mazda

Cars, confidence fill Geneva

The Geneva auto show is filled with signs that the industry turnaround under way in North America has reached Europe.

Automakers are bouncing back from the downturn of the past two years with a number of production vehicles and concepts in Geneva.

Volkswagen Group, helped by its new subsidiary Italdesign Giugiaro, will unveil an array of concept cars to show the industry it has the design depth, as well as the production capability and the financial strength, to topple Toyota as the world's No. 1 automaker.

BMW will debut the Vision ConnectedDrive, a futuristic roadster concept that shows how … Read more

2012 Mazda3 debuts efficient Skyactiv drivetrain

As with the recently revealed 2012 Honda Civic, you'll have to look closely to see the changes to the 2012 Mazda Mazda3's front and rear ends. However, also as with the Civic, a peek under the hood reveals a number of pretty big changes. At the core of this list of changes are Mazda's new Skyactiv-G engine and Skyactiv-Drive automatic transmission, new technologies intended to increase fuel economy.

Specs are still sparse, as Mazda is keeping most of its cards close to the vest until the next Mazda3 makes its bow at the 2011 Canadian International AutoShow. … Read more

Full steam ahead for record-challenging streamliner

Steam-powered engines have been around for about 300 years, but they've never been known for amazing speeds. Now, a company in Florida and a streamliner designer from Tennessee are building a steam-powered streamliner vehicle.

Cyclone Power Technologies today announced it is working to "complete installation of the engine, gearbox, and fiberglass body" of the Cyclone-Williams LSR streamliner--a steam-powered car that could set a new land speed record.

More traditional land speed record-breaking streamliner vehicles, such as Poteet & Main's Speed Demon, can reach speeds of more than 450 mph, with 1045 hp and 672 pound-feet of … Read more

Electric cars you can buy, soon

The time for talk is over; electric cars are hitting the streets. Over the next few years, at least 14 electric car models are slated for mass production. Although Tesla took an early lead with its Roadster in 2008, the risky move by Nissan to put the Leaf on sale late last year appears to have opened the flood gates. Now, names such as Ford, Honda, and Toyota are ready to join the fray.

Many of the electric cars hitting the road in the next couple of years will first find their ways into testing programs, leased to utilities and … Read more

Mazda reboots itself at Geneva with Minagi concept

After being cut loose from Ford, Mazda seemed to lack direction, but its new Minagi concept showcases a rethought design language along with a line of fuel-efficient technologies. The Minagi concept will be unveiled at the Geneva auto show in March.

Mazda spent most of the last decade showing concepts that embodied its Nagare design language, which featured organically contoured lines. Nagare began to see some slight realization in the Mazda3 and Mazda5.

But with a new chief designer in charge, Mazda junked Nagare for Kodo, first seen when the Shinari concept was unveiled in Paris last year. Mazda describes … Read more

2010 Car Tech awards: And the winner is...

CNET Tech Car of the Year for 2010

2011 Nissan Leaf

Earlier this month we invited you to vote for the 2010 Tech Car of the Year from our five nominees. This year proved an upset, though, as our staff judges came down on the side of the 2011 Nissan Leaf, these votes overruling the general support for the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid and the Audi A8. The MKZ Hybrid is an excellent car, although its very close relative, the Ford Fusion Hybrid, won last year's award. Audi came out this year with a phenomenal flagship sedan in the new … Read more

After much hype (and 1 van), Mazda rethinks design plan

After four years of hyping its curvy, fluid Nagare styling philosophy--but developing only one production vehicle with the look--Mazda has changed design course.

Now the Japanese carmaker wants to go with a simpler, more upscale style. So the design language seen in the Shinari concept car being unveiled at the Los Angeles auto show this week represents Mazda's future.

The Shinari look will begin to appear on production vehicles within two years, says Derek Jenkins, design director for Mazda North American Operations.

What happened to Nagare? It went out with global design director Laurens Van den Acker, who developed … Read more

5 car video game crossovers we want to see

In light of the Jeep Wrangler making an appearance in the new Call of Duty: Black Ops, and the associated Wrangler Black Ops edition offered by Jeep, we came up with five other video game car crossovers we would like to see. We looked at the top games either available now or coming soon on GameSpot, and picked five likely candidates for a crossover deal.

Game Car Fallout: New Vegas Ford Shelby GT500 If we're roaming the post-apocalyptic wastelands around New Vegas, we want to do it Mad Max-style. The Shelby GT500 has the mean looks and … Read more

Mazda2 keeps it too simple

Something about a small car with a manual transmission brings out the 16-year-old in us. With the Mazda2, we constantly wound up the engine, letting the revs fly before jamming it into the next gear, throwing it around like a toy. With its 100 horsepower, we couldn't get in too much trouble.

Although fun for its simplicity, the car was missing something, namely anything at all resembling tech in the cabin. With its low price point it may be positioned for younger buyers, but the lack of an iPod connection or any kind of Bluetooth will disappoint. Besides a … Read more

Car Tech Live 192: It's all about swagger

We look at a real swagger wagon from Toyota, find some cool-looking Honda hybrids, sit in a new supercar from McLaren, and drive the lowest tech car we've seen this year.

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 192 SHOW NOTES

• SEMA 2010

• Toyota debuts Swagger Wagon Supreme

• Honda CR-Z concepts and special editions

• Sneak peek: McLaren's most lust-worthy supercar

• Aston Martin transponder watch