2008 MAZDA NEW VEHICLE MODEL GUIDE

The line of Mazda, that sporty "Zoom-Zoom" brand from Japan, presents a diverse collection of vehicles for 2008. Heading Mazda's line are two souped-up crossover utility vehicles, the five-passenger, turbo-charged CX-7 and the luxurious, seven-passenger CX-9. Sport-tuned vehicles from Mazda include the best-seller MX-5 Miata roadster, the high-tech RX-8 sports coupe and the Mazdaspeed3 turbo-charged sports sedan.

CX-7
Mazda's five-door, five-seat CUV offers sharp styling pattered after the racy RX-8. The CX-7 possesses the spirit of a sports car and divides into three trims with front-wheel-drive (FWD) or all-wheel-drive (AWD) traction. Motivation comes from a turbo-charged, inter-cooled 2.3-liter four-in-line engine spiked to 244 horsepower and tied to a six-speed Sport automatic transmission with manual shift mode. Stock features for the CX-7 range from 18-inch alloy wheels, to window and door power controls, curtain-style air bags, anti-lock brake system (ABS) with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), dynamic stability control (DSC) and traction control system (TCS) with roll-over sensors.

CX-9
This Mazda is a mid-size CUV with a stretched wheelbase and a cabin containing three tiers of seats for up to seven passengers. The powertrain is the new 3.7-liter V6, which works with a six-speed Sport automatic transmission. Like the CX-7, Mazda's larger crossover offers both FWD or AWD traction. The luxurious cabin features top-quality materials and the option for premium gear like a Bose audio system with 10 speakers and a ceiling-mounted DVD entertainment system for backseat riders. Standard safety equipment includes Roll Stability Control (RSC) and curtain-style side air bags. The newest option for 2008 is a blind spot monitoring system (BSMS).

MX-5 / Miata
Mazda's two-seat and open-top roadster is the perennial best-selling sports car. Driving the MX-5 is a strong, 2.0-liter, in-line four-cylinder engine with dual cams and variable intake valve timing. It produces 166 horsepower and combines with three different transmission choices — a five-speed manual, six-speed manual or six-speed Sport automatic with shifter paddles on the steering wheel. The vehicle's convertible top works manually with a single latch handle. Additionally, a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is now standard on all MX-5 trims in 2008.

MX-5 PRHT
This Mazda enhances the year-round comfort and security of the MX-5 Miata by offering a power retractable hard top (PRHT). It's the quickest closing power top in the business, as the push-button conversion from hardtop coupe to airy convertible consumes only 12 seconds. Just touch a toggle switch and watch the roof pleat at two seams and fold in three sections, stacking behind the cockpit in the same area where the soft top stows. Unlike other folding hard tops that tuck into the trunk, Miata's PRHT does not consume any space in the usable trunk.

Mazda5
This multi-activity vehicle, a miniature minivan, features a wedge-shaped body and a cabin large enough for six. There's a broad sliding door on each flank, a low floor deck for easy entry to the rear quarters and a one-touch mechanism for moving second-tier seats and accessing the third row. The powertrain available is Mazda's 2.3-liter, four-cylinder plant for 153 horsepower, working through a five-speed manual transmission or the new five-speed Sport automatic. Mazda5 trims in Sport, Touring and Grand Touring — the latter offers leather-trimmed heated seats, xenon high intensity discharge (HID) headlamps and a security alarm.

RX-8
This high-tech sports car packs a high-revving, rotary engine. The RX-8 acts like a two-door sports coupe, with four-door functionality and seating for four. A twin-rotor engine displaces only 1.3 liters, but creates 232 horsepower with a six-speed manual gearbox or 212 horsepower with a six-speed automatic. Mazda loads the RX-8 with equipment like power windows, cruise control and a six-speaker AM/FM/CD audio kit. The RX-8 Sport trim stocks xenon HID headlights, while the Touring brings a moonroof and Bose audio kit and the Grand Touring adds leather upholstery. A limited-edition 40th Anniversary RX-8 will debuts in 2008, featuring a Metropolitan Gray exterior and Cosmo Red leather interior.

Mazda6
Mazda's sporty mid-size cars comes as the Mazda6 four-door sedan and the Mazda6 5-Door hatchback. Engines include a 2.3-liter, four-cylinder with 160 horsepower or a 3.0-liter V6 with 215 horsepower. Its spacious cabin contains front buckets and a rear bench with split folding seatbacks. Standard safety equipment ranges from ABS and TCS, to front-seat side air bags, to curtain-style air bags for outboard seats. All 2008 Mazda6 models tote a new TPMS, while the Touring trim adds a Bose audio system and the Mazda6i gets 17-inch alloy wheels. The latest paint shades available are Volcanic Red and Silver Metallic.

Mazda3
Compact cars from Mazda look muscular with the promise of spirited performance. The Mazda3 bring optimal space inside a five-seat cabin, along with lively throttle action from a four-cylinder engine. The Mazda3 4-Door is available as a four-door notchback sedan packing a 156-horsepower 2.3-liter engine. The Mazda3 5-Door is a five-door hatchback also using the 2.3-liter plant. Standard equipment on the Mazda3 5-door is a sport package with front and rear fascia, side skirts, 17-inch alloy wheels and foglamps. A TPMS is also stock on all Mazda3 models, while side air bags and curtain-style air curtains go into Sport models.

MazdaSpeed3
Zoom and zip along with the turbo-charged Mazdaspeed3 sports sedan. It features a compact and lightweight body design, with a kicker engine stuffed below the hood. The turbo-charged, inter-cooled 2.3-liter direct-injection four-cylinder plant generates more than 250 horsepower and teams with a six-speed manual transmission. Big-diameter, four-wheel disc brakes work on this sporty car, along with four-wheel ABS, EBD, DSC and 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels. The sport-tuned cockpit carries bolstered bucket seats up front with seat-mounted side air bags and curtain-style air bags tucking into headliners.

Tribute
According to Mazda, this sport utility wagon was raised by a family of sports cars. With its unitized structure, the nimble Tribute rides on a FWD chassis and has independent suspension elements and crisp rack and pinion steering. It's new for 2008 with fresh exterior styling, more on-board electronic safety hardware, and revamped trims of Sport, Touring and Grand Touring. Both FWD or AWD traction are available with powertrain choices of a four-pack or six-pack. Standard equipment across the board ranges from front foglamps and 16-inch alloy wheels, to electronic controls like DSC, TCS and RSC.

B Series Truck
2008 compact trucks from Mazda appear with two cab configurations and powertrain choices. The two-door regular cab works for the B2300 models, and a CabPlus4 with twin rear-hinged back doors applies to all B4000s. The top truck, B4000, with four-wheel-drive (4WD) offers a husky V6 that ripples with 207 horsepower, while the B2300 stocks a 2.3-liter, four-in-line worth 140 horsepower. The special edition Dual Sport carries the raised suspension of a 4WD truck, but in rear-wheel-drive (RWD) format.

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