2011 Mazda2 coming to Canada
Mazda Canada press release
Magazine-thin laptops, MP3 players and bite-size candy bars are just a few
examples of good things that come in small packages. Now, for the first
time in North America, Mazda is introducing its own affordable, fun-sized
creation – the 2011 Mazda2. A stylish, eco-friendly, fun-to-drive
five-door hatchback, the Mazda2 is Zoom-Zoom in its most concentrated form
– compact and efficient, yet packed with style and substance. It will
launch into the North American market in late summer, 2010.
Mazda2 is the latest in a line of stylish, insightful and hugely
fun-to-drive small cars from Mazda, and will bring an all-new level of
refinement to the segment, as Mazda3 did for the compact C-Car market.
Mazda2 is a car that only the engineers at Mazda could have created. It
was designed and engineered from scratch to be a pure Mazda, offering the
sort of driving experience that could only come from the company that
developed the timeless MX-5 two-seat roadster, and it brings a combination
of athletic design and dynamic performance to the subcompact class that
simply does not exist at this time.
Originally launched in 2007, the new Mazda2 was first introduced in
Europe, Japan and Australia. Its launch created a unique offering in the
B-car (subcompact) segment, especially through its distinguished design
and outstanding driving performance. Since then, it has been highly
acclaimed throughout the world, winning 48 automotive awards, including
“Car of the Year” accolades in many markets, including Japan, New Zealand,
Chile, Bulgaria and Greece. Notably, the Mazda2 was selected as the “2008
World Car of the Year” (WCOTY) at the 2008 New York International Auto
Show and has established a distinguished position in the B-Car segment. To
date, total global sales have reached approximately 370,000 units in the
three years since its introduction, and Mazda2 is now recognized as one of
the global models which symbolizes the essence of the Mazda brand.
While developing the new Mazda2, Mazda took a thorough look at global
subcompact car trends and carefully worked to identify the truly
beneficial values that could be infused into a global B-Car. As a result,
the new Mazda2 adds Mazda’s unique brand values such as exhilarating
driving performance and eye-catching design to the segment without
sacrificing the basic requirements for subcompact cars: superior fuel
efficiency, high crash safety performance and ample passenger space. In
fact, while other carmakers have increased the size of their small cars,
Mazda’s first mission was to analyze and define the optimal size of a
compact vehicle. This resulted in a very efficient body size for the new
Mazda2 without sacrificing attractive features that consumers desire.
A Design that Attracts Customers Worldwide
●Dynamic Performance
With the Mazda2, Mazda evolved the athleticism that is inherent to the
Mazda design DNA in pursuit of bold and diverse expression of movement.
The basic form of the new Mazda2 is characterized by a combination of
dynamic performance, sportiness and simplicity that leaves a strong visual
impression. While competitors are producing compact cars with a focus on a
boxy body form to prioritize functionality, Mazda shortened the body
overhangs and trimmed the corners to the greatest extent possible as a way
to provide a form that is compact and sporty, conveys a sense of stability
and inspires confidence. By carefully creating a base form and then giving
it energetic character lines befitting a B-car, Mazda created a design
that is highly distinctive, but timeless.
●Concentrated
Mazda pursued a concentrated, taut form for the body as a virtue in
itself, not to simply reduce the car’s body size. This creative background
was advantageous in efforts to achieve maximum dynamic performance within
the new Mazda2’s compact body. In other words, the Mazda2 possesses the
essence of Mazda’s spirit of compact, sporty dynamic performance –
“Zoom-Zoom Concentrated.”
Exterior Design Theme: “Coordinated Movement”
In pursuit of a solid form and a richly expressive exterior design, Mazda
established an exterior design theme of “coordinated movement”. In line
with this theme, the design team combined the visual movements created by
the car’s silhouette, its body lines, and the way in which patterns of
light played on the body to create dynamic, multifaceted expressions not
typically seen on a B-car. These expressions exude a powerful energy that
makes the new Mazda2 look as though it is moving while standing still. Key
exterior design elements include: a sporty wedge shape that conveys a
strong sense of forward motion; a deeply sculpted form in which the body
is drawn inward fore and aft of the A-pillars; and distinctive character
lines that extend from the front fender arches to the body shoulders.
Dynamic Performance Not Found on Competitors in the Segment
Mazda focused on realizing driver-oriented maneuverability and
confidence-inspiring driving dynamics ｆor a Zoom-Zoom driving
experience that is unique in this segment. At the same time, Mazda
maintained a development focus on delivering high cost-effectiveness in
situations ranging from day-to-day driving to long excursions on a
weekend. Specifically, Mazda worked to make the new Mazda2 economical to
own in terms of fuel costs through its excellent fuel economy and improved
durability.
A Powertrain for Sporty Performance with Great Fuel Economy
The Zoom-Zoom driving experience that Mazda strives for has two key
attributes: 1) a sense of linear acceleration and deceleration that
responds crisply to how far the accelerator pedal is depressed, allowing
the driver to control car speed as desired; and 2) a sense of liveliness
through immediate response to the accelerator for quick off-the-line
acceleration and overtaking. The development team targeted a performance
feel reflecting enhancement of both of these key attributes without
adversely impacting on the Mazda2’s superior fuel economy as a subcompact
car.
Nimble Handling and a Stable Ride
The new Mazda2 inherits a highly regarded suspension system, which has
MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion-beam axle at the rear. With
improved steering and braking systems, the resulting dynamic performance
yields consistently responsive handling and a smooth, stable ride that
draws much from the legendary MX-5.
Superior Quietness and Aerodynamics
In order to create more comfortable day-to-day driving, Mazda took various
countermeasures to achieve a quiet cabin environment. Mazda also improved
the coefficient of drag values to achieve better aerodynamics,
contributing not only to the Mazda2’s quietness, but also to a more sporty
ride and fuel efficiency.
Harmony Between Sporty Driving Performance and Environmental and Safety
Features
In order to form the best balance between lower fuel consumption,
outstanding driving dynamics and top-level safety performance, the new
Mazda2 reflects the close attention paid to minimizing weight through its
smaller body shell, optimization of the structure, extensive use of
high-tensile steel in its body and many other weight-saving measures
implemented throughout the car. Under this approach, Mazda made the best
use of weight-saving know-how, similar to the “gram” strategy employed
during the development of the MX-5 sports car. As a result, the Mazda2 has
achieved world-leading crash safety ratings (five stars in the Euro New
Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the highest possible result) without
compromising driving performance and fuel economy.
The Security of a B-Car’s Functionality and Manoeuvrability
In line with the way B-cars are mainly used as day-to-day commuters, with
a driver-oriented development philosophy, the Mazda2 has achieved a level
of drivability and nimbleness that enables easy manoeuvrability, even in
small car-parking areas and other tight spaces.
More information on the 2011 Mazda2 interior, specifications and pricing
will be available at a later date.