Today marks the end of the Heisei era and what better way to pay tribute to this golden era than sampling the most iconic Japanese sportscars emerged from the early years of the Heisei era? Of course, since the Gran Turismo franchise is part of those that were born from the Heisei era, our little game of GT SPORT takes us to the heroes of Gran Turismo, the best Japanese sportscars emerged from the early years of the Heisei era.
The FD-spec RX-7, the original Honda NSX, the Impreza STi, the JZA80 Supra, the R34 Skyline GT-R, and any of the pizza-lamped Lancer Evos are known to be the best of the Japanese sportscars to emerge from the early years of the Heisei era and here in GT SPORT, they have what's greater or nearer as the drivers can get from those Heisei era JDM sportscars.
These Japanese sportscars emerged from the early Heisei years are known to be collectibles for speedo boys worldwide because these cars are notoriously known for its street cred and known to be tuned to wake the neighbors after hours. Whether they can let them roar through the Shutokou by nighttime or living the track life by day, these Japanese marvels are everywhere and whether you love them or hate them, Japan is home to those street machines like these and as a tribute, let's take them to the common battleground for testing cars before hitting Japanese roads; Tsukuba.
Ah, Tsukuba Circuit. If my memory serves me correctly, the Tsukuba Circuit is the favorite playground for the over-the-video motoring program known as Best MOTORing. Over the years, we seen professional drivers across Japan testing out the coolest and the weirdest on this very track they called home. Of course, Best MOTORing may be officially dead several years ago but here in GT SPORT, people can do their Best MOTORing homage on this very track while sampling most of the cars offered in-game, just to give them their first impressions.
With the best JDM cars from the early Heisei era stepped to their very own Holy Land of sampling and time attacking, they are ready for a revue they will remember forever.
It's showtime!
After their Tsukuba revue, here are the results...
Impreza 22B-STi Version '98: 1:07.522
NSX Type R '92: 1:10.581
RX-7 Spirit R Type A (FD) '02: 1:07.700
R34 GT-R V-Spec II Nur '02: 1:06.864
Lancer Evo.IV GSR '96: 1:08.481
Supra RZ '97: 1:07.330
So, there we are. The R34 Skyline GT-R, launched from 1999 to 2002 is without a shadow of a doubt, the best Japanese sports car to emerge from the early Heisei years and no matter the opinion, I placed my fate that this is the best Japanese sportscars to emerge from the early years of the Heisei era.
Next time, let's pit in the Japanese sportscars from the modern Heisei era.
The latest version of Mazda Flair Wagon has gained the new Tough Style variant days after Suzuki brought in their new Gear variant of the second-generation Suzuki Spacia kei minivan.
Starting at 1,635,200 Japanese Yen, the Flair Wagon Tough Style uses the same look as the normal Flair Wagon, this time borrowing some SUV elements to look tough on the outside much like what the Suzuki Spacia Gear looks like but what's on the inside remains the same as your basic kei minivan you used for work and for play. Whatever that means. On the inside, you will be greeted by its water-resistant seats and some jerry can-style glovebox while retaining the same room height and functionality that works like what the Flair Wagon works for you.
Like most of its brothers in the lineup, the Tough Style is powered by its Mild Hybrid technology featuring an Integrated Starter Generator linked to a li-ion battery pack collaborating with its fuel-efficient 660cc engine. In its natural aspiration form and CVT gearbox, fuel economy is around 28.2km/L on JC08 mode standards for front-wheel drive variants.
As for safety, it features a suite of safety features such as Lane Departure Warning function, wandering alarm function, high beam assist, sign recognition function provided by its optional omni-directional monitor camera package, advance car departure notice function, dual sensor brake support, false start suppression, brake support, backward error start suppression, and more.
So, if you need a Suzuki Spacia Gear of your own but too lazy to go to the Suzuki dealer and the nearest dealer you can get through is a Mazda dealer, consider this.
Let's be honest, the C2 Chevrolet Corvette is hands down one of the best-looking cars of all time and because the design is nothing but legendary, the people from Mitsuoka hatched a brainwave to make their own rendition of the C2 Corvette, only if you are prepared to sacrifice your Mazda Roadster ND for that matter.
