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Mazda Philippines’s sprawling and intimidating 1,000 square-meter space at the Manila International Auto Show is a strong show of force and for very good reason. Just last year, Mazda achieved a milestone with overall sales almost doubling that of 2013. The end tally shows them selling more than 3,200 units overtaking Subaru in the process. Of course, the giant showcase isn’t just for celebration. They’ve used the occasion to strategically launch 13 all-new or significantly updated new models for 2015. In short, if you’re buying a car that’s not a Mazda, you better hold off that purchase.
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Photos by Ulysses Ang and Mazda Press

Fresh from winning the Japan Car of the Year 2014-2015 award, the Mazda2 gains a new sedan form which debuts at the 31st Thailand Motor Expo 2014. The all-new sedan variant joins the hatchback in offering the most up-to-date Skyactiv technology in the Mazda line-up. In Thailand, the Mazda2 also brandishes a 1.5-liter Skyactiv-D clean diesel (Euro 5) engine good for a healthy 105 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 250 Nm of torque from 1,500 rpm. It makes the all-new Mazda2 sedan the first vehicle to quality for Phase II of Thailand’s Eco Car program. It easily exceeds the requirements of doing 23.2 km/L and CO2 emissions not above 100g/km.
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Photos by Ulysses Ang and Mazda Press

“Race on Sunday, sell on Monday”—that’s the line used by car manufacturers when asked why they delve into motorsports. The technology developed on the track (not to mention, the resulting marketing and publicity it generates) is beneficial in making their road cars better. That’s exactly what Mazda Philippines is hoping for as they officially enter the 2015 Philippine GT and Philippine Touring Car Championship (PTCC) by providing factory support to division titlist Edwin Rodriguez for the season.
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Mazda Philippines is pulling out all the stops to bring back the fun in driving and they’re using the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) as their venue. The Japanese brand, best known for ‘zoom-zoom’, ‘KODO’, and of course, ‘Skyactiv’ will have the biggest footprint among exhibitors at the World Trade Center, measuring at 1,000 square-meters. And it won’t just be the case of making things roomy for show goers. Mazda says they will bring in 13 all-new or improved models at the show. Yes, you read that right. Thirteen all-new or improved models for 2015.
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Photos by Ulysses Ang

No matter how you look at it, the subcompact segment is a competitive one. Before, it was all about getting to Point A to Point B in the simplest, most no-frills way possible. It was entry-level motoring at its finest or at its worst. Today though, things are pretty different. Buyers are getting picky. They demand style, handling, and fuel economy—in other words, they want everything. And they’re not willing to pay a pretty penny for them too. It’s got to be affordable as well. Such is the world car manufacturers find themselves in; such is the world the Mazda2 has to fight in.
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