in two versions - the 'entry-level' 1.8i Icon features a 126ps engine and a five-speed transmission and is priced at £16,825 on-the-road. Customers in search of higher performance can choose the 2.0i Icon powered by a 160ps engine, costing £17,825.

Both Icon models offer great value with up to £1,500 worth of additional extras. Special features of the Icon include climate control air-conditioning, Icon-branded black Medici leather seats and unique Icon-branded luxury interior mats.

Exterior features include Icon badging and chrome style bar trims and the cars can be ordered in one of three exterior colours - Copper Red Mica, unique Marble White (solid) and Stormy Blue Mica.

With its irresistible combination of a uniquely sporty rear wheel drive, wind-in-the-hair experience, high specification and excellent value, the Mazda MX-5 Icon is certainly another hit in the making.

Aside from the special Icon features, Mazda, maker of top of the line Mazda window regulator, also gave generous standard equipment to the MX-5 to make any car owner truly happy: leather wrapped steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake, six-speaker audio system, electric windows, premium black cloth soft-top, 16-inch alloy wheels, twin chrome exhaust tail pipes and a Thatcham Category 1 alarm and immobiliser.

Not to mention that Icon owners will also enjoy a degree of exclusivity as production of this latest Mazda MX-5 model will be limited. Only 875 examples of the MX-5 1.8i Icon and 375 units of the MX-5 2.0i Icon will be available in the UK.

Despite all of the additional specification, both Mazda MX-5 Icon special editions remain in the same insurance groups as their standard counterparts - 11E (1.8i) and 13E (2.0i).
Mazda MX-5 is considered rightful competitor to the likes of other open-top cars like the Mini Convertible, Vauxhall Tigra and Peugeot 207CC - all non-sports car segment vehicles.

About the Author
Kraig Johanssen is a native of Connecticut and holds a degree in Software Engineering. He now works at a software development firm in Alabama. His love for writing and great interest on cars makes him a proficient contributing author to various automotive magazines.

Hot Models for 2007

Each year, car companies continue to surprise the public with their new cars. For this year, five car companies/brands are offering hot models.

Mazda Motor Corp. has announced two special editions for the summer season. These are the Tamura and the TS 2-based Mazda 6 Kumano.

Based on the existing TS trim, the Tamura' is available on five-door Mazda 3 1.6 and Mazda 6 2.0 hatchback petrol models. An exterior sports styling kit is an added equipment plus the savings of up to £3,126 over the equivalent TS models.

Available as a 2.0-litre petrol or diesel five-door, the TS 2-based Mazda 6 'Kumano' exudes upgraded Xenon headlamps and 'dark brushed finish' alloy wheels as well as savings of up to £555.

Both equipped with quality Mazda turbo, the two comes free with either mica or metallic paint, and are offered in limited supply. You need to spend £13,795 for the Mazda 3 Tamura and £15,995 for the Mazda 6 Tamura; the petrol version of the Kumano is worth £17,550 while the diesel costs £18,650.

Saab offers its new 9-3 with new styling cues and engines. An all-wheel drive, it also features all-new bodywork in front of the windscreen and many more other detail changes. The availability of four-wheel drive for the first time as well as the introduction of a twin-turbo diesel engine that ensures a class-leading efficiency is among the technical highlights.

The new Saab 9-3 is available as Saloon, Sport Wagon estate or Convertible and will be offered starting September with prices at £18,575 for the 1.8i petrol Airflow Saloon and £34,495 for the 2.8 V6 petrol Aero Convertible.

Honda Motor Corp. is expanding the image of its Accord range by adding the sporty GT and the entry-level SE diesels to the line-up. For September this year, the £20,767 GT will be available with Dark Graphite alloys, a boot spoiler, and other one-of-a-kind exterior trimmings that include an exclusive Premium White Pearl paint option. Further additions include sports suspension, satnav, and Bluetooth as standard equipment.

With advantages like an £18,000 price tag that includes alloys, Bluetooth phone kit and a six-speed gearbox from rivals, the SE highlights value and both cars has Honda's acclaimed 2.2-litre i-CDTi diesel engine.

Daihatsu also has something to offer starting this July: its new Materia mini MPV. It is a small five-seat people carrier that is built similarly like the Renault Modus and Vauxhall Meriva. The single trim level has alloy wheels, air conditioning, electric windows and mirrors, six-speaker CD stereo, keyless entry and a sliding/reclining 60/40-split rear seat. The metallic paint at £325 is the only factory option. Made powerful by the 1.5-litre petrol engine, the Japanese car maker claims that the car is capable of 46.3mpg combined, and emits 165g/km of CO2.

Prices start at £10,995 and an additional £800 will be required to have an automatic. A three-year unlimited mileage warranty is available with roadside assistance as standard.
Volkswagen, for this year, offers its new Golf. The German car maker has announced pricing for the new Golf estate ahead of its launch in August. The £14,347 entry-level 1.6 S is actually £180 cheaper than the equivalent five-door 1.6 S hatchback; and these figures make the car very intriguing.

The SE and Sportline are the two other available trim levels, which feature three engine options: a 100bhp 1.6-litre petrol, a 103bhp 1.9-litre, and 138bhp 2.0-litre TDI diesels. At £20,417, one can afford to buy the range-topping 2.0 Sportline with DSG automatic gearbox and diesel particulate filter.

Air conditioning, remote central locking and electric windows are found on the S models. Extras such as alloy wheels and an alarm are featured on all SE cars while sports suspension is the addition on the Sportline trim. With the rear seats up, load space is 505 liters. But when they are folded, load space is at 1,550 liters (loaded to the roof).

So, have you decided which car you would want for this year?