2019 Mitsuoka Rock Star
2019 Mitsuoka Rock Star
This is Mitsuoka Motor's 50th anniversary present to them, it's called the Rock Star and by first glance, it really is a modernized take of the C2 Chevrolet Corvette, one of the best-looking cars of all time, but don't pray that it sounds like and drives like one because like I said, this is just a Mazda Roadster ND underneath by the time you realized that the striking looks of today's Mazda Roadster just too ugly to your line of sights.
Similar to today's ND Roadster based Himiko which looks like a rendition of the classic Morgan Roadster, the Rock Star blends the drivability of a good, honest, Japanese sports car with the looks of a classic American muscle car and remember this; this is the kind of car for car enthusiasts who don't want to experience the wrath of customs for smuggling a C2 Corvette to Japanese roads and with the prices start at 4,688,200 Japanese Yen (around $47,000), it can easily fool everyone thinking that you're driving a second-generation Corvette except the truth is, you're driving an ND Roadster disguised as a C2 Corvette. What are the odds?
Thanks to the fact that it was based on the Roadster, the Rock Star is powered by a SKYACTIV-G 1.5L petrol engine producing 131PS of power and 150Nm of torque, mated with either a 6-speed AT or MT. Of course, it maybe short on power but because it weighs a ton, it's basically nimble and agile just like what a proper low-power roadster should be. It's got rack and pinion steering, front double wishbones, rear multilink suspension, ventilated disc brakes, and so on, meaning that this is an easy-to-drive car that you can cruise it around the Yoko Yokohama Yokosuka without letting the customs yell at you.
Because this is a special model commemorating Mitsuoka's 50th birthday, the Rock Star is available in a strictly limited basis so you better get this Roadster disguised as a C2 Corvette while you still can.
Available colors: Los Angeles Blue, Chicago Red, New York Black, San Francisco Orange, Washington White, and Arizona Yellow.
The CX-3 compact crossover and the third-generation Atenza sedan and wagon, two of Mazda's popular models known for their edgy styling, driver-focused interior, blend of performance and ecology, and trademark Mazda quality that made them the talk of the town, are on their 2019 model year and they've gained some minor changes to keep them fresh for more to come with these popular picks from the Mazda lineup. Let's examine what's new with these cars.
2019 Mazda CX-3
2019 Mazda CX-3 interior
Beginning on the CX-3, the 2019 minor change features a new front grille, new chrome accents, new taillights, and new 18-inch wheels on the exterior while on the inside, the CX-3 has new front seats, redesigned center console and armrests, electronic parking brake in place of the handbrake lever, and a few changes around on the passenger side to make it more accommodating for the passengers.
Under the hood, the CX-3 minor change adds a brand new SKYACTIV-D 1.8L engine with Natural Sound Smoother. As the smoothest, quietest, and cleanest SKYACTIV-D engine Mazda has ever made, this brand new diesel engine produces 116PS of power and 270Nm of torque. Fuel economy, based on WLTC Mode standards, is around 20 to 23.2km/L for front wheel drive variants while 4WD variants get about 19-21.2km/L.
Of course, if you are not a diesel fan, Mazda can offer you a CX-3 with a SKYACTIV-G 2.0L engine, which is now revamped to produce 150PS of power and 195Nm of torque. Fuel economy can get up to 16.2km/L for front wheel drive variants and 15.2 for 4WD variants.
The CX-3 features G-VECTORING CONTROL which uses engine timing to control chassis dynamics and when coupled with the i-ACTIV AWD system which adapts control of the driving force distribution between the front and rear wheels, it works like a charm if you know how to tread this carefully. Besides, it won't be it without Mazda's i-ACTIVSENSE suite of safety systems such as Smart Brake Support, Mazda Radar Cruise Control, Smart City Brake Support, Hi-Beam Control System, Lane Departure Warning System, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Blind Spot Monitoring.
The new CX-3 starts at 2,127,600 Japanese Yen.
2019 Mazda Atenza
2019 Mazda Atenza Wagon
2019 Mazda Atenza interior
Let's move on to the third-generation Mazda Atenza range and for the second minor change, it's now the best-looking Atenza yet to offer for executive car buyers, probably because the front face has been revamped to make it look mature, which is great for an executive saloon and wagon of that size, and the rear view has been revamped dramatically so that the body color extends to the lower bumper section.
