Mazda headquarters in Japan has unveiled the production version of its small Mazda2 hatchback before its arrival in New Zealand in November/December. The car, shown here in Japanese spec as the Demio, bares a striking similarity in size and appearance to the Hazumi concept revealed at the Geneva motor show in March. It uses the same ‘Kodo’ design language as Mazda’s bigger … [Read more...] about New Mazda2 hatchback in NZ later this year
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Suspect airbags in thousands of NZ-new and used vehicles
New Zealand hasn’t escaped a worldwide recall of millions of vehicles fitted with suspect airbags made by Japanese company Takata, the world’s second biggest automotive safety parts maker. Toyota NZ has already identified more than 5000 NZ-new Avensis (above), Corolla and Picnic models that had Takata front airbags fitted, and now Nissan, Honda and Mazda are working to find … [Read more...] about Suspect airbags in thousands of NZ-new and used vehicles
May sales: Suzuki Swift the most popular new car
The Suzuki Swift was the best-selling new passenger car in New Zealand in May, trumping long-time front-runner the Toyota Corolla. There wasn’t much in it, the Swift (above) and Corolla each sharing four per cent of the segment but Swift recording 272 registrations to Corolla’s 241. In third place was the Mazda CX-5 with 230 units, a continuing reflection of the strong SUV … [Read more...] about May sales: Suzuki Swift the most popular new car
Mazda MX-5 and Fiat Barchetta – one and the same but different
A ‘specialty’ Fiat roadster based on the upcoming Mazda MX-5 platform is likely to be available in New Zealand in 2016 and sit above the Fiat Abarth Esseesse 500 as the carmaker’s hero car. The two-door is the result of a model-sharing agreement announced by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in 2012 for a joint Mazda-Alfa Romeo roadster to be built at the Japanese company’s plant in … [Read more...] about Mazda MX-5 and Fiat Barchetta – one and the same but different
SUVs gain greater share of the 2014 sales race
SUVs continue to dominate sales as the new vehicle market powers into 2014 with registrations of a record 19,455 units in the first two months, says the Motor Industry Association. Industry executives are already talking about a record sales year of between 117,000 and 120,000 new vehicles, up considerably on last year’s 113,177. SUVs accounted for 27 per cent of 2013 … [Read more...] about SUVs gain greater share of the 2014 sales race