Mazda CX-3 and 3rd Generation Atenza - 2019 minor change

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.

Photo: Mazda Motor Corporation

GT SPORT: Be a driver.

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.

Gran Turismo 5: Two different Atenzas...

The first Atenza

Looking back on Gran Turismo 5, I have been given a chance to check out two different generations of Mazda Atenza in two different perspectives. It's just like Richard Hammond, driving the icons on the Top Gear Test Track for some nostalgic reasons or for some TG Magazine issues but anyway, both the first and the second generation Atenzas were really trying to itch their way through Mazda's Zoom-Zoom spectacle.

About the first generation Atenza, this car was first revealed at the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show and went on sale in the summer of 2002, replacing some of Mazda's mid-size sedan models such as the Capella, the Cronos, or the 5-door liftback called the Efini MS-6. It was available in three various body styles such as the Sedan, the Sport Wagon, and the Sport 5-door liftback (which Gran Turismo 5 has one).

The variant that GT5 featured was the Sport model with the 2.3L engine mated with a 5-speed manual gearbox. When I drove this kind of Atenza, there are some merits and demerits regarding about this car. What I like about this Atenza is its looks because it was the first Mazda to adopt its signature pentagonal grille that adorn most Mazdas from 2002 up to 2008 where the second-generation Atenza has some Nagare design on it. Bits of it, yes... But sadly though, I think I like this first generation better than the second-generation because it looks more of a civilized businessman who doesn't want to go on a meeting with a choppy formal wear that embarasses himself. Because this is the Sport model, I think its 5-door liftback looks really nods from its predecessor, the Efini MS-6.

One thing I didn't know that the Atenza was built on the same platform used on the Ford Mondeo. Of course, Mazda was partially owned by Ford at that time, so this Mondeo-derived platform used on the Atenza comes with sport-tuned double wishbone suspension on the front and a multilink at the rear, which some say, it was the best handling car in its class. Sadly though, it doesn't seem to be best-handling to me but it handles fine on generous corners where no violent turning is necessary but in some corners, like for instance, the Follow-Through on the Top Gear Track, the Atenza's starting to struggle. Mild but menacing if you know what I mean but because this is an everyday car, the Atenza's not a menacing saloon car. It's a well-mannered saloon built for the whole family.

Sure, I like the first-generation Atenza but there was just one Atenza I like the most...and it was the Mazdaspeed model...

The Mazdaspeed Atenza

You might remember that Jeremy Clarkson once reviewed the Mazdaspeed Atenza (or Mazdaspeed6 or Mazda 6 MPS) on Top Gear alongside the Ford Mondeo ST220 and the Vauxhall Vectra VXR and when The Stig drove it, the Mazdaspeed Atenza set a lap time of 01:32.2 at the Top Gear Track, which is faster than the lap times set from Renaultsport Megane 225 or the first-generation Audi TT V6. Quite an achievement here though but let's talk about this machine...

This high-performance version of the Atenza was revealed to the world at the 2004 Paris Motor Show and it uses the 4-door saloon version as its basis. It comes with a 2.3L DISI TURBO engine that sends its power in all four wheels. So, it's a 4WD hot Atenza eh? That sounds uncanny to me but when you take your foot on the pedal, it's as silent as a normal 4-door saloon so I was expecting to be as civilized as a normal Atenza. It's true, it is.

Also, the handling is more like it for me because what Mazda did to this hot Atenza is they put something they've called Active Torque Control Coupling system on its 4WD system, which manages the torque between all four wheels and it monitors the car's steering angle, yaw rate, lateral G-force and engine conditions in real time. It sure is sharper than the normal Atenza Sport though, although there's a hint of understeer, which is catastrophic to me.

If possible, I'm considering this Mazdaspeed Atenza to be a "future classic" because there are only a few models out there worldwide. If you spot one, you'd be lucky to drive a hotter midsize sedan that no other carmaker has anymore these days.

The second Atenza

Now, if you're talking about the second-generation Mazda that was built from 2008 to 2012, well, I have nothing else to say about it but I'll let myself slip through this story. Ever since the second-generation model broke cover in 2008, I was really amused by its looks because the design flow of the second-generation Atenza marks a huge departure from its old design flow and into the Nagare flow. Not sure if this is the first but the second-generation Atenza is becoming more athletic than its predecessor.