Inside, the dashboard's heavily revised to make it more luxurious because they've added some wooden trim for a touch of class and then, there's the new Active Driving Display on the windscreen, which is very good but that could just spoil the driver-focused interior with the premium feel into it.
The SKYACTIV-G 2.0L and 2.5L petrol engines and the SKYACTIV-D 2.2L diesel engine has been revamped to meet WLTC Mode standards. Petrol engines are mated exclusively with a SKYACTIV-DRIVE 6AT while the diesel engine is mated with either this or the 6-speed SKYACTIV-MT. Little did you know that the SKYACTIV-G 2.5L petrol engine now employs a new cylinder deactivation system for better fuel efficiency while delivering 190PS of power and 252Nm of torque? Anyway, since these engines are revamped to meet such new standards, petrol variants can get up from 14.2 - 15.0km/L of fuel efficiency while the best-seller diesel variant can get up to 19.6km/L.
With G-Vectoring Control and i-ACTIV AWD at hand, in addition to Mazda's i-ACTIVSENSE suite of safety systems, not only the new Atenza feels good to drive full stop but it's reliable and safer to drive on the journey home from another day at the office.
The new Atenza range starts at 2,829,600 Yen for sedan and wagon variants.
Did you see the latest episode of Top Gear where Matt and Chris drove second-hand JDM sportscars they've obtained from the auction for their road trip to Enbu? That was a blast and that episode made us fall in love with Japanese cars again. Talking about here, I got a little playing to do as I tried the JDM cars that are almost similar to the ones the boys drove in the show.
Both the FD3S and the R34 are one of the all-time greats when they emerged in the 90's, which became the golden age of fun, fast, and affordable sports cars speedo boys love to drive. Even in today's times, these 90's Japanese sportscars like these remain a high-value target for speedo boys to smuggle into their homes without alarming their local Customs. Some are crashed, some got modified, and a few sold twice the price when it was in mint condition. Anyway, no time to explain what's going on with 90's JDM sportscars because time for some words about these machines.
I'm in love with the FD3S Mazda RX-7 ever since it got featured in Initial D as Keisuke Takahashi's car of choice but there's a lot more to it than that because it was the first and last to come with a sequential turbo rotary engine that churns out 255PS of power and the power to weight ratio is 5kg/ps. Yes, some people slammed the rotary engine as one of the most rubbish engines in the world due to poor fuel consumption but that doesn't stop purists from having one because it was far out one of the best sounding engines of all time and with all that purring noises, you just can't stop listening to it. You really can't.
The tenth-generation Skyline, dubbed the R34, is by no means one of the best Skylines in its six-decade history like I said but the best of this generation is the GT-R. Yes, that guy from Friends ended up with the lesser GT-T variant but no matter, at least this generation gave it a good show until it lost to the RX-7 at the race to the airfield. Of course, the R34 Skyline GT-R still has the bits and bobs from the previous R33 Skyline GT-R, a car Triads would love to mess around London Chinatown with it. There's the 280HP RB26DETT petrol engine, 6-speed manual gearbox, sport-tuned dynamics, and ATTESA-ETS Pro, among many others. Although macho by looks, it still works its GT-R magic like it should and it's like the cherry at the top of the cake for this generation. It really is.
So, with a little chit chat over, how about a little shootout between these JDM icons round the track, shall we?
The FD RX-7 did it in 1:30.580 while the R34 GT-R did it in 1:28.822. Plain and simple.
It's kinda sad that Japan is stuck in an era that kei cars and hybrids flooded the streets but despite the outcome, cars like these should never be forgotten because these are the cars Japan is mostly proud of and despite being flooded with boring and beige eco cars, the sportscar genre is slowly crawling back like the creepy lady from The Ring and I believe they're onto something here.
For car enthusiasts who want a Mazda Roadster ND but don't like the way it looks, don't fret because Mitsuoka, known for turning everyday cars look like classics like the Corolla-based Ryugi, the Teana-based Galue, and the March-based Viewt, brings back the Himiko roadster and because this is an all-new Himiko we're talking about, the Mazda Roadster ND you're familiar with is now donning the identity of a Morgan roadster just like the previous model.
