Mazda2 may come to America after all
Click the Mazda2 for a high-res gallery
When the new Mazda2 debuted at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show many of us were disappointed to learn that it probably would not be coming to the US market. Times have changed, though, and It now looks like the car might actually make it here in the second half of next year, following the US release of the Ford Fiesta sibling. The 2 and the Fiesta share a common architecture but each has unique styling. It will be interesting to see how the 2 is positioned in the market against the Fiesta. While the cars share much of the same underpinnings, the fact that the Mazda is built in Japan will likely result in a higher price than the Mexican-built Ford.
Both cars (the Fiesta and the 2) benefit from a major emphasis on weight reduction compared to their predecessors. In European trim, the 2 weighs in at 2,100 lbs compared to the 2,500 lb Honda Fit. Whatever happens, it's good to see more cool looking and fun to drive small cars coming to the US market.
Gallery: 2008 Mazda2
[Source: ConsumerGuideAutomotive]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Cellien 3:08PM (1/09/2009)
Nice. I lean more to the Fiesta's styling though. In fact, I'll be picking one up to replace my ZX3.
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Al 3:10PM (1/09/2009)
Add, a navi option, a 6spd manual mazdaspeed model and I am in.
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ryan 8:52PM (1/09/2009)
Living here in Japan, if they offered this with a diesel engine, this might be the one car that I would consider buying new.
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imoore 1:09PM (1/12/2009)
I like the green color. Matchbox has a scale version of the Mazda2 in its current line in the same color. I bought 2 of them, and now I'm waiting for Mazda to offer the real thing here.
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Hako 5:10PM (1/23/2009)
Pleeeeeeasssse bring it Mazda, I promise we will buy it. Just
give us a sport version with a little juice. At 2100 lbs it wouldn't need much hp to be sporty fun, but something more than 110 I hope. 120 hp would give a similar power/weight ratio to the Miata. But give it 135 hp, like the 500 Abarth, and I would have to get my smile surgically removed.
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mike 4:28PM (1/29/2009)
I just emailed Mazda about the Mazda2 and they said this..
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Hello Mike,
Thank you for contacting Mazda.
We appreciate your interest in our products. However, the we do not have any future model information regarding the Mazda2. At this time, there are no plans to release that model in the US. I will be sure to document your interest.
Regards,
B
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