Mazda Motor Corporation has developed a world-first catalyst for cars that use single-nanotechnology to create a catalyst material structure which substantially reduces the amount of precious metals that are used, such as platinum and palladium.

The new development enables Mazda to reduce the amount of platinum and palladium used in automotive catalysts by 70 to 90 percent. This does not result in any changes in the performance of purifying gas emissions and maintains the high durability of conventional catalysts. Single-nanotechnology is a technology that can control even smaller particles than nanotechnology.

In automotive catalysts, precious metals promote the exhaust gas purifying reactions on their surfaces. In conventional catalysts, the precious metals are adhered to a base material. Exposure to exhaust gas heat causes the precious metal to agglomerate into larger particles. This reduces the catalyst’s effective surface area and catalytic activity, which requires the use of a significant amount of precious metals to counter and maintain an efficient purification performance.

An SUV with Zoom-Zoom and protection. The Mazda CX-9 and CX-7 sport utility vehicles (SUV) recently received the highest possible ratings in frontal and side impact crashes by the governments’ National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In addition to receiving a five-star frontal and side impact crash-test rating, both the CX-9 and CX-7 received four-star rollover resistance ratings. No other SUV on the market today has received ratings that are superior to the CX-9 or the CX-7.

“This is a true testament to Mazda’s advanced safety engineering that both CX-9 and CX-7 received the highest safety honors,” said Jim O’Sullivan, President and CEO of Mazda North American Operations. “While other companies can certainly build safe vehicles, we’re the only company that delivers that safety with a healthy dose of Zoom-Zoom in every car and SUV.”

For its frontal testing, the NHTSA places dummies in a vehicle and crashes it into a fixed barrier at 35 mph. Instruments measure the force of impact to each dummy’s head, chest and legs. In the side impact test, a 3,015 pound barrier moving at 38.5 mph is crashed into the side of the passenger compartment of the stationary vehicle.

COBB Tuning is proud to announce the release of its Sport Springs for the 2007 MazdaSpeed3. Direct replacement for the factory springs, and designed to work with the factory struts, the COBB Sports Springs reduce the ride height by 1.0” Front and 1.0” Rear. The result is improved road handling and reduced body roll. Precision CNC cold wound high quality Chrome Silicon steel construction. The springs are powdercoated COBB Blue in a unique process for protection against the elements. Spring rates are approximately +15% for the front and +25% for the rear over stock which, results in a sporty feel without being unnecessarily harsh or bouncy. The factory springs are actually too soft for the stock struts, much less uprated aftermarket replacements, to work optimally. Our final spring rates are the result of extensive real-world and road course testing.

Starting today, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) will help Internet-savvy car buyers get one step closer to sliding into the driver’s seat of a new Mazda vehicle – without ever leaving their home or office.

The Mazda Shopping Assistant program is the first in the industry to provide potential buyers with an actual quote – from the customer’s choice of dealer – of the vehicle they’ve chosen, as opposed to other manufacturers’ programs that simply offer the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP).

Through links on the http://www.MazdaUSA.com Web site, the new Mazda Shopping Assistant (MSA) program connects consumers with Mazda Personal Shoppers who can answer specific product questions and provide personalized shopping experiences through live Web-chat sessions. Through the help of these in-house Mazda employees, buyers can configure a vehicle, select a dealership, search vehicle inventory, acquire an actual dealer quote, schedule a sales appointment and get information about financing for the Mazda vehicle of their dreams. Once a price is agreed upon between the customer and the dealer, the Personal Shopper arranges an appointment time at the dealership for final paperwork to be signed and the vehicle to be delivered.

Mercury launched the Mariner in 2005. The compact sport utility vehicle is related to the Ford Escape has different styling. There are only a few changes to the Mariner in the 2007 line and Hybrid models are available.

K&N Engineering has designed a cartridge oil filter (HP-7013) for several Mercury, Mazda and Ford models from 2003 through 2007. K&N Cartridge Oil Filters are designed to trap harmful contaminants, provide high oil flow rates and excellent filtration.

The HP-7013 has a replacement gasket and a metal washer. These items ensure a positive seal on the cartridge housing to the engine block. Simply remove the vehicle’s oil filter and housing and put the K&N cartridge and gasket in its place.

MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development and Pace American Trailers today announced a two-year partnership involving Pace becoming the Official Trailer of MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development. Through the partnership, members of MAZDASPEED’s racing contingency program – already one of the most lucrative in the sport – will be able to purchase Pace trailers at a deep discount. Additionally, MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development has debuted a trailer that will be used for parts distribution and meetings during professional and amateur race weekends around the U.S. and Canada.

“Racers need trailers, and Mazda racers want trailers that perform well, are well-built, easy to tow and – above all else – are a great value. Pace trailers meet those criteria, have a great reputation for performance and will be a great addition to the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development family,” noted John Doonan, MAZDASPEED Business Development Manager. “ Because Pace and its product range appeal to the same grassroots racing competitors that MAZDASPEED supports, this partnership made perfect sense for both companies.”

Pace has provided MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development with a brand-new 44-foot goose-neck trailer with a vendor window and closed-off meeting space. This trailer will be used as a parts supply and technical support trailer at all MX-5 Cup races, key Club Racing events like the SCCA Runoffs and other key Mazda race weekends throughout the season.

