So after finally hoping on the Facebook-bandwagon, we decided to check up on how Mallory McMorrow’s Mazda3 concept was coming along.

After shaping and molding the clay on the LA show floor for over 10 days, the 2018 Mazda3 was finally displayed. Overall, it’s cues tie in nicely with the “flow” theme crafted by Franz von Holzhausen and his team who helped McMorrow hone her design.

We think it’s a step in the right direction, particularly from an undergrad, and we’re hopeful that the 21-year old industrial design student hits the ground running once she has her degree in hand. Read more »

The Lamborghini Reventón has been named L’Automobile più Bella del Mondo. Translation: The World’s Most Beautiful Automobile.

It earned this honor in the Special Models category of this annual automotive fashion show, recently held for the fifteenth time at the Castello Sforzesco in Milan, Italy.

There are eleven categories in all, though the Special Models category is generally considered to be the big winner. Other cats include your various sizes of sedans, coupes, convertibles, station wagons, crossovers, sports cars and concept cars. Read more »

Here in the States, if you want a people-mover from Mazda, you need to go the crossover route and pick up either the CX-7 or CX-9, or you can go for a compact minivan in the spiffy-looking Mazda5. In Japan, however, the MPV lives on, and it’s a lot nicer than any of the editions we ever had. Today, Mazda announced the availability of — long JDM name alert — the MPV Bright Stylish M’z Custom. Powered by the automaker’s 2.3L four cylinder driving either the front wheels (4-speed auto) or all four wheels (6-speed auto), the new trim level adds some shine in the form of a chromed grille and added brightwork all around, plus some extra skirting for a sportier appearance.

Inside, enhancements include things like extra leather trim, and outside, the car can be finished in either Pearl White Mica or one of two darker shades, including the black (or is it dark gray?) metal flake seen above. Mazda E&T (Engineering and Technology) is behind this creation, and pricing is set at ¥2,870,000 for the 2WD version and ¥3,140,000 for the AWD edition.

[Source: Mazda]

To celebrate the fact that the Mazda MX-5 accounts for a quarter of all new sports car purchases in the United Kingdom, the automaker has unveiled a new special edition paint and trim package dubbed “Icon.” The Icon can be had with either the 1.8L engine mated to a 5-speed manual or the sprightlier 2.0L matched with a six-speed. Naturally, Icon badging will adorn the car’s exterior, which can be coated in a choice of red, white or blue paint — to match the Union Jack, natch. Inside, the Icon logo is embroidered onto the car’s black leather seats and carpeted floormats. Climate control is also included as one of the standard features in the Icon package, which will be limited to 875 1.8L MX-5s and 375 of the 2-liter cars.

Additional details can be found in the press release pasted after the jump.

[Source: Mazda UK] Read more »