Mazda has a real winner on its hands with the CX-9 - a Large Crossover SUV that actually says Zoom-Zoom! The CX-9 is the outright winner in 26 of 48 satisfaction attributes, and is well rated in the rest. Winning attributes of the CX-9 include such important characteristics as:
• Exterior styling and size
• Fun-to-drive, power/acceleration and handling (the essence of Zoom-Zoom)
• Seating capacity and flexible/changeable seating
• Quality, reliability/dependable, durable/long lasting
• Safety features and a feeling of safety while driving
• Operating costs, anticipated resale value and value for money

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

There are two kinds of automotive manufacturers. Those that focus heavily on building an unemotional, quality appliance and those that believe a vehicle should be more than just basic transportation. Mazda has developed into the latter. The 2010 Mazda3 underscores Mazda's focus on producing stylish, performance oriented vehicles at an affordable price.

The 2010 Mazda3 is really the fifth generation of what we now call the Mazda3. It began with the 'great little car' - GLC, followed by 323, Protoge', and previous generation Mazda3. From introduction, the Mazda3 garnered support from the press and consumers alike. Since Mazda relies so heavily on their little C-Segment car, it was imperative that 2010 iteration refine and improve the formula, evolving it rather than recreating it. We're here to tell you that they didn't disappoint. They've added more performance, more character and more options into the mix. The all-new Mazda3 is even more of a good thing.

Continue reading "2010 Mazda Mazda3: More of a Good Thing" »

Posted by Keagan Patrick at 10:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

Once fuel had reach $4.05 a gallon nationally, we watched as truck sales plummeted and small/compact car sales got a little boost. People in the industry began to say that compact cars were going to appeal to more Americans and make up a larger percentage of vehicles sold here in the United States. The trick is said to be selling these small/compact cars for a profit. Up until recently the major domestic automakers had been able to make up to $12,600 profit on Large Luxury SUVs, but selling a small/compact car only raked in about $2,400 bucks. Once you subtract anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 for fixed costs you could actually end up with a negative number. Which means that a solid business case to produce small/compact cars here in the U.S. is not always an easy case to make; other than to help offset CAFE. Although, Mazda seems to be able to make a business case for them, and they sell tons of them!

Of course now there is talk of ‘premium small cars’ becoming popular with Generation Y and possibly becoming a more lucrative business venture. With fuel prices dropping again to around $2 a gallon only time will tell what the future of the small/compact car will be here in the United States. Still, injecting premium content into a small car may go a long way in appealing to an increasing number of people who don't think small size should equal skimpy content.

Continue reading "2008 LA Auto Show: 2010 Mazda3 – Next Time, Start a Revolution!" »

Posted by Keagan Patrick at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

Let’s get the big “a-ha” about the 2009 Mazda6 out of the way first: the Mazda6 has grown up to be a fully respectable member of society, but it has kept almost all of what made the original so appealing to keen drivers. It’s the automotive equivalent of Richard Branson, a man who has evolved to become one of the most admired business leaders in the world while retaining all of the hipness, style, and flamboyance of his youth.

The first generation Mazda6 was always admired by enthusiasts; it was lean, engaging, full of feedback, and just plain great fun to drive. It was a cut-price BMW 3-Series in terms of its drive character. Those qualities, however, made it far less appealing for its primary mission – to serve as a solid family sedan. Despite its entertainment value on the road, it was small and cramped inside, noisy, and felt somewhat like a beer can.

The new 6, however, has soundly addressed each and every single one of those deficiencies that made Camry, Accord, and Altima a more amenable choice for many families. At the same time, it has become even more stylish and easily matches or beats the Japanese Big Three sedans in terms of interior roominess, refinement, interior quality, and comfort. In short, we think it’s one of the most – if not the most – compelling mid-size sedans out there. At the media introduction of the 6 that VehicleVoice staff attended, Mazda was so confident of the new 6’s abilities that they had 4-cylinder and V6 samples of Accord, Camry, and Altima on hand for direct comparisons.

Continue reading "2009 Mazda6: Moving On Up, But Keeping It Real" »

Posted by Ed Kim at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

A sports car with a timeless, traditional layout, the Mazda MX-5 Miata scored at the top of the Sports Car class in the 2008 Ideal Vehicle Awards. With high ratings for cargo space, visibility, handling, power and acceleration and interior storage, the MX-5 Miata blew the competition away.

