Common Mazda, bring over a compact!!!

[Antoine]

Mazda to join compact car craze?


http://www.autoblog.com/media/2005/12/mazda2.jpg (http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2005/12/26/afx2414412.html)
Mazda2

The Jiji Press (http://www.jiji.com/) reported that Mazda president Hisakazu Imaki was quoted on saying that compact cars are necessary in the long term because of rising fuel prices. Thus there is increased speculation that the automaker, well-known for its sportier cars, could bring its compact vehicles such as the Mazda2 (pictured) to the U.S. market as early as 2007.

The Mazda3 is currently the smallest Mazda sold in the U.S.

With Toyota, Honda, and Nissan bringing their compact cars next year while gas prices have dropped, Mazda will probably take a wait-and-see approach.

-AutoBlog

[Lord_Zath]

I second the wait and see idea.

[MazKid]

The Miata is the current smallest Mazda sold in the US. :)

Personally I think Mazda should bring over the Verisa before the Demio...I think the Demio would canabalize Mazda 3 and Mazda 5 sales, while the Verisa is much smaller.

[Amemiya]

I think that, if they bring it over here they will sell well. It might kill Mazda 3 & 5 sales though.

[Kansei]

I'd buy it.. especially in this limited edition. I really love them, and the fact that I'm considering a Honda Fit over a Mazda3 because well.. the mazda 3 is too damn big.. yeah. Mazda bring something smaller over!

[RODSCALIP5]

The Verisa needs to come over. I wish the Mazda 3 had better gas mileage, I would have took that over the new Civic.

[mikeyb]

Mazda will have to rename it because of Nissan having the Versa.

[ChiMSP]

i wonder what the interior looks like...

[nate0123]

looks much better than the 3 hatch... I'd hit it

what's the biggest engine they put in it?

[mikeyb]

http://www.japanesecarfans.com/photos/3050413.002/1012big.jpg

http://www.japanesecarfans.com/photos/3050413.002/1015big.jpg

http://www.japanesecarfans.com/photos/3050413.002/1020big.jpg

[Kansei]

looks much better than the 3 hatch... I'd hit it

what's the biggest engine they put in it?

I bet a 2.0 or a smaller engine if they have one to use, because putting the 2.3 in it would be ridiculous, It's like 2100 pounds or something crazy like that if I remember correctly.

It comes with I think a 1.3-1.5 in Europe. A clean 1.3 turbodiesel would be cool, or even better a 1.3 turbodiesel hybrid :)

A turbodiesel hybrid would get such good gas mileage that it would never pay itself off unless you hit like 400k miles, but it would make you feel damn good about your environmental impact (assuming low sulphur diesel in the U.S.)

The 3 hatch makes me want to vomit all over the place ugh. Bring the Mazda 2!

[dmitrik4]

this month's C&D has a comparison of the small cars now available (Fit, Yaris, Accent, etc). the Fit ran away with it by 25 points over 2nd place. tied for quickest to 60 (8.7s) & 1/4, fastest lane change (71.5mph...same as an EVO), 2nd best fuel economy (33/38), quietest...and best-looking, IMO.

i'd love to see a 2 here, but the bar looks to be set pretty high. the 2.0 from the 3 would be a good choice, IMO, although i'd be shocked if it came in at anything under 2400lbs.

[Kansei]

this month's C&D has a comparison of the small cars now available (Fit, Yaris, Accent, etc). the Fit ran away with it by 25 points over 2nd place. tied for quickest to 60 (8.7s) & 1/4, fastest lane change (71.5mph...same as an EVO), 2nd best fuel economy (33/38), quietest...and best-looking, IMO.

i'd love to see a 2 here, but the bar looks to be set pretty high. the 2.0 from the 3 would be a good choice, IMO, although i'd be shocked if it came in at anything under 2400lbs.

Yeah I read that comparison, and I really don't mind the way the fit looks. I wish the headlight housing wasn't body colored, just silver or black would do, but I could always bake the lights if I got one. :)

[eting_pro5]

I definitely like the Fit. And I think I prefer the Verisa over the Demio/2.

Remember, Mazda is apparently working on a subcompact for Ford. It wouldn't surprise me if they took their effort and gave themselves a new car (or redesign) for the U.S.