Posts tagged Morrie’s Mazda
It’s official! Production of the much-anticipated two thousand sixteen Mazda MX-5 Miata has begun! The very first few examples of the all-new roadster spinned off the assembly line this week in Japan and we couldn’t be more excited here at Morrie’s. Sadly, the initial batch will remain in Japan, however, subsequent units will begin to proliferate to markets around the world, including the US, and eventually Minneapolis. We’ll be sure to keep you up to date on the latest arrival estimates in the near future.
If you’ve already determined you just have to have this little beauty, we’re presently taking deposits. If you’d like to secure one of your own simply contact any one of our three Mazda locations for details. For a list of our locations click here.
For utter details check out Mazda official press release below.
Photos courtesy of AutoBlog.com
Mazda Starts Production of All-new Mazda MX-5
HIROSHIMA, Japan-Mazda Motor Corporation today began production of the all-new Mazda MX-5 two-seater lightweight sports car (known as Mazda Roadster in Japan) at Ujina Plant No.1 in Hiroshima. The very first models produced are destined for the Japanese market. Sales of the all-new MX-5 will begin in Japan around June this year and interested buyers can make an appointment for pre-sale discussions through a dedicated website from noon on Friday, March 20. Following sales begin in Japan, the MX-5 will be progressively flipped out to overseas markets.
The MX-5 is an iconic model indicating Mazda’s vehicle engineering philosophy: the pursuit of driving pleasure. With production exceeding 950,000 units as of the end of January 2015, the MX-5 resumes to hold the Guinness World Record for the world’s best-selling two-seater sports car.
In order to react to ever enlargening requests for safety features and environmental spectacle while maintaining the element of joy that has always defined the model, development of the fourth generation MX-5 was carried out under the motto “innovate in order to preserve”. In addition to incorporating SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY and KODO-Soul of Mobility design, development focused on enhancing the senses and sensations through which people love cars.
Moving forward, Mazda will proceed to enrich the lives of its customers through a multitude of touch points including the production of high-quality vehicles, and become a brand that maintains a special bond with its customers.
Morrie’s Mazda2 B-Spec Racer Takes on Road America – Day Two
As noted in our last post, the Morrie’s Mazda2 B-Spec racer took on the competition this past weekend for the Pirelli World Challenge Grand Prix at Road America. The results are in for race two and Michael brought home a fifth in class finish to accompany his fourth place finish in class earlier in the day. You can catch all the act from flag to flag below.
Michael poses before the race with his flag dame, and wifey, Angie
Michael gets a photo op with Bentley driver Butch Leitzinger
This is not your everyday Bentley Continental GT
This Bentley eschews the rich luxurious interior for a more spartan utilitarian cockpit
Morrie’s Mazda2 B-Spec Racer Takes on Road America – Day 1
If you’re not familiar, we built a Mazda2 B-Spec race car a year or so ago for a good customer to rival in the Pirelli World Challenge Series as well as other races. This week the team kicked off the very first race weekend of the season at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
Our own Michael Ashby, Service Manager at Morrie’s Luxury Auto, is trading off behind the wheel and they very first hit the track yesterday. This morning the very first race kicked off and Michael Ashby brought home a strong 4th place finish in class. Results aren’t in for the 2nd race of the day, but rest assured we’ll let you know soon.
Love a few day one pictures and be sure to check back for day two pictures, an overview of the Bentley GT3 effort taking to the track there, as well as a more comprehensive race recap.
Morrie’s Inver Grove Mazda will buy you lunch this Saturday
Morrie’s Inver Grove Mazda officially opens on July 1, but in advance of our opening we want to get people out to the fresh store. More importantly we would like to buy you lunch. This Saturday from 11am to 2pm if you drop by the store and let us appraise your car we’ll buy you lunch. But wait, this is not just any lunch, we’ll buy you lunch from the two thousand fourteen Burger Battle Winner, B52 Burgers. That’s right, the B52 Slider Squad will be on site with their food truck grilling up burgers. We hope to see you Saturday!
What: Morrie’s Inver Grove Mazda will buy you lunch from the B52 Slider Squad if you simply let us appraise your car
When: Saturday, June 21, two thousand fourteen –11am to 2pm
Why: Because everyone likes a good burger
Where: ten Mendota Rd E., Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077
Spy Shots of Fresh Mazda2 as it Nears Closer to Production
This past March Mazda unveiled the Hazumi concept car, which signaled the design direction of the next generation Mazda2.
Photo Credit: MotorAuthority. Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1090682_next-gen-mazda-2-previewing-hazumi-concept-live-from-genevashots
It’s now clear that the car is moving closer to reality since a camoflaged version was spotted testing in central Europe earlier this week. Despite the attempts to hide the cars form, it is clear that the production car will mimic the concept closely.
Photo Credit: MotorAuthority. Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1024958_2016-mazda-2-spy-shots
As we would expect, the 20-inch wheels from the concept will not carry over. Instead, it is likely that the car will get sixteen inch wheels standard as shown in the spy shot. The intricate mirrors from the concept will also get substituted in favor of more production friendly units. We expect the fresh Mazda2 to get the utter Skactiv treatment including lightweight construction and very efficient engines. Albeit Europe will get an uber efficient 1.Five liter Skactiv diesel, we expect to see 1.Five liter gasoline engine in the states. The engine is expected to supply right around right around one hundred horsepower and will be coupled to a six-speed manual. Engine stop-start technology will be employed to maximize efficiency as well as Mazda’s i-ELOOP hybrid technology.
