Tag Archives: Mazda

Mazda3 And CX-30 Get Mild Updates In Japan Including New Special Editions

After the Mazda CX-3 Super Edgy, the automaker announced a series of special trim levels of the Mazda3 and the CX-30 in Japan, alongside small updates on the e-SkyActiv X motor.

Those include tweaking the intake port and exhaust silencer of the gasoline engine to produce a richer sound for spicing up the driving experience during acceleration. Additionally, engineers have updated the gas pedal feel for a greater “sense of unity with the car”. As a refresher, the e-SkyActiv X is a mild-hybrid 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 183 hp (137 kW / 186 PS) and 240 Nm (177 lb-ft) of torque.

Read Also: Mazda3 And CX-30 Updated In Australia With MX-30’s Mild-Hybrid Powertrain

In terms of the new trim levels, the Smart Edition is available for models equipped with the e-Skyactiv X engine. It brings more comfort and safety equipment including an active driving display, smart brake support, high beam control system, lane keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring.

Meanwhile the Black Tone Edition, which is available for all powertrain variants of both models, is visually differentiated by the black 18-inch aluminum wheels, the gloss-black mirrors, and the red stitching inside the cabin.

Read Also: We Drive The 2021 Mazda CX-30 Turbo, A Luxurious Performance Crossover For The Masses

The pictured Mazda CX-30 Black Tone Edition is fitted with optional aero components including the bumper and side-sill extensions.

Following the example of the more recent CX-30, all Mazda3 models get a new dimming turn signal which, according to Mazda, gives “a sense of life” in the car. Last but not least, the Platinum Quartz Metallic is a new color option for the Mazda3 and the CX-30, while the Polymetal Gray Metallic is added to the palette of the Mazda3 Sedan.

Orders for the mildly updated Mazda3 and CX-30 are open in Japan as of today, with vehicles arriving in dealerships in late November.

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Mad Scot Is Putting A Connaught V10 Into An NB Miata

Although engine swapsare anything but shocking these days, there are still a few combinations that have the power to surprise. Take, for instance, this Mazda MX-5 with a V10 swap.

The build was thought up by Drivetribe’s Mike Fernie, who has been covering the Connaught V10 for some time now. You may, therefore, be familiar with the engine but if you aren’t here’s a refresher.

Back in the early aughts, Connaught tried to make it as a small-scale startup, in much the same way as TVR. Based in Wales, the company planned to produce a two-seater sports car with a bespoke engine of its own design.

Read More: Uncovered Connaught D-Type Prototype From The Early 2000s Had A 2.0-Liter Supercharged V10

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The engine it came up with was a supercharged narrow-angle V10. The company claimed an output of 300 bhp and 274 lb-ft of torque, which is a healthy amount more than the engine coming out of this 1998 MX-5 that made just 140 hp.

But, with six more cylinders, you’d expect it to be more powerful. Just how a V10 is supposed to fit where an inline-four did is, perhaps, the more interesting question. Helped by the 22.5-degree angle of the cylinder block, the real trick for this engine swap is that the Connaught V10 displaces just 2.0 liters or 0.2 liters more than the engine coming out. Its dimensions mean that the block does actually fit in the car’s engine bay, though how much massaging it will require once all of the accessories are attached is another question.

And one that might be answered in another video, unfortunately, as this video ends with the old drivetrain coming out and the new engine block perching in the MX-5′s engine bay to see how it fits. Fernie says that once the car’s body is cleaned up a little, it will be sent to Connaught along with the engine to have it installed. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty excited to see what comes of the company’s efforts.

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Miata-Based Hurtan Sports Car Now Spied As A Roadster, Too

Last week, we shared spy pictures of a retro-style targa based on the MX-5. Now we have images of the roadster version and some extra info.

The car will reportedly be called the Hurtan Grand Albaycin (the name is borrowed from an Andalusian region of Spain) and, according to the company, it will be unveiled on January 22.

In the spy photos, the roadster is wearing significantly less camo than the targa-top we saw before. The photos also reveal that this is a two-tone car with pontoon-style fenders. Those fenders are deliberately designed to mimic the style of 1950s cars, something founder Juan Hurtado says has been his dream since the ’80s. The Spanish company has previously built bespoke cars made to order, so it will be interesting to see if that will also be the case with the Grand Albaycin.

Also Read: Hurtan Coupe Is A Retro Spanish Sports Car That’s Based On The Mazda MX-5 RF

Based on the latest MX-5, the car will reportedly come with a pair of familiar Mazda engines, a 1.5-liter making 132 hp or a 2.0-liter with 184 hp. Both manual and automatic versions will be offered. The switch gear, vents, and gauges all appear to be lifted straight from the Mazda, although the steering wheel and shifter have been finished in fancier leather.

The name will be a familiar one for Hurtan’s patrons. Of the seven models the company has produced since the ’90s, five carried the name. In 2008, a previous generation Grand Albaycin made 178 hp and weighed only 900 kg.

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Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoops