cphowitzer
07-29-2006, 04:14 PM
PLENTY MORE ZOOM FOR MAZDA3
27 July 2006, www.mazda.co.nz
The award-winning Mazda3 is set to exceed expectations even further with significant upgrades offering more safety, more refinement, improved on-road performance, better fuel consumption and even more value.
Since it launched in 2004, the Mazda3 – the fourth in Mazda’s new generation vehicle line up – has won the hearts of motorists worldwide, consistently exceeding sales expectations while collecting 67 awards for excellence around the world.
“The Mazda3 breathed life into the compact car segment when it launched a few years ago and we have been selling them as fast as they land ever since,†said Andrew Clearwater, general manager vehicle sales and marketing, Mazda New Zealand.
“The arrival of this upgraded model is timely as we are seeing a segmentation shift toward compact cars as uncertain petrol prices and a forecast of softer economic growth means customers are adding value to the top of their buying equation.
“Not only is the upgraded Mazda3 range priced very competitively, it offers increased fuel economy - not to mention the benefit to the wallet of free servicing for three years - all of which combine to make it an outstanding value proposition for customers. And unlike some other cars in the segment, it does this without compromising on performance, looks or safety.â€Â
The upgraded Mazda3 range includes the 2.0-litre GLX hatch, GSX sedan and hatch and the 2.3-litre SP23 and SP23 Leather Pack sedan and hatch. The all-new flagship of the Mazda3 family is the high-performance Mazda3 MPS – a 2.3-litre Direct Injection Spark Ignition, turbo-charged, pocket rocket.
The new range benefits from a host of significant mechanical updates that have reduced fuel consumption, improved the car’s class leading ride and handling and significantly reduced unwanted noise, vibration and harshness.
The GLX and GSX models benefit from the addition of Sequential Valve Timing, which now provides 108kW of power at 6500rpm using regular unleaded fuel. The 2.0-litre engine now produces 182Nm of torque, while torque delivery is boosted between 2000rpm and 4000rpm. An electronic throttle further improves accelerator pedal response and acceleration.
Mazda3 customers will also welcome improved fuel consumption with the 2.0L manual models now returning 8.2L/100km while the activematic models now return on average 8.4L/100km.
The 2.3-litre SP23 models continue to offer one of the most powerful engines in the class with the larger powerplant producing 115kW and 203Nm of torque. This engine also adopts an electronic throttle, improving acceleration feel and the accuracy of the cruise control.
With the adoption of a six speed manual gearbox, which offer closely spaced third, fourth and fifth gear ratios, and a five-speed activematic transmission, performance and economy of SP23 models has been improved. The SP23 manual models now return 8.6L/100km, while the five-speed automatic averages 8.7L/100km. Steering wheel mounted change buttons for the five-speed activematic maximise driver involvement and driving fun.
Steering and handling - the hallmarks of Mazda DNA - have also been improved. Optimised suspension geometry, revised damper structure and further local body reinforcements have made handling more precise and responsive, and stability greatly improved. Combined with the substantially improved performance of the powertrain, this noticeably increases driving pleasure.
Overall ride comfort has been improved through introducing a number of measures designed to lower engine and road noise in the cabin - a major focus of the upgrade. Road noise was reduced by changing the internal structure of the tyres on all models and using stiffer wheels, while the addition of insulation material on the roof reduces road and high-speed wind noise.
A wide selection of new equipment further enhances passenger enjoyment and convenience. All models feature an audio system that plays MP3-recorded CDs which can store up to ten CDs worth of music and an auxiliary jack to plug in iPods or MP3 players.
The exterior of the car, which has always turned heads, has benefited from a refresh in both the sedan and hatch models.
\"The original Mazda3’s dynamic styling made people realise that compact cars don’t need to look boring,\" said Andrew Clearwater. \"Now its emotional appeal has been strengthened even further with an extra dose of ‘zoom-zoom’ across the range.\"
Changes include new bumpers, new grilles and redesigned alloy wheels. Inside there are new seat trims, cloth trims and dash panel finishes, resulting in a more refined, elegant appearance. Even the boot design has been modified to improve luggage space.
