Mazda Leasing News

Mazda Economy Surprises Established Players

2006-10-10T17:13:00.000+01:00

Responding to critics of models with lower Official Combined government fuel economy figures, Mazda Motors UK entered two of its sportiest models in the 2006 Fleet World/AA/ALD Automotive MPG Marathon held on 4-5 October in the south-west of England. The Mazda 6 MPS sports saloon returned an impressive 32.45 per cent increase in its economy figure, enough to earn it second place overall (beaten only by a diesel model) and Best in Class. Meanwhile, the rotary-engined Mazda RX-8 sports coupe achieved an outstanding 17.32 per cent increase.

Driven by freelance motoring journalist, Iain Robertson, and navigated by Jerry Ramsdale, the class-winning Mazda 6 MPS team built on their efforts of 2003, when Mazda entered a 2.0‑litre version of its new Mazda 6 model and lifted the ‘Up-to-2-litre Class’ honours and a fine third place overall.

Mr Robertson commented, “Although my confidence in the Mazda 6 was total, I knew we would have a major task with the Mazda 6 MPS. After all, it has a 2.3-litre engine that is turbocharged and drives all four wheels. These are not usually good constituents for a beneficial economy recipe!”

Starting at event sponsor ALD’s Bristol HQ and tackling a route that encompassed motorway, A- and B-roads, up hill and down dale, through town centres and villages, both Mazda team entries realised that the maximum effort would be needed to extract the most realistic fuel economy from the cars. Sue Cooke and Carmel Stewart, both freelance motoring journalists, manned the Mazda RX-8.

Mrs Cooke commented: “We appreciated that we were starting as outsiders in this competition, as the rotary engine, renowned for its minimal moving parts and efficient power output, is aimed at the sportiest end of the new car scene.”

Yet, both cars arrived at the Newquay overnight halt, some 200 miles later, showing three-quarters of a tank remaining on their respective fuel gauges. Mrs Stewart added: “Nobody expected our Mazda RX-8 to have fuel remaining at the halfway point! We were most happy with our progress.”

Mr Robertson was equally enthusiastic about the Mazda 6 MPS and added, “High performance car engines are not renowned for immense torque outputs, but we have both been tackling surprisingly steep hills in fifth and even sixth gear, without taxing the cars at all.

“A key to achieving good fuel economy is slotting into the highest gear ratio as rapidly as possible, while only using a whisker of throttle depression. Downhill stretches can be exciting, remaining in top gear but applying neither brakes nor accelerator for the best fuel returns. This method relies on the automatic over-run fuel cut-off devices fitted to most modern engines. With coasting and switching-off the ignition not being allowed on this public road event, for health and safety reasons, the results are all the more astonishing,” concluded Mr Robertson.

“The sting-in-the-tail of this year’s MPG Marathon lay in the long climb up to the top of Bodmin Moor,” commented Mr Ramsdale. “You could almost watch the fuel gauge slipping towards half-empty on this stage. Everything is uphill from Newquay!”

Upon arrival at Bristol and the conclusion of this year’s near-400 miles event, hopes were high for a good result with both cars. The judging was based on both the outright fuel consumption achieved, as well as the percentage improvement obtained over the Official Combined government figures. Therefore, the 36.69 mpg of the Mazda 6 MPS was enough to award it the runner-up slot (to a diesel-powered Toyota Avensis 2.2 D-4D) and Best in the ‘Over-2-litre’ Petrol Class, while the 29.56 mpg of the Mazda RX-8 was enough to beat a Nissan Murano, VW Touareg TDi and, in percentage increase terms, even a Peugeot 207 diesel, Cadillac BLS diesel and two Jaguars.

The £23,995 Mazda 6 MPS is a high-torque sports saloon developing 260 ps, with a top speed of almost 150 mph and 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds. Its Official Combined fuel figure is 27.7 mpg. Priced at £22,900, the high-powered Mazda RX-8 features a 231 ps twin-rotor engine and is capable of topping 145 mph and reaching 0-60mph in 6.4 seconds, with an Official Combined fuel figure of 25.2 mpg.

Mazda 3 MPS Due In UK October

2006-09-19T09:38:00.000+01:00

Mazda Performance Series (MPS) expands to two models in October
With 260 PS, Mazda3 MPS one of the world’s most powerful front-wheel drive production cars

The sophisticated, high-performance Mazda 6 MPS, which has been roaring over European roads for several months now, is about to get a little brother. The all-new Mazda 3 MPS is the youngest member of the MPS family of flagship models, and is endowed from birth with athleticism, speed and cultivation. Delivery is expected in October.