Posted by Katrina Ohlemacher at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

Zoom Zoom Evolution
It was back in 2001 that Mazda started blasting auto-show attendees and innocent TV watchers with the now-famous zoom-zoom theme. Mazda has remained true to Zoom-Zoom in the intervening years, and the second generation of the first Zoom-Zoom cars are starting to arrive. The Mazda2, not sold in the States, led the evolution this past summer. Mazda's mid-size sedan (and five-door hatchback and wagon) entry is next, known as the Mazda6 outside of Japan and as the Atenza inside. Though U.S. sales don't begin until summer 2008, the exterior shown at the recent Frankfurt and Tokyo auto shows, pictured below, is close to what we'll see then.

What we likely won't see are the wagon or the five-door hatchback, though these bodystyles continue for other markets. U.S. mid-size car segments are dominated by sedans, with a few coupes here and there. For the 2008MY, Mazda gave up the wagon version of the 6, Dodge will drop the Magnum for 2009MY, and Chevrolet gave up the five-door hatchback/wagon-type Malibu Maxx with its 2008MY redesign. Mazda sold fewer than 10,000 wagon Mazda6s in any given year it was available, compared with well over 50,000 sedans annually.

The job of the new Mazda6, according to Mazda, is to continue to deepen and evolve Kizuna, the emotional connection drivers feel with the 6. The new face is evolutionary but strong follow-up for a car that was as well received as this the first time around. Kizuna, for Mazda6, embodies three core values. Mazda wants the 6 to offer an emotional and sporty driving experience that creates a oneness between car and driver, to offer an exclusive experience through a comfortable space and high-quality craftsmanship inside, and finally to offer an "insightful package" that balances the first two elements and incorporates logical, well-thought-out, and easy-to-use driver interface and storage areas. Based on our limited show-floor time, Mazda looks to have created a 6 (and Atenza) with the kizuna they are looking for.

Continue reading "2009 Mazda6: Frankfurt and Tokyo Introductions Preview U.S. Model" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 6:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

VehicleVoice staffers had been looking forward to the Mazda CX-9 to see how the new Mazda flagship stacks up against competition. One of a plethora of new Crossover SUVs, Mazda is venturing into uncharted, for them, territory.

Mid-Size or Large Crossover SUV... a Tweener?

The CX-9 is a "large" Crossover SUV - not the size of the Tahoe-sized GM Lambda Crossover SUVs like the GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook and Buick Enclave, but still big enough to have a relatively comfortable 3rd row seat. AutoPacific carries CX-9 in our Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV segment (what a mouthful). It may actually deserve to be categorized in the Large Crossover Segment. We're taking a look at it.

Styling is Modern, but Blends in With Other Contemporary Crossover SUVs

The styling of the CX-9 is modern without being overdone like its lower priced stablemate the CX-7. There are no wheel arch accents over the front wheel like the CX-7, RX-8 and Miata, but I don't know if this is good. I was kinda getting into the more blatant Mazda front end look. The CX-9 doesn't offend, it just blends. So from an overall styling standpoint, it seems to "blend" rather than turn heads. Some folks wondered if it was a new Lexus RX, so I guess being mistaken for an RX (like the Hyundai Veracruz is) ain't too bad.

Continue reading "Mazda CX-9 - Flagship from Hiroshima" »

Posted by George Peterson at 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

The Motorist Choice Award is in its second year and is a collaboration between AutoPacific and IntelliChoice.com. AutoPacific, widely known for its industry expertise and research, and IntelliChoice, known for its comprehensive cost of ownership information, designed the Motorist Choice Award to help consumers identify the most satisfying cars and trucks that are also the least expensive to own.

Using data from AutoPacific's national Vehicle Satisfaction research and the IntelliChoice Best Overall Value information, AutoPacific and IntelliChoice have developed a unique tool that can be used by consumers to help them sort through the myriad of choices in today's automotive marketplace.

Here are the 2007 Winners of the 25 individual segment awards:

SEGMENT - Winner

Aspirational Luxury Car - Lexus IS
Compact Car - Mazda3
Compact Crossover SUV - Chevrolet HHR
Compact Pickup - Toyota Tacoma
Compact Sport Utility/ORV - Toyota Tacoma
Economy Car - Honda Fit
Image Compact Car - Volkswagen GTi
Large Car - Toyota Avalon
Large Heavy Duty Pickup - Chevrolet Silverado HD
Large Light Duty Pickup - Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Large Luxury Car - Cadillac DTS
Large Sport Utility - GMC Yukon XL
Luxury Crossover SUV - Acura MDX
Luxury Mid-Size Car - Nissan Maxima
Luxury Sport Utility - Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Mid-Size Car - Volkswagen Jetta
Mid-Size Crossover SUV - Honda CR-V
Mid-Size Sport Utility - Toyota 4Runner
Minivan - Honda Odyssey
Premium Luxury Car - Lexus LS
Premium Mid-Size Car - Nissan Altima
Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV - Nissan Murano
Premium Sports Car - Lexus SC
Sports Car - Porsche Boxster
Sporty Car - Scion tC

The press release can be found below the fold.