The production Mazda2 will be exposed later this year at the Paris Auto Showcase, albeit we don’t expect the car to hit our shores until next summer.
Photo Credit: MotorAuthority. Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1024958_2016-mazda-2-spy-shots Photo Credit: MotorAuthority. Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1024958_2016-mazda-2-spy-shots Photo Credit: MotorAuthority. Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1024958_2016-mazda-2-spy-shots Photo Credit: MotorAuthority. Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1024958_2016-mazda-2-spy-shots
Photo Credit: MotorAuthority. Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1024958_2016-mazda-2-spy-shots Photo Credit: MotorAuthority. Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1024958_2016-mazda-2-spy-shots Photo Credit: MotorAuthority. Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1024958_2016-mazda-2-spy-shots
Test Drive: two thousand fourteen Mazda3 s-Grand Touring
After spending some time in the two thousand fourteen Mazda3, I have to say that I’m affected. I drove the 5-Door Hatchback fitted with the Grand Touring Package. I’m a busy stud and hauling gear is the story of my life. Being a musician and a videographer I have guitars, amps, pedal bags, cameras, tripods, etc. with me at all times and making the weekly trek to band practice or a movie shoot can be a cumbersome task. Not with the Mazda3. It’s one of the most versatile vehicles I’ve been in to date. The 5-Door Hatch has tons of room. My weekly drudge of hauling gear went from being a chore to being joy as soon as the back seats folded down and provided a hefty landscape to play gear “Tetris” with.
Aesthetically speaking, the Mazda3 looks like a sports car should. Sleek definition lines and a lower profile make anything else in class look lack luster. Just looking at the exterior makes you want to drive it. And speaking of the rail and drive, the three is a blast to drive. The s-Touring has a Two.Five Liter 4-Cylinder with acceleration that thrusts you into the seat. Every ounce of the one hundred eighty four Horsepower under the spandex hood is utilized and sounds more like a intense hitting V-6 than a 4-Cylinder. I have to admit I was skeptical of the fuel economy ratings, thirty City and forty one Highway, but after a week in the car I was amazed. Inbetween stop and go traffic to and from work and some highway driving to the recording studio, I averaged thirty eight MPG and I’m not light on the pedal.
The interior is just as stylish as the exterior yet comfy and sporty. The infotainment system, gauge cluster, and interior amenities are ordinary and look good. Mazda has mastered the less is more treatment with interior design and it truly shines in the Three. That’s not to say there isn’t a explosion of technology and features especially with the fully loaded Grand Touring Package, it just so effortless to use that it almost seems natural. There’s also a HUD (Goes Up Display) that pops up when you commence the vehicle and it’s placed right above your steering wheel. It shows your MPH as well as cruise control speed and adaptive cruise control distance. It’s pretty cool and a way better solution that projecting it onto the windshield. I don’t like to be reliant on blind spot monitoring or adaptive cruise control but the systems in the Mazda3 are fluent. I found myself appreciating them by the end of the week and didn’t find them to be an annoyance as some systems can be in other vehicles. Did I mention the seats? The Grand Touring Package had convenient leather seats that indeed hug you. The interior was covered in soft touch leather and materials and looks as nice as it feels.
With slew of packaging options, astounding fuel economy, and a 5-Door Hatchback or 4-Door Sedan, the Mazda3 is certainly a car for anyone looking for a sporty and versatile rail. Driver enthusiasts will find slew to appreciate about this hot hatch as well.
Successful Weekend for Mazda at Road America
This past weekend Road America hosted both the Grand Am series and American Le Stud’s for a sports car dual header weekend. Arguably the best race course in North America, Road America was the flawless backdrop for these races. The weekend proved that even a bout of rain showers couldn’t keep the fans and participants alike from having a good time.
As a long time Mazda dealer it was fine to see Mazda running in not one, but both series. On Saturday afternoon the Grand Am sports cars and Daytona prototypes took the green flag for a two hour and forty five minutes race. No stranger to Grand Am racing, Mazda committed to running the season with their Skyactiv-D Mazda6s. A very first for the series, Mazda’s diesel race car achieved it’s very first win earlier this year and the two car effort came to Road America hunting for another win.
Many manufacturers view the race track as the flawless proving ground for street car innovation. Mazda is a hefty proponent of this view. John M. Doonan, Director of Mazda Motorsports, said of the racecar, “We’ve always said that the best street cars make the best racecars, and, with more than half of the components in the race engine being collective with the street engine, this program is a solid proof-point.”
Whereas car races are typically characterize by a cacophony of V8 roars and screaming six cylinders, the Skyactiv-D Mazdas made nary a noise. With each passing lap all you heard was a rush of air from the turbo diesel, an occasional tire squeal and wind sliding over the cars sleek assets. While the race was not trouble free for either team, SpeedSource’s VisitFlorida-backed Mazda6 of Joel Miller and Tristan Nunez came out on top in GX. In doing so they inched out the number thirty eight Porsche of Spencer Pumpelly, marking the classes closes finish in history.