2018 Mitsuoka Himiko
2018 Mitsuoka Himiko
Just like the original Himiko, Mitsuoka retained the look of the Morgan roadster from start to finish while taking precious man hours converting the sporty Mazda Roadster ND into a neo-classic masterpiece for the gentlemen who want to try pass out a JDM sportscar as a vintage English cruiser in all the wrong barrels. You got to give 'em credit for that and on the inside, it's pretty much like the Roadster ND but it was festooned with Alcantara-ish dashboard and steering wheel as well as its handcrafted leather seats that will make the regular Roadster jealous because this is all about fancy living.
Because it was based on the Mazda Roadster ND, the new Himiko is powered by a SKYACTIV-G 1.5L petrol engine producing 131PS of power and 150Nm of torque, mated with either a 6-speed AT or MT. Of course, it maybe short on power but because it weighs a ton, it's basically nimble and agile just like what a proper low-power roadster should be. It's got rack and pinion steering, front double wishbones, rear multilink suspension, ventilated disc brakes, and so on, keeping the new Himiko's driving experience is as delicate as sipping rose tea after dark.
The all-new Himiko starts at 4,978,800 Japanese Yen (around $50,000) so it's basically more expensive than the Mazda Roadster ND it was based on but look at this way, the new Himiko is for those who wanted an ND-spec Roadster but don't like the styling and because it has everything you'd expect from the sportscar it was based on but wrapped in vintage car looks, it's all about blending the past and the present in a rather amusing way and I think they're onto something here.
A brief moment of silence, ladies and gentlemen, for the passing of another one of automotive legends. Car enthusiasts may not know about him but he was responsible for introducing the rotary engine to Mazda but more than that, he is the man who kept Mazda afloat in the aftermath of the Second World War.
Kenichi Yamamoto passed away at the age of 95, according to reports a few days ago. Yamamoto worked at Toyo Kogyo, one of the companies that survived in the wake of the Second World War, to support his family following the tragic bombing of Hiroshima that destroyed his home and lost a part of his family. Since then, he worked hard until he became in charge to produce a new engine for a three-wheeled truck that will sold under the Mazda brand in 1960.
Yamamoto got involved with a collaboration with Germany's NSU to produce a rotary engine that persuaded Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry that they are a proper carmaker rather than being a domestic vehicle producer. Following the success of the rotary engine, Yamamoto climbed through the ranks until he became the president of the whole car company from 1985 to 1992.
It's a sad day for rotary engine enthusiasts, even though 2017 is meant to be the year of the rotary engine, but despite his passing, his legacy will not go in vain as well as the rotary engine that sparked life to the Hiroshima-based car company and pretty soon, the rotary engine will be revived in unexpected ways.
Following the launch of the second-generation Suzuki Spacia range, it looks like their friends from Mazda wants to be part of it so they are more than happy enough to borrow one of those for their Mazda dealerships as the all-new Mazda Flair Wagon.
2018 Mazda Flair Wagon
Just like we saw with the second-generation Suzuki Spacia, the new Flair Wagon is available in two different styles to choose from; from the basic model which is simple and chic in every single way and the Custom Style variant featuring the front view that was inspired from the Toyota Crown. Need I say more? Anyway, inside, customers will be accommodated with such dimensions sized enough for five people to live with.
Benefiting from its Mild Hybrid technology featuring an Integrated Starter Generator linked to a li-ion battery pack collaborating with its fuel-efficient 660cc engine, along with its HEARTECT platform that makes it lighter and more rigid compared to the previous model, the new Flair Wagon's fuel efficiency is around 30.0km/L in JC08 Mode standards while Custom Style variants can do 28.2km/L (with turbo variants exclusive to the Custom Style can do 25.6km/L).
Because the new Flair Wagon is categorized as a "Safety Support Car Wide S, it's been equipped with a suite of safety features such as Lane Departure Warning, Driver Detection, High Beam Assist, Road Sign Recognition, and advance car departure notice function. Apart from that, you can have the Spacia equipped with the omnidirectional monitoring camera that can detect both sides of the car and an around view monitor featuring for the first time on a kei car, a 3D view of your car that makes parking a lot convenient. Other safety features include the Emergency Stop Signal, Hill Hold Control, Dual Sensor Brake Support, False Start Suppression Control, backward erroneous start suppression function, and also first for a kei car, ultrasonic sensors in the rear bumper to detect obstacles behind the vehicle. Sure, there's a variant that comes with such safety tech but you're more than welcome to drive these with confidence.