Continue reading "2007 Motorist Choice Awards Announced" »

Posted by George Peterson at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

AutoPacific take on Mazda3 win - With a combination of great breaking, handling, and ride Mazda has found a sweet spot in the Compact Car segment. Winning the Compact Car category in the 2007 Motorist Choice Awards® the Mazda3 provides owners with a great value in an easy to live with package.

IntelliChoice take on Mazda3 win - The Mazda3 does not lead the class in any one area, but has solid retained value, and performs above average in both fuel and maintenance costs.

Posted by Keagan Patrick at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

OK, the Mazda Tribute has been around for years. Mazda has practically forgotten about it. There is very little advertising for the Tribute especially since Mazda has its more modern and upscale CX-7 and CX-9 Crossover SUVs to pitch. Because Tribute lives in the shadows of its "more important" brethren it is easy to forget about it. That's a shame, because the Tribute is a fine Crossover SUV overall, with only a few warts that could be corrected with very little investment or cost.

Mazda Tribute Derived From Ford Escape - Sweet Spot Among Crossover SUVs

Over the years, AutoPacific has had Ford Escape Crossover SUVs in product clinic research. Since introduction the Escape and its derivatives - the Mercury Mariner and Mazda Tribute - have represented the sweet spot among small to mid-size Crossover SUVs. Easy to live with, easy to get into and out of, good interior package. Wow. Very well thought-out and executed. Ford knew the solution to the SUV equation when they developed the Escape and Mazda benefits.

One of the advantages of the new 2008 Mazda Tribute and the 2008 versions of the Escape and Mariner are that they have more differentiation than they have ever had before. You can actually tell which is a Mazda, Ford or Mercury at a glance.

Not big, not small, the Tribute is a handy size. Easy to maneuver. Easy to see out of. Reasonably large rear seat and usable cargo area. All product attributes that measure up to a pleasant and affordable package. For a bit over $23,000 this Mazda Tribute is an excellent value.

Nitpicks - NVH and V6 Finesse

What are the problems? Well, there needs to be some work done on engine noise and road noise. Not insurmountable problems. The venerable 3.0L V6 engine pleasant around town but thrashy when pushed. I'd love to drive a Tribute with Ford's new 3.5L V6, but that's not in the cards.

No Passion? But Would Make a Great Car for a Young Driver

What did the office say? Of course, folks around the AutoPacific and VehicleVoice offices have strong opinions about vehicles like the Tribute. One gray hair contended that when describing all the virtues of the Tribute the one word that was not mentioned was "passion" or and other word "enthusiasm". True enough, but the Tribute, overall can be a very persuasive package without being headturning or making your blood run hot.

Others in the office observed that the Tribute would make a great vehicle for a teenager just out of high school and going off to college. The Tribute has enough room for the driver and a few friends plus the cargo room to carry their stuff. In fact, my high school buddy Bill Spiers in Metarie, Louisiana just bought one for his youngest daughter as a graduation present. She was pleased to say the least.

Also, as Bill learned, the Tribute can be found with tremendous discounts that make buying a Mazda a much better deal than a Honda CR-V or a Toyota RAV4.

Posted by George Peterson at 12:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

The Consumer Reports annual auto issue has just come out, and in it they identify their Top Picks in several different segments. Their choices are based on their vehicle tests (sample size of their staff members), projected reliability based on their (huge sample) reliability survey of prior models, and an assessment of the vehicle's safety based on government crash tests.

Why Should We Care what Consumer Reports Says?

Over years of research with American car and light truck buyers, AutoPacific has asked what influenced their purchase the most? In almost every focus group or one-on-one interview we have held, Consumer Reports is mentioned. While buyers contend that Consumer Reports does not DICTATE what they buy, the consumer magazine does help them sort through the tremendous number of vehicles available today. Sometimes Consumer Reports is accused of biasing tests against vehicles they don't like (Isuzu, Suzuki, Mitsubishi), but their large sample consumer survey is hard to beat. This year, Mercedes, in a huff because they scored poorly, said something to the effect, "Our customers vote with their wallets, not with their pencils". Bad show.

Let's see if their top picks pass the reasonableness test. The VehicleVoice reaction to their selections is shown below the fold.

