#BrownCarGuy – News, Views & Reviews!
Mazda’s flirted with electrification before – remember the MX-30? Stylish, well-built, and charmingly unconventional, but with a range so short you’d start worrying halfway to the shops. Even Mazda later admitted it needed work, adding a rotary range-extender to make it more usable.
Are car makers really giving up on EVs and redirecting their efforts back to ICE (internal combustion engines)? There’s a lot of buzz and confusion over a recent announcement by Japanese automotive giants Toyota, Subaru, and Mazda confirming their joint commitment to continue developing ICE technology. But what does this mean for the future of mobility, and why are these manufacturers investing in internal combustion engines now?
It’s not often you do a comparison test of a make and model of car against the same make and model of car. In this case, we’re talking about the Mazda2 versus the new Mazda2 hybrid. Except that apart from the ‘Mazda2’ in the name, these cars are completely different. For one thing, the newer car is a hybrid, for another, it’s actually a rebadged Toyota Yaris hybrid!
While at a Mazda Media Drive event at Bicester Heritage, I couldn’t resist taking the updated 2024 Mazda MX-5 RF for a drive, especially as the sun was shining and, just for a few hours, it had actually stopped raining!
Mazda is bucking trends! Check out my exclusive podcast with Jeremy Thomson, Managing Director of Mazda UK. In this interview Jeremy gives us the inside line on Mazda’s bold two-pronged strategy, balancing the advancement of electric vehicles (EVs) with a continued commitment to the internal combustion engine (ICE).
Quick walkaround of some of Mazda’s rotary-engine sportscar icons at a presentation ahead of a media launch drive of the new MX-30 R-EV tomorrow – stay tuned for that review. Meanwhile, enjoy this nostalgic walk back through Mazda’s Wankel superstar history. Includes Mazda RX3, Mazda Cosmo, Mazda RX-7 and RX-8 models. This was at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool.
Mazda launched a sensible, practical and comfortable high-riding family car in the Scottish Highlands some weeks ago. Stop. Just let that sink it. An SUV introduced in an area known for some of the best driving roads in the country – somewhere where typically you might think to launch a sports car as it would really be able to stretch its legs and demonstrate its abilities.
Continue reading “2022 Mazda CX-5 Review ”In this video I pick the best car – and some special mentions and shout outs – from each year of the best decade ever – the 1980s. From Ferraris to Hondas and Porsches, plus even a Subaru or two. 10 years of awesomeness and 10 best cars ever. Watch this now. And tell me your favourite cars from the 1980s as well as mentioning which other decade had great cars.
Continue reading “1980’s Top 10 Best Cars Ever”
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Continue reading “My latest motoring spread in Asian Leader – 24 Nov 2021”Sleek styling, curvy sides, swooping roofline and the sweet way it plays with the light makes the Mazda3 one of the best-looking hatchbacks around. Such is the appeal of this all-rounder, that if the aesthetics don’t get you, the driving dynamics might just do the trick.
Continue reading “Mazda3 GT Sport Review”