If I mean athletic, of course! The handling's more sharper than the first-generation Atenza but not as aggressive as the Mazdaspeed Atenza. That reminds me...

Did I said that I like the first model better than the second model? Oh dear...Perhaps, I should just rewrite my words and then I'd admit that the second-generation Atenza's my type than the first-generation Atenza, well the Mazdaspeed Atenza is my pick for me but never mind about that...

Never mind indeed, and while the Gran Turismo franchise has no plans to introduce the third-generation Atenza with the revolutionary SKYACTIV Technology, guess I had to make do with the previous two generations of the Mazda Atenza...and that makes me sad...

Third-generation Mazda Atenza/6 (GJ)

It's 2012, ten years since the first Mazda Atenza (Mazda6) went on sale in 2002. Hard to believe it's ten years since the Atenza broke cover for the world ahead and served as the birth of Mazda's Zoom-Zoom slogan. For the Hiroshima-based carmaker to celebrate the car's 10th year, they have a little present for the Atenza...its regeneration.

2013 Mazda Atenza

Yes, welcome everybody to the all-new, third-generation Mazda Atenza, the fourth chapter of Mazda's SKYACTIV Technology. That's right. This is the fourth Mazda to be fitted with SKYACTIV Technology, a new measure where performance and fuel efficiency together at long last. The first SKYACTIV model was the Demio back in Summer 2011 which introduced the world with its SKYACTIV engine. The second one was the Axela, which revolutionized the world not just with the SKYACTIV engine but also the SKYACTIV-DRIVE dual-clutch transmission. The third SKYACTIV was the CX-5, which I've tackled earlier this year, which the SKYACTIV-D clean diesel engine sets a good example. For this new model though...let's find out...

Previous generations of the Mazda Atenza have three body styles; the sedan, the Sport Wagon, and the Sport liftback but for this new model, it's now a much sensible two. Yep, two body styles; Sedan and Wagon. The liftback version, the only one with a manual transmission, was axed although no such reasons told about the discontinuation of the liftback model. Despite mourning about the liftback model's death, the design of the all-new Atenza looks very fascinating. It's as fascinating as a swimming instructor in her racing swimwear. Oops, sorry about that. What I'm saying is that it looks just like the Takeri Concept as seen at last year's Tokyo Motor Show, I mean the new design language, Kodo - Soul In Motion -, really made the Atenza very sexy. Look at the rear view of this new model, it does look like a good-looking version of the new Lexus GS. There's no style for style's sake here but for me, I think this is much more sexier than the Hyundai i40.

2013 Mazda Atenza interior

What makes the all-new 2013MY (US2014) Atenza/6 so unique is the features never before applied on other Mazda models. First up, we're expecting an all-new 2.5L SKYACTIV-G engine (PY-VPR) engine that produces about 188PS of power and 250Nm of torque. A 2.0L SKYACTIV-G engine (PE-VPR) is also offered in both sedan and wagon models as well as the SKYACTIV-DRIVE dual-clutch gearbox but we're not talking about that. What I'm talking about is some new stuff on the third-generation Atenza such as this so listen up, these are new;


2.2L SKYACTIV-D (SH-VPTR) clean diesel engine

Another part of the SKYACTIV-D clean diesel lineup is the SH-VPTR engine. Hmmm...wait a minute, it's about the same 2.2L clean diesel engine from the CX-5 but what differs is that while the SH-VPTS diesel engine we saw on the CX-5 has some blue paneling on it, the new Atenza's SH-VPTR engine doesn't have the blue cover on it. While the CX-5's SH-VPTS engine generates about 175PS of power, the new Atenza's SH-VPTR engine generates about the same power! Whoa there...

Anyway, while the CX-5 trumped the fuel economy ratings with the class-leading 18.6km/L, the new Atenza's SH-VPTR engine trumped a fuel economy of about 20km/L (22.4km/L with the all-new SKYACTIV-MT transmission), making it a class-leading midsize sedan of this magnitude. If I said SKYACTIV-MT, let's move on to the next topic...


