2011 Mazda 2 Preview - A 'Worldcar' Coming Stateside

The Mazda2 was named the overall World Car of the Year for 2008, a pretty big accomplishment in itself.  What makes the Mazda2 so impressive? It excels in looks, comfort, practicality, driving dynamics and environmental credentials. The Mazda2 excelled in every category. News that this Mazda model will be coming stateside by 2011 can only be good news.  The Mazda2 will share its class competition with the Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Suzuki SX4, Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris, and another new comer - the 2011 Ford Fiesta.

Mazda2 Power

The '2' is currently sold elsewhere with Mazda's 4-cylinder engines: a gasoline 1.3-liter available in 74- and 83-horsepower tune; a 102-horsepower 1.5, and a 67-horsepower 1.4-liter turbodiesel. What the States will see for a powertrain is not definite, but a new 1.6-liter gasoline V4 is the likely choice for performance, fuel economy, and emissions reasons. While the stop/start feature would technically make the 2 a "mild hybrid," a full hybrid may be an option in the future, as will a turbodiesel.  The U.S.-market 2011 Mazda 2 will almost certainly have a standard 5-speed manual transmission, with a 6-speed option possible.

2011 Mazda2 Design

 The design of the Mazda2 offers a stylish, sporty body shape. This is a vehicle whose sharp contours and soft transitions give it a sense of motion even when it is still. It always looks ready to offer up some driving fun. The Mazda2 is offered as either a 3 door or 5 door model, and ten different colors.  Mazda is the Japanese affiliate of Ford Motor Company, and the 2011 Mazda 2 will share a European-designed front-wheel-drive architecture with Ford's 2011 Fiesta subcompact. The car coming Stateside is the much sleeker second-generation that launched in Japan, Europe, and other world markets during 2007 and added sporty 2-door versions in early '08. Elements include a curved nose with a prominent five-sided Mazda grille, headlights pulled back into rounded fenders a la Mazda's RX-8 sports car, a rising window line, a prominent lower-body "swoosh," and a tail ending mere inches behind the rear wheels.

Lightweight yet Affordable

The Mazda2 was recently redesigned overseas, and it got a unibody that uses 40-percent more high-strength steel than before. That allows structural members to be thinner and thus lighter versus regular steel without compromising rigidity or crash performance. Aiding the cause is a steel brace linking the front strut towers, an item usually reserved for pricey high-performance cars. Less mass, in turn, allows using lighter brakes, suspension components, and other underbody hardware. The redesigned Mazda 2 has already changed course by weighing a substantial 220 lb less than the car it replaces, this despite little change in overall size. The Mazda2 has earned high marks for quietness, ride comfort, and handling versus many competitors. Mazda's slimming program doesn't resort to expensive measures like aluminum body panels or carbon-fiber seat shells. After all, affordability is a must in the entry-level class, which is why small cars are typically so straightforward in materials and engineering.

Driving the Mazda2

First and foremost, the Mazda2 is fun to drive. The chief designer of the Mazda2 was also responsible for the Mazda RX-8 and it shows. It may be a supermini but there's the soul of a sports car inside. The 2011 Mazda2 is an incredibly light and agile car, which is a high priority for all Mazda models. A lighter weight vehicle makes for a more agile and nimble drive and better fuel economy, which leads to more savings and lower CO2 emissions. America's 2011 Mazda 2 will boast the same refinement, ride comfort, and handling that have made it popular overseas. No one knows whether the 2011 U.S. model will match the excellent 40-mpg European rating, but it will certainly get a competitive rating, another plus considering the economy and upcoming changes in federal mpg requirements. Mazda says the current 1.5-liter model does 0-60 mph in a little over 10 seconds.  Also included on the '2' will be disc and rear-drum brakes with available ABS, electrically assisted power steering, 4-wheel independent suspension with front struts and a simple twist-beam rear axle, and front and curtain side airbags.

Cabin Features for the '2'

Whether standard or optional, the 2011 Mazda 2 will have available air conditioning, power windows, remote power locks, and other expected conveniences, but don't look for weighty items like motorized seats or a power sunroof that would detract from performance and fuel economy. Because the 2 will undoubtedly be pitched to younger first-time buyers, many options will be geared to that audience. That probably means things like alloy wheels, cloth upholstery mimicking sportswear fabrics, a thumpi ng audio system, and connections for cell phones and MP3 players.

Summary

Despite its worldwide success, the Mazda 2 wasn't slated for U.S. sale. Officials said the car was too small and likely not profitable enough. But that was last year, before Americans were hit with record gas prices and started buying smaller, thriftier vehicles. So what does this mean for America? The Mazda2 promises high mpg and a "zoom-zoom" personality. It will be interesting to see, however, how this Mazda competes with the popular subcompact-car class, which is growing quickly in the States.  Will "zoom-zoom" styling and hatchback practicality make this a desirable model?  It sounds just what the average American is looking for, but we must wait at least another year to know for sure. The 2011 Mazda 2 is expected to reach the states in the third or fourth quarter of 2010. For more research read a Car and Driver review of the Mazda 2.