Mazda Expands Electric with Hybrid CX-50 and CX-5

Hey there Mazda fans 👋

Welcome back to the Classic Mazda newsletter. Catch up on past issues at news.classicmazda.com.

Here’s what we’ve got for you this month:

• Hybrid CX-50??

• The Next Mazda 6 is an EV

• Meet the Father of the Miata

• MX-5 Cup Round 5 & 6 at Laguna Seca

Expanding Electrification : Hybrid CX-50 and CX-5

Mazda sneakily announced in their latest first-quarter financial report that more electrified Mazda’s would be joining the CX-90. They really thought we wouldn’t find this information and tell all of you… here’s the SparkNotes version.

• Mazda plans to introduce the CX-50 hybrid model in North America in the second half of this year.

• The next CX-5 will feature Mazda’s original hybrid system combined with the enhanced SKYACTIV engine

Mazda 6… EV?? Only in China

We’ve predicted a potentially electrified return of the Mazda6 in previous newsletters, although we didn’t think we’d see something so soon.

The Mazda EZ-6 was unveiled at Auto China 2024 as the first of a series of new electric vehicles for the Chinese market. The EZ-6 is set to launch in China by the end of 2024, with two available powertrain versions.

• BEV (battery electric vehicle)

• PHEV (plug-in hybrid electrified vehicle)

Also unveiled at Auto China was the Arata concept. The Arata is a crossover SUV scheduled to be mass-produced by the end of 2025 and introduced in the Chinese market as the second new electrified vehicle.

So it seems like Mazda is hitting the ground running on the electric front. Only time will tell if these electric cars and concepts will expand out of China and into our backyard. What do you think?

Meet Bob Hall, the “Father of the Miata”

Ever wonder what brain the Mazda Miata came from? Allow us to introduce you to Bob Hall, American auto-journalist and “Father of the Miata”

After studying abroad in Japan and developing an affliction for the language and culture, Bob Hall became the most qualified auto-journalist for the Japanese-car-beat, bringing him closer to auto executives in Japan.

Meanwhile, he had an idea for a low-cost front engine rear drive convertible, and he shared that “pencil scribble idea” in a meeting with Kenichi Yamamoto.

Fast forward two years, he’s hired by Mazda. They put the auto-journalist in the design department in California.

He was working on an assigned b-series pick-up truck when Mr. Yamamoto reminded him of that pencil-drawing sports car idea. Later his boss happily supported Hall working on the Miata (but only before 8:30am, and after 5:30pm).

Bob went in to work at 6am for the next 7 years, and brought the Miata to life.

So the American auto-journalist’s pencil sketch idea became the sports car we know and love today; granting him the nickname “the Father of the Miata”. Turns out he actually despises that name… I wonder if he prefers “Daddy Miata” instead?

Daddy Miata (hm, not sure how I even feel about it) recently reacted to some viral Miata moments with Donut. From off-road modifications, to car-wash disasters, Bob Hall adds his humorous flare and insight, check it out!

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MX-5 Cup - Laguna Seca Corkscrew

Rounds 5 & 6 of the MX-5 Cup took place this last weekend in Monterey, California. The infamous Laguna Seca course made for some eventful racing, and the drivers played a role too.

The WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca track is 11 turns, 2.238 miles, and newly-repaved. Turns 8 and 8A, more famously known as “The Corkscrew”, is a hard-left, hard-right turn with a significant elevation drop of 5.5 stories heading into a 10 story drop into Turn 9.

Aaron Jeansonne set a new qualifying record, which was previously held by Selin Rollan. The Classic Mazda vet Rollan did not compete in these rounds, as he was piloting a commercial aircraft. Connor Zilisch was also absent, as he was finishing podium in the ARCA Menards Series Music City 150 in Nashville (of course he was).

Round Five featured a one-lap dash to the finish, with reigning series champion Jared Thomas taking his first victory of the year over Aaron Jeansonne and Nathan Nicholson by 0.079 seconds.

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BSI Racing’s Heather Hadley got herself a Top Finishing Female award and $2,000 check with a P12 finish in Round 5 🏆💰.

Round 6 was redemptive for Aaron Jeansonne, leading all but one lap of the race, and finishing in first ahead of Nathan Nicholson and Jeremy Fletcher. With the win, bonus points for two pole positions, and his amount of laps led, Jeansonne now leads the championship points.

Rounds 7 & 8 are just around the corner on June 7th-9th in Lexington, Ohio.

• Virginia Man 3D Prints Wide-Body For His Miata

• Mazda Elevates Customer Experience With 300 Open Concept Dealerships

• 5/18 Cars & Coffee Orlando

• 5/19 Supercar Sundays

• 5/25 Gateway Caffeine & Chrome - Orlando

• 6/02 Cars and Coffee Central Florida

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