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This is encouraging news. I think I'd be most likely to go for a 2.5/manual combo myself, but having more choices is always a good thing in my book.
ever see a ford mx-5? a ford rotary?
the basic 2.3 was shared, but mazda had more power and hooked up to a 5 speed auto. focus 2.3 has 4 speed auto.
3.0 duratec in mazda is tuned for premium, fusion is tuned for regular fuel.
fusion did get a 6 speed auto.
just some examples.
Incorrect. Mazda 3.0L is tuned for regular fuel. The NA 2.3L, and the new 2.5L and 3.7L in the '09 models are tuned for regular as well.
The turbo-4 in the MazdaSpeed 6 is tuned for premium.
The Fusion and 6 (the vehicles on topic here) had identical powertrains, didn't they (until this year)?
2.3L Mazda design, both Ford and Mazda built. Again, identical in 03-08 Mazda6 and Fusion
Basic platforms are the same too. Every other component is different. They do not share transmissions either.
2009 Mazda6:
2.5L Mazda fully developed and built.
3.7L block is Ford design, totally built by Mazda with different internals and different computer tune then Ford built 3.7L. (captain2, I'm waiting for you to chime in!)
There is actually a "Mazda" logo stamped onto the engine, whereas the 03-08 Mazda6 had the "Ford" logo stamped on the V6 engine.
6-speed manual + 5-speed auto transmission built by JATCO, a company partly owned by Mazda and Nissan. 6-speed automatic is built by Aisin.
IIRC, Ford builds their own transmissions.
They may be different, but both the Mazda6 and Fusion do have a 5 speed auto with the 2.3.
The Focus, that someone mentioned as having a 4 speed, does not have the 2.3 engine.
This is not true. I know because that was one of my criteria in 2007. IIRC the following still had 4 speed autos with their I4: all GM divisions, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Hyudai, Kia, Chrysler and Dodge.
As I recall, the only choices that met this criterion were Ford (and Mercury), Mazda, Honda, and Toyota...plus I'd include Nissan with their CVT.
Base, SE and SEL - standard 2.5L I4, 6 speed manual
Optional 6 speed automatic
Optional Flex Fuel (E85) 3.0L V6 w/6 speed selectshift automatic (upgraded to 240+ hp) on SE and SEL
Sport - standard 3.5L w/6 speed selectshift automatic, sport tuned suspension
Hybrid - 2.5L I4 hybrid with Aisin E-CVT transmission and twin LCD displays
AWD available on SEL and Sport V6 models only.
Blind spot detection
Rear view camera
SOS post crash alert system
2nd gen Navigation and Sync
Sony 12 speaker sound system
Ambient lighting
Capless fueling
If they hit the predicted best in class fuel economy targets and get the restyling right then this will make the midsize sedan wars very interesting......
i didn't realize mazda's made their extra power versus fords, until recently when it was evened out, due to just using VVT.
of course not, that would be way too creative for any of the former 'Big 3'. The RXs and the Miatas are great examples of what Mazda in this case can do right if left to its own means. I only hope that Ford is forced to divest itself of Mazda and then we might see more of the same. How about a Mazda6 that is revolutionary and innovative as opposed to one that is evolutionary and more of the same?
They tried that with the first one and it didn't sell as well as planned. We'll see how the more Camry/Accord-like version 2.0 goes.
How does that sound?
certainly true - now 'ancient' history and hardly the point. Ford controls Mazda and has for a number of years now. Ford is now losing billions, selling 'junk' bonds, and building cars in Mexico while Mazda is rumored to actually be making a bit of money - so who do you think really is the ball and chain in this equation today? Toyo Koygo had historically been an independent, free thinking, and innovative company - not so much anymore.
Nissan was in a similar position as Mazda at about the same time, got several billion francs injected from Renault, and ended up with one of the most competitive and profitable product lines in the entire industry. Carlo Ghosn notwithstanding, do you really believe that Ford's interest in Mazda has helped them at all in the last 10 years or so? Or hurt?
While we are at it, who is going to be the first to make 'em fly??? How's that for revolution.... Everything else you mentioned is evolution BTW...
5-for-5 on the NHTSA tests is impressive (especially on rollover, where 5 stars is very rare), but I'll wait for the IIHS tests to bestow "safest on the road" to the Mazda6.
Yeah, I worded it a little funny. After I read what I wrote, it was too late to edit it.
Know of any mid-sized sedans that get close to 100 mpg with world-class handling?
Well, you did mention hybrids and other technologies that already exist. So, an improvement on those systems is evolutionary. World class handling? I guess that is a subjective question. Unless there is a totally new type of suspension to come out, anything that we may see in the future is evolutionary, meaning evolving from current technology.
The closest thing to "revolutionary" that is about to hit the market is the Chevy Volt. Currently, there is no mass produced vehicle like that on the road that uses a gasoline engine for the only purpose of charging the battery, and the battery is used as the main source of power to the engine. I would say the Honda FXC is another, however, there are numerous rumors that the FXC will not go into mass production.
The 1st gen Prius and 1st gen Insight were revolutionary almost 10 years ago.
I don't know the number sold but I'd consider the Civic GX mass produced.
Side note, I can't believe the Honda Accord only gets 3 stars from rear side...
I would say the Civic GX is mass produced too. While there are not a lot available, you can actually go to a dealer and request one.
I agree with you about the Accord and the rear crash test. I'm a little surprised about that.
I suppose if some totally new form of propulsion, e.g. hyperdrive, were invented and first used on a car, that would be revolutionary,
If you go back and read what I wrote, you would see where I said that improving on existing technology is evolutionary, and the implementing introduction of new technology that has not been available is revolutionary.
Thus the Volt is evolutionary--other cars (e.g. Prius) use a gas engine to charge the batteries so it can be driven only under electric power
The Volt and Prius are totally different. The gasoline engine on the Volt is only used to charge the battery. The Volt is powered by an electric motor only. The gas engine has nothing to do with propulsion. The Prius only uses an electric motor for up to 25mph, and uses the gasoline engine for everything else, just like every other car on the road.
They (especially the Prius) were the first to be successful in the marketplace, though.
Yes, that makes them revolutionary. Toyota and Honda were the first companies to something no auto manufacturer has done before. It does not matter that the technology existed. We are not debating who invented what. We are talking about who was the first to offer it to the public on a grand scale.
And since hydrogen fuel cells have been around for about 50 years, their use in a car is evolutionary also
Again, for a company to introduce revolutionary technology does not mean that they had to invent it. Mazda is, and has always been considered a "revolutionary" company for vehicles like the RX's and MX-5 Miata. Did Mazda invent the rotary? No, Dr. Felix Wankel did. Mazda is the only company to continue to offer it to the public. Did Mazda invent the roadster? No, they just offer the most popular, best selling roadster in automotive history. Those are two of their signature vehicles, which no other manufacturer really offers.
What makes companys revolutionary is their ability to offer products to the general public that has not been available to them before.
Good, we are agreed then. A 100 mpg, best-in-class handling mid-sized sedan would be revolutionary because no such product has been made available to the public before.
Your correct. Porsche had an gas/electric model circa 1910.
I think that is only with the manual transmission.
Of course, even technology used 10 years ago is primitive by today's standard. However, the Prius isn't revolutionary it's just mass marketed. How can you have a revolutionary technology that has been around for 100 years? It's like saying the internal combustion engine is revolutionary in 2008.
Would you consider a electric Golf Cart the predecessor of a Prius. I think the day of someone sitting in their garage and inventing something creating a new technology is very rare. Many times the technology exists put it has to be cost effective to manufacture. (Hydrogen Cell, Solar Cells)