Endless show vehicles, food, drink, people, and entertainment can mean only one thing: Texas Heat Wave which definitely lived up to its name this past weekend with temperatures in the 90’s.  Audiobahn was well represented at the 2-day event and left guests with nothing but adrenalin.

An estimated 10,000 people attended this year’s event, and even though the weather was hot and humid, the event was undoubtedly “Cool”. Doug Parks Audiobahn’s Director of Marketing and Richard Crowder Audiobahn’s Semi Truck driver represented Audiobahn to the fullest.  When people weren’t checking out the rows and rows of tricked-out show cars they could be found grabbing all sorts of Audiobahn gear. T-shirts, lanyards, drink koozies, posters, and bags let the entire event know that Audiobahn was in the house.

On May 30, 1967, Mazda launched the world’s first twin-rotor rotary engined car, the Mazda Cosmo Sport. Today, 40 years to-the-date later, the company celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Mazda rotary engine. In the years between, Mazda has produced nearly two million vehicles powered by the rotary engine. “Only Mazda – a company with a laser-like focus on vehicle development and engineering success – would have had the perseverance and unwavering spirit to pursue the rotary engine,” said Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO of Mazda North American Operations. “From humble beginnings in the 1950s to a very bright hydrogen-fueled future, the rotary engine represents Mazda as a company that follows the road less traveled, and makes its own successes where others have failed.”

IRVINE, Calif. – The upcoming Memorial Day weekend signals the unofficial start of the top-down summer driving season. To celebrate, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO), maker of the MX-5 Miata – the world’s best-selling convertible sports car, and the only optional power-retractable hard top that takes up no trunk space – wants to make sure convertible drivers across the country enjoy their vehicles, but do it safely at the same time.
“With over 800,000 sold, the MX-5 Miata is the best selling convertible sports car in the world, so if anybody has the authority to speak on behalf of top-down, wind-in-your-hair, sun-on-your-face driving fun, it’s Mazda,” said Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO of MNAO. “With Memorial Day weekend coming fast, summer road-trips can’t be far behind. But before you hit the road, remember these time-honored road-tips.”

One of the world’s best selling sports cars is the Mazda MX-5 Miata, with over 800,000 cars sold. There are three generations of this small roadster. The third generation has fender bulges over the wheel wells with a 2.0 liter engine. K&N Engineering has developed a 57i Air Induction Kit (57-0656) for the 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata 2.0 liter engine. This Air Intake is made to fit this specific application. The mass air flow sensor goes directly into the inlet tube which in turn mounts directly onto the throttle body.

Mazda Motor Corporation today held a rollout ceremony for the all-new Mazda2 (known as the Demio in Japan) at its Ujina Plant No.1 (U1) near Mazda’s headquarters in Hiroshima. Approximately 550 people, including Mazda’s Executive Vice President, Robert J. Graziano, together with other Mazda executive officers, union representatives and employees, gathered to celebrate the start of new Mazda2 production. The first car to come off the line is bound for the Japanese market, with sales due to commence in summer 2007.

Mr. Graziano greeted the attendees, saying, “The all-new Mazda2 is the first of Mazda’s new generation products to evolve to the next stage. While the current model was intended for the domestic market, the new model has been developed into a globally competitive car. I wish to congratulate you all on your hard work, which has now successfully brought us to the start of full mass production. I am convinced that the all-new Mazda2 will capture the hearts of our customers and demonstrate to drivers the world over that, ‘Mazda vehicles look inviting to drive, are fun to drive, and make you want to drive them again.’ The new Mazda2 offers an exhilarating driving experience that is the soul of Zoom-Zoom and we will continue to build cars with the strong understanding that safety and environmental friendliness are a vital part of making cars fun-to-drive.”

Mazdaspeed announced that its new sport seat, the Type-N Sport Seat, would debut at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January of 2007.  The new seat is ideal for the automotive enthusiast that wants the ability to recline and adjust the seat and the sporty support provided by a fixed back seat.  The seat features 3D-Net material in the center and a breathable outer skin, providing greater comfort during extended driving periods.  The seat is expected to go on sale in the Spring of 2007.

http://www.mazda.co.jp/accessories/mazdaspeed/

Salt Lake City, Utah, October 29, 2006 - Today Cobb Tuning, Inc. announced the release of the completely redesigned AccessPORT™ handheld programmer and software for Subaru vehicles with planned support for Mitsubishi, Nissan, Mazda, and Toyota vehicles in the future.

Trey Cobb, CEO of Cobb Tuning, Inc. said, “Today’s release of the new AccessPORT represents a revolutionary step forward for handheld ECU reprogrammers. With next-generation features and design along with Cobb Tuning’s unique on-the-fly tuning technology, the new AccessPORT is another example of the well-engineered products Cobb Tuning is dedicated to provide its customers.”

The AccessPORT by Cobb Tuning, Inc. is a handheld programmer that allows you to unlock your vehicle’s hidden potential by reprogramming the stock Engine Control Unit (ECU). Performance tuning data is uploaded to the ECU via the OBD-2 diagnostic port in a matter of minutes, and requires no cutting, wiring, or other such modifications. Unique to the AccessPORT is the ability to change tuning data on-the-fly without having to completely reprogram the ECU. This technology allows the AccessPORT to get the most performance out of your vehicle in the least amount of time.