Continue reading "Consumer Reports Top Picks for 2007" »

Posted by Jim Hossack at 1:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

You could tell from the smiles on the faces of the suits from Cadillac that they had just come from something special. The Cadillac Escalade had just won the Playboy 2007 Car of the Year Award. Jim Taylor, Cadillac General Manager was lugging around a golden trophy with a totally blinged-out Playboy bunny glued to it and a discreet plaque proclaiming Escalade's win.

Playboy Magazine has just named their 2007 Cars of the Year. Included in this year's list were:

Playboy 2007 Car of the Year - BMW Z4 M

Best SUV - Cadillac Escalade
Best Sports Coupe - Porsche 911 Carrera
Best Bang for the Buck - Ford Mustang Shelby GT 500
The Al Gore Special - Lexus GS450h
Best Two-Way Player - Volkswagen Eos
Best Pickup - Toyota Tundra
Best Cross Dresser - Mazda CX-7
Best Roadster - Saturn Sky Red Line

Oh yeah, about the presentations. Apparently, a hostess Playmate gave the executives a tour around the Playboy Mansion. A former Playmate, the young lady was extremely well spoken, knew her stuff and presented Playboy in a very favorable light. What I'm saying is that she wasn't the airhead blonde bimbette that may have been expected at Playboy.

Posted by George Peterson at 2:32 PM | Permalink

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

At this time of year, everyone wants you to know about the best cars, trucks and SUVS of the year. AutoPacific has already taken a big step in that direction, but with a twist: Partnering with Intellichoice, AutoPacific shared the best vehicles of the year, as picked by you - and that's saying something! The Awards are called the Motorist's Choice Awards and this year included the Lexus LS430, The Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 4x2, the Infiniti QX56 and the Audi A6 4.2 Quattro. Where else can you go to get the best possible input from your own peers about the latest vehicles in the marketplace? Since you're here, we think you've come to the right place.
Watch the Podcast: AutoPacific & IntelliChoice Motorist's Choice Awards

My Personal Choices for Best Rides of the Year
It's part of my job to drive a new vehicle nearly every week. In some cases, more than one vehicle at week gets the once-over, not only by me, but by a number of the analysts and experts at VehicleVoice and AutoPacific. As the resident speed-guy, I might have a slightly different take on things and while I do try to avoid going to court, I do need to put my foot down. And that's part of what my list is about. The other things I'm taking into consideration are everyday drivability, cost, and return on investment. And as you know, everyone is concerned about fuel costs and gas mileage. Not me! Not yet... So, let's get to it.

Continue reading "My Favorite Rides of the Year" »

Posted by dbarrett at 6:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

Acura (click here for our story) wasn't the only manufacturer exploring themes for more than ten years out at the November 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show, and not the only manufacturer who may have missed the mark.

Mazda developed the Nagare (pronounced na-ga-reh) concept to describe their future design themes, as an expression of where Mazda styling might be in 2020. Nagare is not only the name of this concept, but the name of Mazda's future design language. The word, according to Mazda, is Japanese for flow and the "embodiment of motion." Nagare is the first of several show properties being prepared for this year's auto show season that will explore this new surface language, each of which will take a different interpretation. Mazda promises some of the concepts we see this year will be closer to production; this Nagare is a design rather than a production expression.

Form Follows Function? Not Here
Nagare has a sleek, aerodynamic shape, but one that is difficult to reconcile with the concept of an "urban cruiser" for 2020 or any other decade. For one, the extreme aero look didn't leave much room for people, the most basic reason for having a vehicle. Placing the wheels at the extreme edges of every corner does promise strong and nimble handling and give the concept an aggressive stance. This concept stressed the soul of the sports car over the ability for people to ride in it. Though Mazda didn't actually show the concept property with doors open, it is designed with two forward-hinged double-length doors that open like butterfly wings. Nice and pretty and a configuration found on lots of concepts, but one that is rarely used in production, and even then typically for low-volume sports cars.

Continue reading "LA Auto Show – Mazda Nagare Concept" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 12:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

WardsAuto.com has announced its 10 Best Engines for 2007. Let's see how VehicleVoice agrees with the Wards' results... they are presented in alphabetical order:

Audi AG 2.0L turbocharged DOHC I4 - Audi A3 - We agree wholeheartedly with this engine selection, but Ward's gives it short shrift by identifying only the Audi A3 as having this engine. It is also found in the Audi A4, Volkswagen Eos, Volkswagen GTi, Volkswagen Jetta and even the Volkswagen Passat. A real nice driving 4-cylinder turbo that is the workhorse of the spirited Volkswagen/Audi lineups.