About the Author
Kraig Johanssen is a native of Connecticut and holds a degree in Software Engineering. He now works at a software development firm in Alabama. His love for writing and great interest on cars makes him a proficient contributing author to various automotive magazines.

Mazda Ranks First in Auto Bild's 2007 Quality Report

Germany's largest car magazine, Auto Bild, has ranked Mazda in first place in its highly respected "Quality Report" for 2007, published on June 8. This was the third straight year that Mazda has been awarded first place in this annual report. Mazda finished ahead of 24 car brands including second-place Toyota and domestic luxury brands Mercedes and BMW. First conducted in 2001, Auto Bild's Quality Report compiles the result of seven criteria - endurance tests, car owner surveys (22,795 Auto Bild subscribers), recalls, Germany's Technische Uberwachung Verein (TUV) report, customer complaints at Auto Bild, type of warranties and the quality of dealerships based on secret service tests - for a comprehensive picture of quality in Europe's largest market according to brand.

Germany is Europe's largest new car market with annual sales of around 3m units. As was the case during the previous two reports, Mazda quality was evident in all aspects of the survey. Especially strong results were achieved in categories reflecting long-term quality: on the TUV report (roadworthiness inspections for cars that are two and three years old) and on Auto Bild's 100,000 kilometer Endurance Test - where the new Mazda5 is currently halfway through the test with no breakdowns. The 6 - due for a redesign soon - has been ranked first since 2004, being the only car ever to come through with no breakdowns in the magazine report's history. Mazda - maker of top of the line Mazda auto parts, also scored high on the owner survey for low repair frequency and high body build quality, which enabled the brand to improve on 2006's excellent result. Results in this year's report reflecting customer satisfaction and warranty performance -traditional strengths of Mazda models - were once again very positive.

According to Dan Morris, Mazda's senior managing executive officer in charge of marketing, sales and customer service, the company was especially honored that in 2007 Mazda was chosen the winner of Auto Bild's Quality Report for the third time, "This prestigious award is a recognition of the quality of the design and manufacturing built into every Mazda vehicle. And it gives us more confidence as we move forward with our plans to bring even greater levels of quality to all aspects of the Mazda Zoom-Zoom car owning experience for our customers worldwide." Since the launch of the Mazda6 in 2002, Mazda's new generation vehicles have been awarded numerous prizes throughout the world. Only recently the Mazda MX-5 Miata was ranked first in the "compact sporty car" segment of the 2007 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study which looks at both manufacturing defects and design problems in new cars as reported by their owners.

About the Author
Kraig Johanssen is a native of Connecticut and holds a degree in Software Engineering. He now works at a software development firm in Alabama. His love for writing and great interest on cars makes him a proficient contributing author to various automotive magazines.

Volvo, Saab Convertibles Scored "Good" Safety Scores

The Swedes are known for their safe car which was proven recently by Saab and Volvo. Both Swedish car manufacturers' convertible has received the Top Safety Pick distinction from the United States Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). For Saab, the convertible which received the award is the Saab 9-3 and for the other Swedish brand, it was the Volvo C70.
Both convertibles have attained "good" scores in the crash tests conducted by the non-profit organization funded by auto insurance companies. Tests conducted on both the 9-3 and the C70 as well as other convertibles includes front, side, and rear crash tests. Aside from scoring "good" on the three crash tests, both the Volvo C70 and the Saab 9-3 are equipped with a standard Electronic Stability Control which the institute has proven to help protect car owners keep away from accidents.

In contrast to the Saab 9-3 and the Volvo C70, the Pontiac G6 received the poorest safety scores from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The General Motors-made convertible G6 received "acceptable" rating for frontal crash protection. But for side and rear crash protection, the institute only received "marginal" ratings. The Audi A4 and the BMW 3 Series recorded similar crash test ratings. For frontal collision, both the A4 and the 3 Series posted "good" scores. For side collision protection, the two European cabriolets were given "marginal" ratings. For rear crash protection, the A4 and the 3 Series received "poor" ratings.

To receive the Top Safety Pick award, convertibles, or automobiles in general, needs to attain "good" ratings in all three crash tests. They should also be equipped with an Electronic Stability Control which comes in different names varying from one car manufacturer to another. The presence of this system reduces the risk of traffic accidents as it aids the driver in controlling a vehicle especially during instances when the driver is about to lose control of the vehicle.

An added requirement for open top vehicles to receive the Top Safety Pick award is the presence of roll bars which can adequately protect its occupants in an unfortunate event of rollover. Both the 9-3 and the C70 are equipped with such safety features. A pop-up roll bar is deployed if the convertibles' sensors detect a crash that may result to the vehicle rolling over. The Volvo timing chain-equipped C70 and the 9-3 also boasts of other safety features like airbags and head restraints.

IIHS President Adrian Lund is apparently awed by the performance of the two Swedish convertibles. "The performances of the 9-3 and C70 are impressive," Lund said. "These cars combine what convertible buyers should look for if they're shopping with safety in mind. The Saab and Volvo not only provide good protection in high-speed front and side crashes but also have good seat and head restraint designs for protecting against whiplash in rear crashes."
"We wanted to test convertibles because sales are increasing. We also wanted to... see if crashworthiness improvements in mainstream cars are being built into convertibles. For the most part, we found that this is happening," says Lund in conclusion.

Aside from the Saab 9-3, Volvo C70, Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and the Pontiac G6, other convertibles tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety includes the Chrysler Sebring, Ford Mustang, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Toyota Camry Solara and the Volkswagen Eos.

About the Author
Glady Reign is a 32 year old is a consultant for an automotive firm based in Detroit, Mi. She is a native of the motor city and grew up around cars hence her expertise in the automotive field.

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