Topic: Preview: 2016 Mazda2

[RoadRageous]

.... asks pointed questions about instrumentation

Yeah, I use a Tach to shift.
Helps me judge rev matching

Also, I can check if i'm crusing in 4th or 5th

Clumsy fingers, let me try that again

Yeah, I use a Tach to shift.
    Helps me judge rev matching.
    I can check if i'm crusing in 4th or 5th.
    I can look for the torque peak before up-shifting

Also, I drive a car with an analog speedo and a digital readout. I *never* use the analog speedo anymore.

Finally, a tach may make sense for paddle shifters on a manumatic.

[Ace]

Sweet looking little car! Smart competitors should copy it! Hear that Mini !!

[ALin]

Somehow having a large prominent tach thrust under your nose seems wrong, if you don't want it.

It's meant to work in tandem with the HUD, so in theory at least, your current speed will still be more prominent. What's important to remember is that these are renderings (someone noted the x1000 rpm duplication), although they are doing press test drives in Japan right now, so there should be pictures of the final interior in a couple of days.

I think though, that this size of car is tending towards a higher roof line

That's definitely the case in Japan, where compacts have a low belt line and a high roof line and generally look like enclosed golf carts. North American crash safety standards usually mean longer front ends and higher belt lines than JDM equivalents.

[johngenx]

Me likey.

[WRX_Pilot]

After seeing the new Yaris, I think this will wipe the floor with it.

[dkaz]

See, Id rather have a large tach thrust under my nose, along with water temp, oil pressure and temp, ammeter, fuel gauge and a small digital speedo somewhere.

An oil pressure gauge would save a lot of older engines from spun rod bearings.

I'm going to get ricer style three gauge pod for my Odyssey and use it of a transmission oil temperature gauge, engine oil pressure gauge, and a voltmeter.

[jaari]

I'm not liking much of Mazda's styling the last few generations.
Inside is nice though..

[EV-Light]

After seeing the new Yaris, I think this will wipe the floor with it.

price will dictate its success...if Mazda gets it under 11k for the base model, I think they MIGHT have a shot at making sure this will be successful. Granted Mazda hasn't been very fortunate with its new design language lately...

[Waterlooresident]

NOW THAT IS ONE NICE LOOKING SMALL CAR !!!
- It's now at the top of my list for the next car I will be buying either next year or the year after.

- I really like that blue color, hope it comes here to Canada !

- I like how it looks like a Mazda3 that has been shrunk down 20% in length = cute.

- Glad they are finally getting a sky-active engine in that car, because the older Mazda2 has a lot worse mpg than the new Mazda3.

- I can see how this new Mazda2 will be taking a lot of sales away from used cars on the market right now.

- I don't know about you, but I like the old radio-style found on the lower 'Base' trim, as shown here in this picture:  http://www.autos.ca/galleries/2015/index.php?level=picture&id=2082

- Last week I was late for an appointment in the city and the main city parking lot was closed due to re-paving.  The only spot I could find in miles of where I had to go was a parallel parking spot that was too small for any SUV.  My 2006 Corolla just barely was able to squeeze into it, with about 2 feet of space ahead and behind it.  A smaller car like this Mazda2 is exactly what someone needs in a situation like that.

- THANK GOD Mazda is not going to a CVT automatic transmission like Subaru, Honda, Nissan, and now Toyota are doing.

[WRX_Pilot]

After seeing the new Yaris, I think this will wipe the floor with it.

Granted Mazda hasn't been very fortunate with its new design language lately...

Really?  Because I see nearly universal acclaim from the press that the new mazdas have very successful styling.  Price, that's a different factor, and you could be right.  But I don't think mazda wants to, nor should compete with the bargain basement accent/mirage/etc 10k level.

[Rupert]

I think a column automatic shifter could be used to advantage in small cars. The central box could be used for storage then which is always in short supply in a smaller package. Perhaps stick shift could be a $1000 option. These are not race cars but ordinary small foot print useful vehicles.

[Fobroader]

I think a column automatic shifter could be used to advantage in small cars. The central box could be used for storage then which is always in short supply in a smaller package. Perhaps stick shift could be a $1000 option. These are not race cars but ordinary small foot print useful vehicles.

Column shift.....on a car.....WHAT?!?!?!? No, floor shift makes way more sense as you can also put the handbrake in the console. Even if this was some $5000 Indian "peoples car", a column shifter....hell no.

[EV-Light]

After seeing the new Yaris, I think this will wipe the floor with it.

I actually like the new Yaris better than the Mazda 2...

[OliverD]

After seeing the new Yaris, I think this will wipe the floor with it.

I actually like the new Yaris better than the Mazda 2...

Is this the Yaris that is going to be built in the same factory as the 2?

[dkaz]

The current gen (2015 Yaris) is still being built in Japan.

There's no indication yet whether the new Mazda based Toyota subcompact will be a Toyota (Yaris) or a Scion.

[Rupert]

The Yaris and Micra have a forward cab and reduced hood length. With the higher roof line the aesthetics are pretty decent. IMO.

[Solstice2006]

Would be an interesting vote....

Maybe an editor or moderator can put out a poll, what looks better the 2015 Yaris or the upcoming Mazda2. 

[ALin]

Would be an interesting vote....

Maybe an editor or moderator can put out a poll, what looks better the 2015 Yaris or the upcoming Mazda2. 

Sorry for the wait. Poll is up!

Also, here's a preview video. Audio is all Japanese, but there's footage of the car on the road, as well as close-ups of the interior.

[conwelpic]

The current gen (2015 Yaris) is still being built in Japan.

There's no indication yet whether the new Mazda based Toyota subcompact will be a Toyota (Yaris) or a Scion.

Starting in May 2013 the Yaris for North America was coming out of Toyota's plant in France.

http://europe.autonews.com/article/20130516/ANE/130519918#ixzz2TTae65xA

[conwelpic]

I just read that the Mazda 2 will be skipping the 2015 model year.