BMW AG 3.0L DOHC I6 - BMW Z4 3.0si - BMW in-line sixes are always works of art. Smooth, effortless, always feel that they are putting out more horsepower than their ratings. Ward's has selected the higher horsepower version found in the Z4 3.0si - it puts out 255-horsepower and has 220 pound-feet of torque. This engine is also found in the BMW 530 sedan.

BMW AG 3.0L turbocharged DOHC I6 - BMW 335i - We don't really go with turbocharged engines much. There is usually no replacement for displacement. But the 3.0L Turbo in the 335i is a sweet piece. Turns the 335i into a Q-ship with near M3-levels of performance.

DaimlerChrysler AG 3.0L DOHC V6 turbodiesel -Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec/Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD - We appreciate the sentiment, but until a diesel can be sold in all 50 states, we won't agree that it is one of the best engines. Diesels deserve a significant place in the USA automotive landscape, but regulations, technology, fuel costs, fuel availability have all conspired against widespread diesel acceptance.

DaimlerChrysler AG 5.7L OHV Hemi V8 - Chrysler 300C - Chrysler Group has built a franchise around the HEMI. The low cost, Mexican-produced, overhead valve, high output engine almost singlehandedly resurrected Chrysler from its early 21st Century doldrums. Don't forget the HEMI can be found in all large, rear wheel drive Chrysler, Dodge products as well as the two largest Jeep entries.

Ford Motor Co. Duratec 35 3.5L DOHC V6 - Ford Edge/Lincoln MKX - Ward's specifies the Ford/Lincoln Crossover Sport Utility Vehicles as the vehicles where the new Duratec 35 is found, but don't forget the Lincoln MKZ (Zephyr) and the Mazda CX-9. While this higher output V6 is sorely needed by Ford and will eventually find its way through the Ford lineup, somehow the horses feel weaker than its 263-horsepower output suggests. We'll reserve judgment on this one.

Ford Motor Co. 4.6L SOHC V8 - Mustang GT/Mustang Shelby GT - The 4.6L is the workhorse V8 for Ford's rear wheel drive platforms. A very reliable, bulletproof powerplant, the 4.6L has proven to be very flexible up and down the horsepower scales. Driving the higher horsepower versions in the Mustang is a delight.

Mazda Motor Corp. 2.3L DISI turbocharged DOHC I4 - MazdaSpeed3 - A very willing and berserk powerplant in the MazdaSpeed3, the 2.3L Turbo provides more than enough power to generate nutso torque-steer in the MazdaSpeed3. Torque steer has always been a bugaboo in high output front wheel drive Mazdas and the combination of power and chassis dynamics in the MazdaSpeed3 may have set a new high (or low).

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. 3.5L DOHC V6 -Infiniti G35 - We assume that Ward's is referring to the higher output VQ found only in the Infiniti vehicles for 2007/2008. A significant upgrade from previous VQ V6s, the Infiniti has been finessed to new levels of power, smoothness and "engine music". Still a bit of a lump in the fuel efficiency category, however. And the VQ's refinement has pretty much been sub-par compared to the Audi, BMW and Lexus (Toyota) sixes against which it competes.

Toyota Motor Corp. 3.5L DOHC V6 -Lexus IS 350 - Another Japanese V6 putting out over 300-horsepower from 3.5-liters. Sweet, quick revving, quick. But unlike the Nissan VQ in the Infiniti, the Lexus 3.5L seems to lack the passion that really stirs the senses. Maybe it is the "engine music" thing. But it's far more likely the effect of the Toyota engine's astonishing refinement.

Posted by George Peterson at 9:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

Quietly tucked away in a corner of the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show II was the all new Mazda CX-9 Crossover Sport Utility Vehicle. No surprise here, as we brought you the reveal from the New York Auto Show in April (click here) and the CX-9 has been seen tooling nearby on the roads surrounding Mazda North American Operations headquarters in Irvine, California. The disturbing thing was that the CX-9 was getting no attention even with an overhead display similar to that Mazda used to launch the CX-7 last year. VehicleVoice and AutoPacific staffers stumbled on this forlorn looking CX-9 while searching for the john.

The CX-9 becomes Mazda's flagship and effectively replaces the not-missed Mazda Millenia near luxury sedan that literally faded away several years ago. Sharing a platform with the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX, Mazda did the Ford entries one better by enlarging the body and adding a third row of seats. In the Mazda lineup the CX-7 does the 5-passenger duty and the CX-9 does the 7-passenger duty.