The new Flair Wagon starts at 1,333,800 Japanese Yen and while this is basically a new Spacia sold in Mazda dealerships, it still has the efficiency (despite being less efficient than the previous model), the interior, and the safety this kei minivan delivers as well as the pricing. With Mazda removed most of the minivans with sliding doors thanks to the rise of crossovers, especially the recently launched CX-8, this is the only Mazda with a sliding door you can buy.
A few moments ago, I get to try out the new Fiat 124 Spider Abarth, which is part of the Samsung QLED TV Car Pack of Forza Motorsport 7, and I was amazed that it has a lot to live up being the modern-day successor to the original Fiat 124 Spider from the distant past. Now, let's get to the interesting part about what if the 124 and the Roadster clash each other. Let's get this show on the road.
What better way to settle this showdown than taking it to the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Hence the name, this is how America's top motoring magazines test the latest cars here. It was also the perfect venue for the Best Driver's Car every year and now, it will be my playground for the main event I've lined up for the two open-top roadsters.
Every gearhead is familiar with the Laguna Seca raceway ever since they were nine years old so they are familiar with the breakneck twists and turns as well as the dreaded Corkscrew corner that trips even the best drivers due to the tricky elevation. It's best to be careful when you're out there but because all of you are familiar with Laguna Seca, this should be a walk in the park for you.
Of course, the MX-5/Roadster ND and the 124 Spider are built in the same factory but what differs between then are the dynamics because Fiat engineered the 124 by themselves, meaning most of the components are different than the MX-5 and in the 124 Spider Abarth, the 1.4L MultiAir engine produces slightly more power than the MX-5's SKYACTIV-G 2.0L petrol engine, the engine that is not available in Japan but only offered on the RF variant. Yes, it maybe slightly more powerful but the MX-5 is shockingly lighter than the 124 Spider, meaning these two byproduct of the Axis Powers are on equal footing and equal is kinda boring for me so to spice things up, I've added a little wild card to this showdown.
Surprise! It's an Alfa Romeo 4C and it has the pricing equivalent of these two mentioned above, which is rather expensive for a man with exquisite taste but the 1750cc turbocharged 4-cylinder engine produces 240HP of power while mated with a 6-speed Alfa TCT Dual Dry Clutch Transmission, resulting to a 0-100kph time of 4.5 seconds and top speed of 258kph. Yes, I know this is faster than these two but the 4C's not important here because this is the battle of the relatives, although I can use it as a benchmark.
With the 4C set a 1:51.122 lap time, the goal is for these two is to get as close to the time set by it, but sadly, none of them can match the 4C's because it's too darn quick for its own. Still, I can get on with the main event where two Hiroshima-born relatives will settle the score once and for all at the Laguna Seca. This will be a match between power and lightness and because the 124 and the MX-5 are on equal footing, this could be very one-sided.
Time to get this show on the roll...
And now, the moment of truth...
124 - 1:58.495
MX-5 ND - 1:58.799
I called it. It really is a close call for these two because with the 124's grunt and the MX-5 lightness, the result is as close as the Senate majority and I am very shocked that even in the most powerful 124 Abarth, the driving experience is as same as the less powerful but light top-spec variant of the MX-5 and I will never forget this kind of experience.
No matter how many Italian lessons this Japan-born roadster has learn, it still behaves like a lightweight Japanese car and in the case of the most powerful 124 variant, the Abarth, it still behaves like the top-spec MX-5 variant and because of such close result, it's hard to decide which one is the victor, although I had to admit that it was a hollow victory for the 124 Spider Abarth, but a pinch on the result really makes a big difference between the two byproducts of the Axis Powers. Looks like I'm quaking my sitting muscle right about now but I'm glad I put these two for a close match. Speaking of which, I had a little surprise for the 124...
Mazda is known for making some of the liveliest vehicles on the road that combine thought-provoking design, impressive fuel efficiency, and rewarding driving pleasure courtesy of the Japanese car company's SKYACTIV Technology which blends the ideal balance of performance and efficiency at the same time. In a game like GT SPORT, there are two SKYACTIV Mazdas you can try in the game such as the third-generation Mazda Atenza (Mazda6) saloon and the fourth-generation Mazda Roadster (MX-5).