Part of the Mazda3’s appeal is that the great driving experience comes hand in hand with industry leading safety standards. The original Mazda3 already boasted an exhaustive list of safety features, and these have been significantly upgraded further in the new range.
This includes the addition of Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) on the Mazda3 SP23 Leather model and the Mazda3 MPS. DSC is a state-of-the art accident avoidance anti-skid system that automatically corrects front or rear-wheel slides without driver intervention. The DSC system automatically brakes individual wheels and reduces engine torque to correct slides. Overseas research claims that stability systems, such as DSC, can reduce single vehicle accidents by as much as 30 per cent.
DSC, which also incorporates traction control, works with ABS anti-lock brakes, a safety feature now standard on all Mazda3 models. Other safety upgrades include a seatbelt warning system for front and rear seat passengers, while the addition of a collapsible brake pedal and a redesigned steering wheel adjustment lever have reduced the likelihood of lower leg injury in the case of a collision.
\"These upgrades and new features are sure to strengthen the Mazda3’s appeal even further,\" said Mr Clearwater. \"Yet despite this, pricing remains more competitive than ever.\"
Realignment on pricing for all models see a reduction for GLX and GSX models while SP23 models pricing has increased to reflect the additional features.
Like all Mazda vehicles, the Mazda3 range has free scheduled servicing for 3 years or 100,000km (whichever comes first) and is protected by a three year/unlimited kilometre warranty and 24 hour roadside assistance for the duration of the warranty.
Five new colour choices (True Red, Aurora Blue, Crystal White Pearl, Galaxy Grey and Icy Blue) have been added bringing the total to nine different colour choices for the Mazda3 GLX, GSX and SP23 models. The flagship Mazda3 MPS will come in a choice of four body colours, True Red, Aurora Blue, Black and Cosmic Blue which is exclusive to it.
27 July 2006, www.mazda.co.nz
The award-winning Mazda3 is set to exceed expectations even further with significant upgrades offering more safety, more refinement, improved on-road performance, better fuel consumption and even more value.
Since it launched in 2004, the Mazda3 – the fourth in Mazda’s new generation vehicle line up – has won the hearts of motorists worldwide, consistently exceeding sales expectations while collecting 67 awards for excellence around the world.
“The Mazda3 breathed life into the compact car segment when it launched a few years ago and we have been selling them as fast as they land ever since,†said Andrew Clearwater, general manager vehicle sales and marketing, Mazda New Zealand.
“The arrival of this upgraded model is timely as we are seeing a segmentation shift toward compact cars as uncertain petrol prices and a forecast of softer economic growth means customers are adding value to the top of their buying equation.
“Not only is the upgraded Mazda3 range priced very competitively, it offers increased fuel economy - not to mention the benefit to the wallet of free servicing for three years - all of which combine to make it an outstanding value proposition for customers. And unlike some other cars in the segment, it does this without compromising on performance, looks or safety.â€Â
The upgraded Mazda3 range includes the 2.0-litre GLX hatch, GSX sedan and hatch and the 2.3-litre SP23 and SP23 Leather Pack sedan and hatch. The all-new flagship of the Mazda3 family is the high-performance Mazda3 MPS – a 2.3-litre Direct Injection Spark Ignition, turbo-charged, pocket rocket.
The new range benefits from a host of significant mechanical updates that have reduced fuel consumption, improved the car’s class leading ride and handling and significantly reduced unwanted noise, vibration and harshness.
The GLX and GSX models benefit from the addition of Sequential Valve Timing, which now provides 108kW of power at 6500rpm using regular unleaded fuel. The 2.0-litre engine now produces 182Nm of torque, while torque delivery is boosted between 2000rpm and 4000rpm. An electronic throttle further improves accelerator pedal response and acceleration.