Continue reading "LA Auto Show - 2007 Mazda CX-9" »

Posted by George Peterson at 2:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

Automobile Magazine, hot on the heels of Autobytel, has just released their "2007 All-Stars Awards." Just as with the Autobytel Editors' Choice Awards, this is an award that you wonder what the validity is. Unlike the AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards and Ideal Vehicle Awards released each summer, Automobile's award does not factor consumer input into the equation. In fact, AutoPacific's awards are purely based on consumer ratings. Automobile's award reflects their own opinion. Not all bad, but when reviewing the results, it is wise to remember that these folks are enthusiast-biased to the max.

Automobile Magazine Announces Its 2007 All-Star Awards

November 29, 2006

Each year, the editors and bureau chiefs of Automobile Magazine convene to test, evaluate, and debate the performance, significance, and pure enthusiast appeal of the cars that have made the biggest impact.

“This year, we increased the number of All-Stars from six to 10, which reflects just how brilliantly the industry is doing at providing enthusiasts with even more choice,” said Gavin Conway, editor-in-chief of Automobile Magazine. “As always, the hard part was deciding what to leave out of our constellation of All-Stars. In the end, these cars are what any connoisseur would have in their ‘dream garage.”

The 2007 Automobile Magazine All-Stars are:

* All-Star: Aston Martin V8 Vantage—This car could just about make the cut for its sensational looks alone, but it also offers a sublime driving experience and a truly inspirational engine.

* All-Star: BMW 3-Series—Remains one of the most complete cars on sale today, from its driving dynamics, quality of build, and the sheer pleasure of ownership it offers.

* All-Star: Chevrolet Corvette Z06—A friendly daily-driver that’ll leave Ferraris and Lamborghinis for dead, the Vette is an all-American hero.

* All-Star: Chrysler 300C—This one is a classic American: big V-8, rear-wheel drive, and a unique style that absolutely charms. Practical to own, too.

* All-Star: Honda Ridgeline—A clear winner with its unibody construction that gives a tight, rattle-free ride; Honda quality; and its very clever underbed trunk. [VehicleVoice note: Ridgeline had a sweep of all three AutoPacific awards for 2006... Vehicle Satisfaction Award, Ideal Vehicle Award and Motorist's Choice Award]

* All-Star: Infiniti G35—Thanks to its superbly balanced chassis, terrific grip, and a punchy powertrain, this car challenges the dominance of BMW’s 3-series.

* All-Star: Lotus Elise—An undiluted driving machine that deftly combines light weight, electrifying performance, and near-telepathic chassis response.

* All-Star: Mazda3—Terrific to drive, stylish, spacious, and capable of 155 mph in turbo guise, this proves that small cars can aspire to greatness.

* All-Star: Mercedes-Benz S-Class—One of the best-built luxury cars on sale at any price, its features technology that truly makes life easier and safer.

* All-Star: Porsche Cayman—With an extra-stiff structure, Porsche engineers were able to deliver stability, grip, ride, and composure that are just about unmatched.

Criteria and Evaluation

The Automobile Magazine All-Stars are chosen by its staff, its worldwide bureau chiefs, and its contributors, following an intensive test drive of the year’s most innovative and important new cars. Vehicles considered for the All-Stars awards combine the following traits:

* Redefines an existing category or creates a new market segment
* Provides excellent value and performance for the money
* Exhibits an exceptional design
* Offers pure driving enjoyment

Posted by George Peterson at 11:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

Since we have identified the vehicles that have the longest days supply, we have been asked to show which vehicles have the shortest days supply. Which vehicles are so hot they just blow off the dealer's lot? As with the slower moving vehicles where we arbitrarily cut off the days supply at 150 days, here we are using 50 days as the cut off point. The details are shown "below the fold"

Continue reading "Blowing Off the Lot - the Hot Sellers" »

Posted by George Peterson at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

Which cars and trucks are planted to the dealer's floor? In other words, which vehicles take the longest to sell? Who cars? Why does it matter, anyway?

Well, while it may not seem that important to you, it's critically important to the industry s a whole... from the manufacturese, component suppliers, dealers and quite a few financial institutions. First, if you know the time it takes to sell a vehicle, you know how much it is dragging on the dealer's floorplanning costs. Floorplanning is the term for the amount it costs the dealer to finance the a vehicle in inventory waiting to be sold. If a vehicle has been hanging around for weeks, he'll be more likely to deal aggressively to get rid of it. Also, vehicles that have high days supply may be less popular. From that perspective, they may be the ones you want to stay away from.

Continue reading "Stuck to the Dealer's Floor - Inventory Numbers Tell the Story" »

Posted by George Peterson at 2:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

Watch Podcast

Subscribe via RSS

Subscribe via iTunes

There are very few things the 2007 MazdaSpeed3 and the 2006 Ford Five Hundred have in common, but here's a comprehensive list. They're both made by Ford. They both have four wheels. And they're both up for review this week on VehicleVoice.