First, let's begin with the Atenza, known to the world market as the Mazda6. The third-generation Atenza was launched in late 2012 and the exterior design draws inspiration from the Takeri Concept as seen on the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. One of the most interesting bits about the third-generation Atenza is that it comes with a choice of a 2.0L SKYACTIV-G engine (PE-VPR) and this, a 2.2L SKYACTIV-D (SH-VPTR) clean diesel engine lifted from the CX-5 crossover, producing 175PS of power and fuel economy by JC08 standards of 20km/L (22.4km/L with the all new SKYACTIV-MT transmission), making it one of the most efficient midsize saloons on the market. It is the first to introduce a new kind of Regenerative Braking System called i-ELOOP and i-ACTIVSENSE, which is a series of Mazda's advanced safety technologies designed to aid the driver in recognizing hazards, avoiding collisions, and reducing the severity of accidents when they cannot be avoided.
This particular Atenza is not the Atenza we fell in love with in 2012. In fact, this is the facelifted version that was launched in Japan in early 2015. It's been given a refreshed exterior design, and a new interior featuring Mazda Connect, and that's it. What it still retains is the choice of engines, especially the strong-selling diesel variant that I'm driving now, and even with a different face, it's still the Atenza we fell in love with since 2012. Just by experiencing how the SKYACTIV magic feels in this midsize saloon, it's surprisingly lively even for a cheesy oil burner like this one and it feels so easy to drive even for newcomers to GT SPORT.
For a car garnering so many awards and accolades, the third-generation Mazda Atenza really woos the drivers with its perfect balance of style, efficiency, and performance, nothing that you can really expect for a midsize saloon of this magnitude.
Now, what about the fourth-generation Roadster? Launched in 2015, the ND-spec Mazda Roadster (MX-5) continues the predecessors' tradition of valuing aerodynamics over performance, something that draws inspiration from British sports cars of the past. With the lighter bodywork, smaller engine, and rear-wheel drive, the Roadster continues to impress numerous car enthusiasts worldwide and with this latest generation, the ND Roadster still impresses the new wave of car enthusiasts.
Weighing 100kg less than the previous model, the new Roadster is as light as the first-ever Eunos Roadster of 1989, courtesy of their "gram strategy", involving the extensive use of lightweight aluminum materials. In true Roadster tradition, it's powered by a smaller SKYACTIV-G 1.5L petrol engine developing a reasonable 131PS of power and 150Nm of torque while mated with either a 6-speed automatic or a newly-developed SKYACTIV-MT 6-speed gearbox developed specifically for the new Roadster.
Because of the classic Roadster recipe that has been around for two and a half decades, the Mazda Roadster ND really is a celebration of the past rather than a vision of the future and you can tell from its unique dynamics that makes anyone new to the driving genre a courtesy call to be part of this ever-growing trend. It can be a bit bitey because it's rear-wheel drive but when it comes to understanding how to drive a car in GT SPORT, the Roadster is all about welcoming new drivers with open arms.
So, now that we get to know about the SKYACTIV-powered Mazdas in GT SPORT, how about getting to know these cars better by sending them on a lap around the Indy Circuit layout of Brands Hatch? This should be interesting and scientific because a certain Mazda fan forced me to do so after all that jamming down those Mazda-related articles to his Mazda files. Let's see if he can jam this one.
As you may know, the Roadster is much more enjoyable to drive than the Atenza because it's lighter but because the Atenza's SKYACTIV-D engine that powers it produces more power than the Roadster, this is going to be a one-sided comparison between the two Mazdas. Anyway, no time for fast talk because it's time to put these two into action.
Both these Mazdas benefit from their SKYACTIV Technology, making them very rewarding to drive from start to finish, but even though the Roadster is very easy to drive, the Atenza's diesel engine gave it a lot of oomph and a lot of aah to go through the extra mile. With the dust settled, time for the results;
Atenza - 1:02.853
Roadster - 1:05.5
The businessman's saloon has beaten the sportscar by about two and a half seconds and that sounds uncanny but worth the shot driving two Mazdas benefitting the ideal balance SKYACTIV Technology possesses.
With the Atenza and the Roadster, Mazda sure knows how to make cars that can liven up the drivers' sense as if they know how to put the drivers' interests first before everything else. Even on the wrong path, Mazdas remain very engaging to drive and live it to the slogan, these cars make you want to "be a driver." And that is the bottom line.
