Trio of Mazda2 Concepts Including a MazdaSpeed Custom Debut at the 2009 LA Auto Show

Automakers are trying their best to convince American consumers that size doesn't matter and that small cars can be equally fun and adventurous as their larger siblings. Following the example of Ford with the customized 2011 Fiestas, Mazda also displayed a trio of funky concept models based on the new U.S.-spec Mazda2 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Coincidently, the Mazda2 and Fiesta share the same underpinnings.

The most impressive concept version of the Mazda2 is the 2Evil which gives us an idea of what a potential MazdaSpeed2 (MPS in Europe) could look like.

The supermini has been spiced up with a full body kit that includes an aggressive front spoiler, chunky side skirts, a roof spoiler and a rear diffuser that houses the new exhaust tip.

The 2Evil is finished Ceramic Grey metallic with subtle motorsports inspired graphics while wheels, mirrors and other details are accented in Spirited Green.

The MazdaSpeed-prepped hatch rides on 17-inch wheels with 215/45/17 Yokahama Advan tires while the lowered coil-over suspension by H&R and the Magna performance exhaust complete the package.

The other two concept models are the Active2 Surf and Active2 Snow. Both variants feature 17-inch alloy wheels with 215/45/17 Yokahama Tires, a H&R coil over suspension, special graphics and a Thule roof rack system.

2011 Mazda2 with New Smiley Fascia Breaks Cover at Los Angeles Show

Two years after its debut and market launch in Europe, Japan and Australia, the now not-so new Mazda2 has finally made its way to the USA. The North American-spec version of the Mazda2 features some mild styling tweaks that include a reprofiled front bumper that now houses Mazda's trademark 'smiley' lower grille and slightly different tail lamps.

Notably, the front-wheel drive hatchback shares the same vehicle platform as the 2011 Ford Fiesta that also made its premiere at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show.

In the U.S., the new Mazda supermini will be offered with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine.

The Mazda2 will be positioned below the Mazda3 and its competition will include the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Chevy Aveo and of course, the Fiesta.

It will launch into the North American market in late summer, 2010, with more details and pricing to be released at a later date.

Mazda to Participate in Electric Vehicle Test in Japan with the Mazda2 / Demios

Mazda has announced that it will take part in a joint project to test electric vehicles in Japan, by providing three Mazda2 / Demio superminis to be converted into EVs and will also assist in determining the vehicle specifications and evaluating the car's performance. Among the companies participating in the project, which will be lead by the Itochu Corporation, are Norway's Th!nk, Seiko and Nippon Car Solutions.

The Tsukuba Environmental Style Test Project is scheduled to commence in March 2010 in Tsukuba city, near Tokyo.

The Japanese automaker said that through its participation in the EV project, it aims to further strengthen the base of its future R&D activities in the development of its electric drive technologies.

Participating organizations

Project leader

Itochu Corporation

List of collaborating companies and roles & responsibilities

Family Mart	Provide sites for the project at convenience stores
Itochu Enex	Provide sites for the project at service stations
Tokyo R&D	Electric vehicle-related
Th!nk (Norway)	Electric vehicle-related
Kyuki	Supply rapid chargers
EnerDel Inc. (US)	Supply vehicle batteries and fixed batteries
Seiko Electric	Fixed battery system integration
Itochu Techno-Solutions	Supply ICT technology, data center
Windcar	Car sharing service operation
Century Tokyo Leasing Corporation	Car sharing-related
Nippon Car Solutions Co.	Car sharing-related
Ecosystem Japan	Supply solar panel systems
Mazda Motor Corporation	Electric vehicle-related (provide Mazda Demio vehicles)

Advisory Committee

Tsukuba City

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)

Japan Automobile Research Institute (JARI)

The Japan Research Institute, Limited

North American Mazda2 to Premiere at LA Auto Show, Sales Start in 2010

The Ford Fiesta's Japanese cousin, the Mazda2, will make its debut on this side of the Atlantic at the Los Angeles Auto Show in early December, the company announced today. Mazda said that the North American-spec hatchback will go on sale in the USA and Canada beginning in late 2010.

The Japanese firm has not disclosed any specific details or photos for that matter, but we suspect that the NA version of the Mazda2 will benefit from the same subtle cosmetic tweaks, chiefly up front, as the Thailand version of the subcompact hatch featured in the opening picture.

"Bringing Mazda2 to North America completes the bookends in our line-up," said Jim O'Sullivan, President and CEO, Mazda North American Operations. "The Mazda2 will be true to everything that makes our cars stand apart from the competition: it will be stylish, fun-to-drive and a heck of a value.In short, it will be the definition of Zoom-Zoom."

Mazda Raffles Off Mazda2, Mazda3 and MX-5 in Doodle Design

Let me guess; some of you are wondering what the heck is "doodle design"? Well, simply put, it's the sort of unfocused and usually random sketches you've all drawn at some point in your life on schoolbooks and quite possibly in your later years, on notepads during work meetings maybe even throughout some horrifically boring speech at an automotive press event... But what has doodle-design got to do with these one-off Mazda models?

Well, as part of its sponsorship of the "O2 World Tour" event held in Hamburg, Germany, the Japanese firm raffled off a Mazda2, Mazda3 and an MX-5 / Miata Roadster, all of which featured the same drawings from doodle-design artist, Carl Heinz Daxl.

We can't but wonder how long will it take for the three owners of the cars to remove the 'doodly' finish...

"Smiley" Facelift for 2010 Mazda2 Supermini?

Today Mazda came out with an official release announcing that it has commenced production of the Mazda2 supermini -known as Demio in Japan- at its new plant in Thailand. But that's not what caught our interest. Along with the press release, the Japanese automaker published three photos of the Mazda2 showcasing the Ford Fiesta-sized hatchback with a new nose treatment.

More specifically, the Mazda2 shown here features a redesigned front bumper that incorporates much larger, vertical side air-inlets and a five-point lower grille that seems to be smiling at you and which has been employed on several facelifted or new Mazda models including the RX-8, the MX-5 / Miata Roadster, the Mazda 3 and the CX-7 Crossover.

Also, the upper front grille that houses the firm's logo is new and now features a beefy horizontal bar.

There is a possibility that this may be a special version offered in Thailand, but chances are that Japanese maker has subtly refreshed the "2" bringing it inline with the rest of the Mazda family.

2010 MAZDA2 FACELIFT (?)

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2009 MAZDA2