Mazda3 customers will also welcome improved fuel consumption with the 2.0L manual models now returning 8.2L/100km while the activematic models now return on average 8.4L/100km.
The 2.3-litre SP23 models continue to offer one of the most powerful engines in the class with the larger powerplant producing 115kW and 203Nm of torque. This engine also adopts an electronic throttle, improving acceleration feel and the accuracy of the cruise control.
With the adoption of a six speed manual gearbox, which offer closely spaced third, fourth and fifth gear ratios, and a five-speed activematic transmission, performance and economy of SP23 models has been improved. The SP23 manual models now return 8.6L/100km, while the five-speed automatic averages 8.7L/100km. Steering wheel mounted change buttons for the five-speed activematic maximise driver involvement and driving fun.
Steering and handling - the hallmarks of Mazda DNA - have also been improved. Optimised suspension geometry, revised damper structure and further local body reinforcements have made handling more precise and responsive, and stability greatly improved. Combined with the substantially improved performance of the powertrain, this noticeably increases driving pleasure.
Overall ride comfort has been improved through introducing a number of measures designed to lower engine and road noise in the cabin - a major focus of the upgrade. Road noise was reduced by changing the internal structure of the tyres on all models and using stiffer wheels, while the addition of insulation material on the roof reduces road and high-speed wind noise.
A wide selection of new equipment further enhances passenger enjoyment and convenience. All models feature an audio system that plays MP3-recorded CDs which can store up to ten CDs worth of music and an auxiliary jack to plug in iPods or MP3 players.
The exterior of the car, which has always turned heads, has benefited from a refresh in both the sedan and hatch models.
\"The original Mazda3’s dynamic styling made people realise that compact cars don’t need to look boring,\" said Andrew Clearwater. \"Now its emotional appeal has been strengthened even further with an extra dose of ‘zoom-zoom’ across the range.\"
Changes include new bumpers, new grilles and redesigned alloy wheels. Inside there are new seat trims, cloth trims and dash panel finishes, resulting in a more refined, elegant appearance. Even the boot design has been modified to improve luggage space.
Part of the Mazda3’s appeal is that the great driving experience comes hand in hand with industry leading safety standards. The original Mazda3 already boasted an exhaustive list of safety features, and these have been significantly upgraded further in the new range.
This includes the addition of Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) on the Mazda3 SP23 Leather model and the Mazda3 MPS. DSC is a state-of-the art accident avoidance anti-skid system that automatically corrects front or rear-wheel slides without driver intervention. The DSC system automatically brakes individual wheels and reduces engine torque to correct slides. Overseas research claims that stability systems, such as DSC, can reduce single vehicle accidents by as much as 30 per cent.
DSC, which also incorporates traction control, works with ABS anti-lock brakes, a safety feature now standard on all Mazda3 models. Other safety upgrades include a seatbelt warning system for front and rear seat passengers, while the addition of a collapsible brake pedal and a redesigned steering wheel adjustment lever have reduced the likelihood of lower leg injury in the case of a collision.
\"These upgrades and new features are sure to strengthen the Mazda3’s appeal even further,\" said Mr Clearwater. \"Yet despite this, pricing remains more competitive than ever.\"
Realignment on pricing for all models see a reduction for GLX and GSX models while SP23 models pricing has increased to reflect the additional features.
Like all Mazda vehicles, the Mazda3 range has free scheduled servicing for 3 years or 100,000km (whichever comes first) and is protected by a three year/unlimited kilometre warranty and 24 hour roadside assistance for the duration of the warranty.
Five new colour choices (True Red, Aurora Blue, Crystal White Pearl, Galaxy Grey and Icy Blue) have been added bringing the total to nine different colour choices for the Mazda3 GLX, GSX and SP23 models. The flagship Mazda3 MPS will come in a choice of four body colours, True Red, Aurora Blue, Black and Cosmic Blue which is exclusive to it.