Mazda is now officially out of the minivan race as the MPV, the Premacy, and the Biante, are officially discontinued because of the rise of crossovers and following the success of their crossovers such as the CX-3 and the CX-5, they've decided to add their flagship SUV with minivan-sizing that will contemplate today's Japanese families.
2018 Mazda CX-8
This is the brand-new Mazda CX-8 and judging by the name, this will be Mazda's flagship SUV offered exclusively for the Japanese market and bearing minivan-like sizing, this crossover means business for Mazda as this SUV blends the the ideal balance of luxury, performance, economy, and safety, all in one unique crossover.
2018 Mazda CX-8
Like a man of his word, Mazda's trademark KODO design fits rather well for a big midsize crossover and by the looks of it, the CX-8 bears the impression of "Honey, I Grew Up The CX-5" because for those who think their new CX-5 not big enough for those who are having kids can either trade one for this of lend their CX-5 to someone close so their previous Mazda crossover are in safe hands while the CX-8 accommodates rather well for family use.
2018 Mazda CX-8 interior
It's all typical Mazda interior by the looks of it but because being the first-ever Mazda SUV to be offered with third-row seating, albeit for Japan, the CX-8 is not just about practicality and utility but also luxury as well because for people who picked the six-seater variant, it comes with captain's chair seats with a large console box between them. Those second-row seats were heavily inspired by luxury minivans offered in Japan such as Toyota's Alphard and Vellfire, Nissan's Elgrand, and Honda's Odyssey, and if you can picture it quite well, it's just another ride for the politicians but if you're not using it for political or business purposes, you can get one in a seven seater format, which is family-oriented.
Of course, being an SUV with three rows of seats, expect the occupation of child seats on the second-row, making access to the third-row seats a royal pain and this may involve either squeezing. If you do make it to the third row seats by either from the second row or at the back, you have to admit that because of its minivan-like sizing, the third-row seats can accommodate even the tallest of people like me. As for the boot space, it's not so bad either. I mean, you have room for your grocery hauls and stuff for your relative's birthday as well as other occasions.
2018 Mazda CX-8
Due to the success of the diesel variants of both the CX-5 and the CX-3, the CX-8 follows the same suit as the only engine offered at launch is the same SKYACTIV-D 2.2L engine from the CX-5 but it's been uprooted to produce 190PS of power and 450Nm of torque. Couple that with the revolutionary SKYACTIV-DRIVE 6-speed AT and the fuel efficiency is 15.8km/L based on the very relevant WLTC mode standards. First introduced on the gasoline variant of the CX-3, the WTLC (Worldwide harmonized light duty driving test cycle) or Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure, whatever you may call it, is a chassis dynamometer test calculate vehicles' fuel efficiency in urban areas (WLTC-L), residential areas (WLTC-M) and highways (WLTC-H), just like the EPA-estimated mileage or the EU combined fuel-efficiency cycle in so many ways and this is their new and proper way to determine how fuel-efficient a car should be.
Okay, now that you are familiarized with the WLTC Mode standards, let's move on to the handling and like today's Mazdas, the G-Vectoring Control delivers a healthy balance of response and stability depending on the load of the wheels. Combined with the i-ACTIV AWD and the result is a crossover that handles pretty well in today's weather forecast, whatever it may be. As for city use, the CX-8's true asset is the safety tech courtesy of i-ACTIVSENSE such as Smart City Brake Support (SCBS), Adaptive LED Headlights (ALH), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM).
The new Mazda CX-8 starts at 3,196,800 Japanese Yen and arrives in dealerships this mid-December, in time for the holidays. Although not the most exciting crossover to enjoy with, the CX-8 is the crossover that delivers the ruggedness of the SUV, the spaciousness of a minivan, which Mazda no longer makes, and sedan-riding comfort, all in one unique crossover catered for the Japanese motorists. Hope this better works but that's Mazda so if any articles circulating about this crossover, it's their loss, especially someone...
Available colors: Soul Red Crystal Metallic, Machine Grey Premium Metallic, Jet Black Mica, Titanium Flash Mica, Sonic Silver Metallic, Deep Crystal Blue Mica, and Snowflake White Pearl Mica.
