Go-faster 2.0-litre engine expected to boost Mazda MX-5 sales

February 13, 2016 by Alastair Sloane

Sales of the Mazda MX-5 sports car are expected to lift now that the more powerful 2.0-litre model (above) has arrived in New Zealand with the option of an automatic gearbox.

The 1.5-litre model was launched here in the latter half of last year. It was available only with a six-speed manual gearbox, hardly a handicap because little comes close to the blend of engine/rear-drive chassis dynamics for sheer driving fun.

Andrew Clearwater, Mazda NZ managing director

But the 2.0-litre was always on its way. “When we launched the 1.5-litre last year we were aware that there were people who wanted a little extra horsepower and the ease of use that comes with an auto transmission,” said Mazda NZ managing director Andrew Clearwater.

“We are one of the few markets to get both the 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre models – it’s great to be able to give New Zealand motorists a choice.”

So far Mazda has sold 24 of the 1.5-litre variants – 21 last year and another three in January. The car won the Sports Performance category in the 2015 automotivenews.co.nz car of the year awards.

The high-revving 1.5-litre SkyActiv engine is a sweet powerplant, its output of 96kW/150Nm intimately involving the driver in the manual delivery process.

But the 2.0-litre SkyActiv unit offers a little more outright oomph – 118kW/200Nm – and the manual/auto option. The manual is priced from $46,995, the automatic $48,495. The 1.5-litre manual starts at $40,995.

French carmaker Renault has won the 2025 European Car of the Year award with the all-electric R5 supermini (pictured). It’s the brand’s second win in a row, following the new Scenic’s gong in 2024. The R5 led the vote count from start to finish from the 60 jurors in 23 countries. It received 353 points, beating the Kia EV3 (291 points) and the Citroen C3/e in third place with 215 points. It’s Renault’s eighth win in the 62-year history of the Coty award. The R5 goes on sale in the UK this month. There are two main drivetrains: a 90kW motor/40kWh battery model with a 300km range, and a 112kW/52kWh example with a 400km range. The R5 starts in price at £22.995, or $NZ50,000.

BMW and Mercedes-Benz are among carmakers urging the European Union to get a favourable trade deal with US President Donald Trump. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) wants to keep open trade with both the US and China. It fears Trump, who promises heavy tariffs on Chinese imports to the US, will look unfavourably on countries that continue to trade freely with Beijing. Ola Kallenius, president of the group and chairman of the management board of MB, said in a letter to EU leaders: “Overall, it is essential to recognise that trade with China and the US is most vital for the prosperity of the European economy.The EU should seek a grand bargain with the US and attempt to avoid a potential trade conflict.”

A go-anywhere EV concept for the US military uses an onboard 12kW diesel generator to top up the batteries on the move. The all-wheel-drive has 800-volt technology and a 200kWh battery pack to power three electric motors, two in the rear and one up front. Claimed output is 745kW/15,590Nm, or 1000hp and 11,500 ft-lb of torque. The four-seater was developed by the defence division of General Motors and is based on the platform of the Hummer SUV. It rides on Fox performance shock absorbers and 37-inch tyres and comes with “exceptional” approach and departure angles for off-road mobility. Maximum range using the generator to keep things ticking over is said to be around 500km.

The outside temperature in Midland, Texas, was 40.5C when staff at the local office of the US National Weather Service set out to show the cabin of a closed car can literally get baking hot in summer. They mixed up a batch of chocolate chip cookies and laid them on the car’s dashboard – the surface of which showed a temperature of 87.7C. A little over four hours later the cookies were ready to eat. “Even though ours weren’t golden brown, we can confirm that they are done and delicious,” the staff wrote on Facebook.