VehicleVoice contributor David Barrett starts things off with a look at Mazda's brand new hot rod, the MazdaSpeed3, and finds out the operative word in the name is SPEED. There's very little not to like about this racy little 5-door, from the breakthrough motor to it's "Arrest Me" red paint job. But a word to the wise, all that horsepower can get you in torque trouble, and David can get you out with a few simple driving tips.

AutoPacific President George Peterson takes a look at the Ford Five Hundred this week. Decidedly different than the MazdaSpeed3, this comfortable, easy-driving sedan won the AutoPacific Ideal Vehicle Award and targets a very different audience than the Speed3 - an audience that just loves this car. Find our what George thinks in his review.

Show Runtime - 17:23

Show Rundown
00:27 David Barrett , VehicleVoice contributor reviews the 2007 MazdaSpeed3

07:12 George Peterson , President of AutoPacific reviews the 2006 Ford Five Hundred

Posted by Cameron at 1:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

AutoPacific and VehicleVoice had the opportunity to evaluate the all new 2007 Nissan Sentra on the roads East of San Francisco Bay. The all new Sentra competes with the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Ford Focus and Chevrolet Cobalt. For 2007, every major dimension has been expanded to meet American tastes.

For the Record

Global development effort between Nissan and Renault. Delayed by about a year after bombing in USA product clinics. Went back to the drawing board to get it right.

Built at Nissan's Aguascalientes Plant in Mexico: Plant underwent a $800 million upgrade to accommodate all new Sentra and all new Versa. 350,000 units per year capacity.

On sale October 12, 2006.

Target Customer: Echo Boomers - Generation Y between the ages of 18 and 29. Sentra needs to serve many purposes - going out with friends, carrying a bike, taking road trips, buying furniture at IKEA.

Strives to be Compact Class Benchmark

No longer a compact car aimed at the lowest common denominator customer, the new Sentra strives to be the benchmark of its class when it goes on sale October 12, 2006. While the Sentra slots into the Nissan car lineup above the all new Versa (which actually is larger in some dimensions) and below the all new Altima, the Sentra has grown over its predecessor in wheelbase (+5.9-inches), overall length (+2.3-inches), overall width (+3.2-inches) and overall height (+4.0-inches). Now the "compact" Sentra nudges the Mainstream Mid-Size Car in basic dimensions.

The Sentra has substantially more passenger volume than Civic, Corolla, Mazda3 and Cobalt. Similarly, it has a large cargo volume only slightly topped by Corolla and Cobalt.

Continue reading "2007 Nissan Sentra - Sentra in the City" »

Posted by George Peterson at 12:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

Optional Power Retractable Hard Top to Join MX-5's Options List
Though the news has not found its way to Mazda's U.S. web site, the home-market branch announced today that the MX-5 convertible gets a new power retractable hard top option that will be offered in North America, Europe, and Japan. More details will be available after its formal introduction at the London auto show in mid-July, but we at VehicleVoice couldn't wait to bring you the first pictures. Shown here is the European spec model.

In Japan, the hardtop model will be called Mazda Roadster Power Retractable Hard Top, in Europe the Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe, and in North America the Mazda MX-5 (Miata) Power Retractable Hard Top.

With the new hard top, Mazda is raising the stakes against newcomers from Pontiac and Saturn in the affordable, two-seat convertible market. Will Mazda sell lots of hard-top-equipped MX-5s in the States? Probably not. While experts at AutoPacific do not expect that the model will dramatically increase sales or account for a large percent of the overall mix, Mazda may see a small increase with the new option. More important, it puts General Motors on notice that Mazda will not be giving up their share of this market without a fight. It is also not the only trick up Mazda's sleeve, as a MazdaSpeed MX-5 is also in the works.

Check back next month, when we expect to have more details about the U.S. on-sale date and equipment for the U.S.-specification models.

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 7:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

Metropolitan Hawk

We've reported on the CX-7 several times previously. In fact Mazda's Jeremy Barnes was featured in a walkaround of the CX-7 in our second-ever video cast. Now AutoPacific has driven it in the rolling Virginia countryside outside Washington DC.

Mazda compares the CX-7 with the likes of the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4. They also mention vehicles like the Nissan Murano. Certainly, CX-7 may have some similarities, but it is a very different type of vehicle.

On the plus side, CX-7 has very distinctive styling. Mazda describes it as a combination of sports car and SUV. They say it has the image and driving performance of a sports car - or maybe a sports coupe - and the utilty and capability of an SUV. CX-7 certainly looks different from SUVs and sedans. And it is a useful piece - functional.

