2010 Mazda3 pictures leaked ahead of Los Angeles Auto Show debut

The launch of the new Mazda3 has become the worst kept secret in the industry. As NMM reported earlier, the new Mazda3 will make its official debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show on November 19.

In a surprise move coinciding with the Sydney Motor Show, Mazda released three pictures and a few tantalizing details on the all-new sporty compact sedan.

The new four-door sedan be the first to come to the US market, sometime in the first quarter of 2009. The five-door hatchback will follow some time later in the spring; Mazda will announce on-sale dates at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The pictures confirm much of what the rumor mill predicted earlier this year. The new trapezoidal grille that debuted on the refreshed RX-8 and MX-5 Miata dominates the front end, flanked by fender flares that recall the design of the newly redesigned Mazda6.

At the rear, new taillights fill out the flared fenders while the trunklid features Mazda's own take on the oft-critized "Bangle Butt."

While the changes sound radical on paper, the overall impression is an evolutionary design with a lot of Mazda design DNA. The changes build on the athletic character that has made the current model a sales success.

Since its launch in 2003, the Mazda3 has sold nearly 1.8 million vehicles worldwide; accounting for almost one third of Mazda's annual sales each year.

As far as engines go, we now know the 2010 Mazda3 will be sold in the US with a 2.0-liter and a 2.5-liter engine.

Horsepower and torque numbers weren't released. The safest bet is that the current MZR 2.0-liter 153 horsepower inline-four will be the standard engine, possibly with a minor bump in horsepower.

What the 2.5-liter engine will be is anyone's guess. It could mean a small bump in displacement for the 2.3-liter turbo direct-injection inline-four used in the current MazdaSpeed3. It could also mean that the next MazdaSpeed3 will inherit a version of the 2.5-liter turbo inline-five used in the Volvo S40 T5 and C30. Volvo is a corporate cousin of Mazda through their mutual ownership by Ford.

We'll know more as the Los Angeles Auto Show draws near. Stay tuned.

[Mazda]

Video: Mercedes-Benz CoupeFascination concept previews next E-class

Even though the 2008 Paris Motor Show only days away, the previews keep on coming. For this week's video feature, we've got the Mercedes-Benz CoupeFASCINATION -- a concept car which offers some insight into the design of the next-generation E-Class.

A sporting coupe, redefined
The CoupeFASCINATION concept builds on the four door "coupe" theme established with the production CLS series.

With this design aesthetic in mind, designer at Mercedes extended the roofline, adding frameless door glass and a set of suicide-style rear doors to aid entry into the copiously leather-trimmed interior, replete with all the show car glitz one would expect. (On-board humidors, anyone?)

Outside, the fenders swell dramatically around the front and rear wheels, lending a dynamic, fluid look to the long-established but rarely seen "shooting brake" - a vehicle category with its own distinctive charisma.

Up front, the traditional dual headlight treatment that has come to symbolize the E-class is expressed in a set of steeply raked rectangular headlights framed by the traditional pentagonal Benz grille and three-pointed star. The deeply contoured hood features a central ridge which picks up the V-shape of the front end and continues it along the body.

Together, they create a very dominant and expressive statement from traditional Mercedes-Benz design cues.

Inside, a panoramic glass roof adds to the sense of visual lightness aided by the pillarless sides and frameless door glass. In contrast, complementary shades of leather and nubuck cover much of the interior, with the aluminum center console spanning the space between four individual seats. Trim strips in American walnut with a fine chrome surround complete the portfolio of materials.

As for motive power, the CoupeFASCINATION concept features a 204-horsepower 2.2-liter turbodiesel inline-four, using BlueTec technology to reduce NOx emissions while providing plenty of torque for swift acceleration.

Drivetrain details remain sparse, but the production version would likely use the six-speed automatic transmission used by the current diesel E-class sedans.

As with all concept cars, there's the question of how much of the the show car's extravagance filters down to the production model. For instance, we don't know if the 2.2-liter diesel will be offered for the US market. It's unlikely that the suicide doors or pillarless sides would make it to production. But in its present form, the CoupeFASCINATION concept is one of the most cohesive and thoughtful designs to come out of the post-DaimlerChrysler era.



[Daimler AG, Video: R2R]

Video Clip Friday: All-new 2010 Audi RS6

Last weekend, Audi released the first official images of the new RS6 sedan, shortly before the car makes its debut at the Paris Motor Show in October. For this week's video clip, we're set to offer you a glimpse of Neckarsulm's newest überlimousine.

Audi's RS models have a long history with force-fed motors; this generation is no exception.Both the RS6 sedan and wagon will be powered by a 5-liter twin-turbocharged V-10 producing 580 horespower and 480 pound-feet of torque.

Mated to a six-speed automatic with manual shift control and Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system, the RS6 will fling itself to 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph) in 4.5 seconds. For US-bound models, top speed is limited to 155 mph. European customers will have the option of having the factory limiter raised to 175 mph.

But no matter the terminal velocity, the newest RS6 continues in the tradition set by its forebears; exceptional speed and handling matched only by style and versatility.



Lastly, a brief programming note: Since we're coming up on the Labor Day holiday here in the States, NMM will be making a three-day weekend of it. See you all Tuesday.


[Source - Audi AG via WCF]