SKYACTIV-MT

The all-new Mazda Atenza is the first-ever Mazda to be fitted with this new type of manual transmission. Not all manual transmissions are made to be the same and with this new generation of manual transmission, this is a bit more than that. What to expect on the SKYACTIV-MT is simple, it provides you a light and crisp shift feel like a sportscar thanks to its compact size and reduced weight. This gearbox feels very light and it's much more enjoyable to shift gears freely. It feels like I'm driving a Mazda Roadster of some sort and this new SKYACTIV-MT will change the way manual transmissions behave forever the only Mazda you can enjoy the first-ever SKYACTIV-MT is the all-new Atenza. With the Atenza fitted with the first ever SKYACTIV-MT, the SKYACTIV Technology portfolio is now complete. We now have the complete lineup of SKYACTIV models but the journey doesn't stop there because pretty soon, Mazda will expand the SKYACTIV Technology story even further

i-ACTIVSENSE

The new Atenza sees the introduction of the first-ever i-ACTIVSENSE system. How does it work? Let's see...i-ACTIVSENSE 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. From Radar Cruise Control, Forward Obstruction Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Rear Vehicle Monitoring, High-Beam Control, Adaptive Front-lighting, Smart Brake Support, Smart City Brake Support, and Acceleration Control for AT models, this new i-ACTIVSENSE takes safety to a different level. The More You Know...

i-ELOOP

Heads up, there's a new technology applied on the new Atenza, and here's a new kind of Regenerative Braking System called i-ELOOP. It's a capacitor-based regenerative braking system. Wanna know how it works? Here's an excerpt from one of their press releases;

Mazda's regenerative braking system is unique because it uses a capacitor, which is an electrical component that temporarily stores large volumes of electricity. Compared to batteries, capacitors can be charged and discharged rapidly and are resistant to deterioration through prolonged use. 'i-ELOOP' efficiently converts the vehicle's kinetic energy into electricity as it decelerates, and uses the electricity to power the climate control, audio system and numerous other electrical components.

That is very simple and very clever...I like that...

With everything loaded on it and with tons of firsts for Mazda, the all-new Mazda Atenza is now ready to show who's the boss. Such new technology is what brought Mazda Zoom-Zoom to greater heights. It's now on sale in Japan and coming soon in the rest of the world...Oh, and I almost forgot, the new SKYACTIV-MT is available only on variants carrying the 2.2L SKYACTIV-D clean diesel engine.

Welcome to the new age of Zoom-Zoom. Are you ready?

Available Colors: Soul Red Premium Metallic, Blue Reflex Mica, Jet Black Mica, Meteor Grey Mica, Snow Flake White Pearl Mica, Stormy Blue Mica, and Aluminum Metallic.

PRICE LIST:

Sedan
20S - 2,500,000 Yen
25S L Package - 3,000,000 Yen
XD 6-speed Manual - 2,900,000 Yen
XD 6-speed Auto - 3,026,000 Yen
XD L Package - 3,400,000 Yen

Wagon

20S - 2,500,000 Yen
25S L Package - 3,000,000 Yen
XD 6-speed Manual - 2,900,000 Yen
XD 6-speed Auto - 3,026,000 Yen
XD L Package - 3,400,000 Yen

 Photo: Mazda Motor Corporation

Third-generation Atenza (Mazda 6) will not have the Sport variant

Third-generation Mazda Atenza

Ever since the Mazda Atenza (known as the Mazda 6 for the global market) was launched in 2002, and then regenerated in 2008, the variants they offered were the sedan, the Sport Wagon, and the 5-door Sport variant. However, things have changed because for the upcoming third-generation Mazda Atenza (Mazda 6), the body style will offer has just been reduced to two body styles; Sedan and Sport Wagon.

The 5-door Sport variant has now been dropped, meaning that the third-generation model will never have the Sport model, the one that offer a manual transmission on it. That's seem to be sad that for the next model, no more 6-speed manual-laden Sport model is offered and what the hell? The hopes of having the very first Mazda model to come with the SKYACTIV-MT model has been dashed. When will Mazda offer the 6-speed SKYACTIV-MT for the Japanese market? No hope....

Currently, Mazda has three SKYACTIV models; the Demio, the Axela, and the CX-5.

Scoop:  http://www.chugoku-np.co.jp/News/Tn201208050026.html

Next-generation Mazda6/Atenza will be more Shinari-like?

Check this scoop (Japanese):

http://car.jp.msn.com/news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4626704

In translation, a next-generation Mazda Atenza (known worldwide as the Mazda 6) will share a design based on the Mazda Shinari Concept '10,

Kodo, Japanese for Soul of Motion, represents the soul in motion, and the Shinari is one of them. Rumors or truth, I think the next Mazda6/Atenza will carry a Kodo design like the Shinari concept car...