Shinsuke Kawasaki, head of the Mazda product development team for CX-7 used the descriptive term "Metropolitan Hawk" to convey the sense of what he wanted to his colleagues. Yes, CX-7 is an SUV, but an SUV for the city. CX-7's targets were to 1) have advanced emotional styling, 2) have exceptional driving performance, and 3) to suport a user's urban lifestyle. It is an SUV for a person wanting individualistic transportation, not necessarily a joiner.

Its off-road pretentions are mild (using essentially the same AWD system as on the MazdaSpeed6) and Mazda did not provide any opportunity for off-roading. Darn.

CX-7 Powered by Turbo 4-cylinder

Mazda's conclusion going into development of the CX-7 is that SUVs over-deliver on family and under-deliver on performance. Matching Mazda's Zoom-Zoom image, Mazda set out to make the CX-7 a different type of performer. Surprisingly, it is powered by a turbocharged 2.3L 4-cylinder with 244-horsepower. Now, a turbo four is not what is expected in an SUV (except that Acura is launching the RDX SUV with a turbo 4 at about the same time), but this engine does pretty well. Little turbo lag, spritely performance, little torque steer. At high RPMs it gets a bit raucous - does not have the sophistication and finesse of a Volkswagen 2.0L Turbo 4-cylinder for instance. We would have opted for a V6, but Mazda's 2007 CX-9 7-passenger SUV gets Ford's 3.5L DOHC V6 with 265-horsepower. The CX-7's turbo four is a clear differentiator. Not bad, but unexpected.

But there are negatives. These are not killing points, but if Mazda had really heeded the input from folks who want a more useful sporty car and might consider an SUV, they wouldn't have missed on some important points.

Continue reading "Driving the Mazda CX-7 - Driving Zooms, Package Compromises" »

Posted by George Peterson at 12:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

Mazda's Five-Passenger CX-7 Gets Seven-Passenger Sibling, CX-9
Mazda has floundered with its MPV never being quite right for a minivan and the Tribute a decent, but undermarketed, SUV offering. The brand may be in a better position for 2007MY, with two new crossover SUV products that seem to be just what customers want these days. The Tribute goes on a break, scheduled to return as a 2008 model year vehicle.

Mazda's CX-7 spring 2006 launch provides a glimpse of what Mazda's SUV lineup will look like over the next year, but the CX-7 isn't the only new thing for 2007MY. Mazda is adding a second, larger SUV product for its 2007 model year lineup.

The CX-9 is being prepped quickly, with an introduction at the 2006 New York auto show in April and a sales launch in early 2007. VehicleVoice and AutoPacific correspondents were on hand for the introduction. Mazda is pitching its two new SUVs as offering an alternative for those looking for SUV attributes, like more space and all-weather capability, but also insistent on keeping a zoom-zoom sporting driver. As the launch release says, the CX-9 intends to "blend sporty driving spirit with seven-passenger SUV practicality."

In discussions with Mazda North American Operations design management, the CX-9 is the attitudinal successor to the old Mazda 929 and Milenia four-door sedans. As those products withered away over the years, Mazda wondered what types of vehicles they really wanted to buy. Well, the CX-7 and CX-9 are the result of that navel gazing, and are much better choices today than me-too sedans.

According to Mazda, the CX-9 is on its own platform. It is its own product, and most certainly not a long version of the CX-7. And the CX-7 is certainly not a shorter version of the CX-9. In any case, the two do share styling cues, with the larger CX-9 taking on a more grown-up and sophisticated look, with its longer proportions and wider stance. Mazda is building both CX-7 and CX-9 in Japan and making a big deal about these vehicles being designed primarily for North America.

Continue reading "Mazda CX-9 - When Room for Five is Not Enough" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 3:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

Mazda expands its lineup with a car-based SUV in spring 2006 called the CX-7. While the entry was previewed by the 2005 MX-Cross Sport concept, the production car was unveiled at Los Angeles and Detroit auto shows in January 2006. As with other car-based, post-modern SUVs, or crossovers, the five-seater CX-7 comes standard in front-drive form with an optional AWD system available. The CX-7 will be built in Japan, and is not directly related to the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX new-for-2007MY entries also being introduced to at the Detroit auto show.

VehicleVoice (http://www.vehiclevoice.com) will showcase the CX-7 at the Los Angeles Auto Show in an upcoming videocast.

Continue reading "Mazda Adds a New Post-Modern SUV: Mazda CX-7" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 4:11 PM | Permalink

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner