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D2 THEOAKVILLEBEAVER Wednesday, August 15, 2001 Mazda makes a brash dash for 2003 By Jim Robinson SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER In a brash move, Mazda pulled away the curtains on its future products and showed a group of invited journalists the 11 new prod ucts it will bring to North America in the next three years. Yes, it was brash, but in a calculated way. Mazda wants to get out the word that it's moving ahead aggressively with new models when most automotive industry news is about cutbacks and losses. The models shown carry a distinctive Mazda family look -- the five-point grilled and pointed prow look seen on the flagship RX-8. On its sedans, a very prominent reverse "L" will be seen on the C-pillar. Wagons and crossovers (wagons are very big in the future of Mazda) will have full-length windows that recede to a vertical rear deck treatment. This part is clever because Mazda can now design a wagon, an SUV or even a convertible/pickup and not lose the overall family design. The New York City reveal was led by Mark Fields, president of Mazda worldwide. He was backed up by senior managing director Kei Kado, and managing director Phil Martens. Their message was repeated often and forcefully. Mazda, they said, had lost its way from building fun-to-drive cars in the 1980s and trying to be all things to all people in the 1990s. More than once the brass talked about "rekindling the spirit" of Mazda. Mazda must be "quick and nimble" again. Using Ford resources, cutting back staff and closing a plant in Japan (probably a very hard decision for Fields to make), the main objective now is to bring on vehicles with the "zoom, zoom, zoom" spirit built in. Spirited certainly describes the "Small Hatchback" that will be built in Spain at a Ford of Europe plant. Powered by four-cylinder gas engines ranging from 1.4 to 1.7 litres and a single rail, four-cylinThe flagship RX-8 sedan is the harbinger of the new family look for Mazda vehicles, from sedans to SUVs, as it boasts a five-point der, 1.4-litre diesel, these cars are aimed at European and Japanese grilled and pointed prow look. consumers. But a pert yellow hatchback is larger than a Chevy Metro. With rising gasoline prices, a modest re-engineering to meet crash requirements could see the car here. p u rch a se fin a n cin g for up to 36 Definitely coming in 2003 was the "Compact Sedan," an m o nths on n ew 2001 m azd ast obvious replacement for the current Protege. Much of its styling was borrowed from the RX-8 super sedan. Although a four-door, the Compact Sedan has coupe looks and will also be offered as a five-door hatchback and probably a wagon. Called the "Midsize Sedan" and the "Midsize Wagon," the 2003 626 replacements will be offered with a 1.8- and 2.3-litre <£> NO SECURITY DEPOSIT ON LEASES^ gasoline engines as well as a 3.0-litre V6 with sequential vari MAZDA MPV DX able valve timing. MAZDA PROTEGE SE To be built in Flat Rock, Michigan, these are very elegant machines, the wagon particularly sexy in deep red. Bigger and wider than the current 626, the RX-8 has a 250 hp rotary engine and seats for four, while the MX Sport Tourer, a con from cept car, uses a hybrid system of a 2.0-litre gasoline engine ti/G & S* and electric motor. Instead of looking quirky like the current per month/48 months crop of hybrids, the MX Sport Tourer is very much RX-8 in cash purchase from form and spirit combining sportscar looks with SUV utility. · $4,900 down or trade equivalent on With fully retractable roof, freestyle door system with no cen For only / A / A /month more, get on LX with ! & lease, fre ig h t and P .O .I. included. air conditioning, keyless entry, new 2.0L tre pillar, rear seats store away to create a flat cargo floor, and Convenience Package with cash purchase from 130-hp engine. I S " w heels and upgraded upholstery. a sportscar cockpit. · cruise control Same thing goes for the "Secret Hideout," an odd-looking · $2,400 down or trade equivalent on lease, freight · power door locks duck at first glance, but marvelously clever. Mazda took a group and P .D .I. included · power windows £ mirrors of young engineers and told them to get lost in Tokyo's youth · air conditioning · Optional 130-hp, 2 .OL 00HC engine available lease from culture. They then had to come back and design a vehicle that · standard dual airbags (IX and ES model) · 3rd row tumble under se ats would give young drivers a place that they can call their own. · AM/FM/CD stereo system · Standard dual air bags Get in. Be moved per month/48 months · 2nd row slide by slide. Looking like a huge lozenge with a smaller lozenge on top for the windows and roof, the lack of styling embellishment is its Offer ends August 31, 2001 own saving grace. Secret Hideout may never hit the streets, but U lhere G ood Seruice a lot the engineers learned will show up in future cars. Is R Fact. Not CEASE 1 2 9 1 S P E E R S R O A D North side between 3rd Line & 4th Line What Mazda hopes to do was as Fields said, "These vehi Just R Promise! MAZDA G et In Be Moved cles will help us to rekindle the energy, the spirit and the com GRADUATE! PROGRAM ww w .oakviirem azda.com petitiveness that once was our way of doing business." > k P Hfnove 0 event Oakville IflSZDa 905 827-4242 0 O a k v ille mazoa N O PAYMENTS, C D NO INTEREST FOR 60 DflYS!t STOP DREAMING START DRIVING I 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser " M otor Trend Car o f the Year " Sunroof group, underseat, storage drawer, automatic transmission, deep tint sunscreen glass, A M /F M /C D , Mopar sport wheels, air conditioning. Stock #YP61 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser Ltd. "Retro Sedan for the Driving Enthusiast " Leather trim, heated seats, underseat storage drawer, automatic trans mission, power sunroof, A M /FM /cassette/C D , power windows & locks, air conditioning, chrome wheels, 28G package. Several to choose from. LEASE FOR $ I Plus applicable taxes. 39875 a month for 48 months, 20,000kms/yr. $1,422 due on delivery. Includes freight, admin istration and air tax. LEASE FOR $ Plus applicable taxes. 434M S T A R a month for 48 months, 20,000kms/yr. $1,490 due on delivery. Includes freight, admin istration and air tax. o CIIKYSLKK D odge Je e p 175 Wyecroft Road, Oakville 905.845.6653 (between Kerr & Dorval) LOCKWOOD I a M (] || R Y S L E R F IY /E Peo<e of Mind with DaimlerChrysler Canada Inc. backed warranty Roadside Assistance Quality Reconditioning Nationwide Service Oakville's 2000 2001 Fhre Star Certified Dealership 1999 Finished in Deep Slate, 6/10,00(ikm , Chrysler W arranty w ith Roadside assistance. Features include PW, PL, cruise, tilt, sunscreen glass, and many more. Take advantage o f 6.9% financing! I 1998 Plym outh IMeoH!*4-Dr. H ighline SALE PRICE *15.888 Finished in Intense Blue, 6/10,000km, Chrysler W arranty w ith Roadside assistance. Features include P. Steering, P. Brakes, AM/FM cassette stereo, r/w in d o w defrost, dual air bags and many m ore! * * * 3 to choose from , a t this price! F IV E S T A R » « © iS » SALE PRICE rj A J i l l 1998 Plym outh GrancTOoyager Expresso Finished in Forest Green, 6/10,000km, Chrysler W arranty w ith SALE PRICE Roadside assistance. Loaded w ith features like, PW, PL, cruise, t i l t S I Q Q Q Q sunscreen glass, quad seating, alloy w heels and many more.___________ CHWSDl · · · · A A A X X X I w iO O O I 3|JJO I O fT W O f in ^Ch r y s l e r 175 Wyecroft Road,Oakville 905.845.6653 (betw een Kerr & Dorval) Oakville's 2000 · 2001 Five Star Certified Dealership Vehicles are plus taxes and license.. Peace of Mind w ith DaimlerChrysler Canada Inc. backed warranty Roadside Assistance Quality Reconditioning Nationwide Service