The Mazda 6 MPS founded the family of high-performance models earlier this year. It delivers cultivated power, superior handling and sophisticated good looks – with goose bump guarantee included. Now the family is expecting its first wild child, the Mazda3 MPS, all-new flagship model of the Mazda3 model range. It shares the same genes as the MPS family: strong yet stylish on the outside, sporty and refined on the inside, the same powerful MZR 2.3L DISI Turbo petrol with intercooler under the bonnet, good fuel consumption and upgraded suspension and brakes.

Read more...

Mazda Release 3 New Special Editions

2006-08-30T16:21:00.000+01:00

Mazda UK are offering customers special editions of the Mazda 3, Mazda 5 and Mazda 6 with extra specification as standard, from styling enhancements and added accessories to touch screen satellite navigation and cash savings.

Badged as the Katano (Mazda 3 & 6) & Furano (Mazda 5), the special editions offer families even greater affordable family motoring this autumn, as well as price advantages over equivalent standard models.

There are no plans to offer these vehicles on Contract Hire, as production is strictly limited, but Mazda have introduced the Special Edition Sakata 3 & 6 models on to their Contract Hire plans.

Starting from only £159* per month for the Mazda 3 Sakata and £169* per month, these 'Special Editions' represent outstanding value for money.

Mazda Expands Fleet Team To Meet Increasing Demand

2006-08-17T15:46:00.000+01:00

Mazda UK has appointed Terry Swanton as national corporate sales manager and recruited an additional contract hire manager, fleet co-ordinator and fleet operations manager to cope with increased fleet demand.

Mr Swanton (pictured), who took up his post on 1 July, has been employed by Mazda for eight years and for the past two years has been regional business manager. Prior to joining Mazda he spent two years as after sales director at a Honda dealership and a decade with Honda UK. He will manage the current team of corporate sales managers as well as forge closer relationships with Mazda's Fleet Specialist Dealer network helping them to target companies in their local areas in pursuit of increased business.

Mr Swanton said: “We want to more closely integrate the head office fleet team with our specialist dealers to leverage more business. Additionally, a larger team of corporate regional sales managers will enable Mazda to further improve relationships with existing customers and develop new business opportunities.

“We are encouraging our dealers to ‘woo’ their local businesses to sample the Mazda experience. Once companies have done that we believe dealers will also handle vehicle service, maintenance and repair and ultimately replacement models. It is all about providing dealers with new business opportunities and additional revenue streams. We want to focus dealers on end-user business and encourage them to work as locally as possible.

“By defining the fleet opportunity offered by Mazda to more dealers we can help them increase showroom traffic. That will then, naturally, result in more workshop and aftersales opportunities.”

Newly appointed Mazda fleet co-ordinator is Richard Whittam, who is the administrative and information-providing interface between the regional corporate sales managers, Mazda dealers and contract hire companies.

Mazda Opens New Corporate Support Centre

2006-08-17T15:45:00.000+01:00

Mazda UK has opened its own Corporate Support Centre (CSC) and expanded its corporate sales team under the leadership of fleet and remarketing director Adam Pumfrey to meet increasing demand from business users.

The Twickenham-based Mazda Corporate Sales Support Centre, which opened on July 1, replaces the Mazda Business Centre.

The Mazda Business Centre opened four years ago and has played a crucial role as the brand’s fleet sales have increased from around 3,000 units in 2002 to over 18,000 fleet units this year out of a total volume of around 50,000 registrations. Last year sold a total of 45,706 vehicles in the UK of which 15,998 vehicles went to fleets.

The new Corporate Support Centre will provide an enhanced one-stop service to fleet operators, contract hire and leasing companies as well as Mazda franchised dealers and the Mazda corporate sales team.

Mr Pumfrey explained: “The new Centre will give us everything we had before and more. The new sophisticated online services will allow company car drivers to interact closer than ever before with Mazda and advise us of their requirements.”

“Existing customers require ongoing service and support and that is what the CSC provides as it is staffed by a Mazda dedicated team of fleet professionals.”

Typically telephone and email inquiries will range from scheduling and booking Mazda demonstrators for both existing clients and prospects to supplying vehicle wholelife cost figures, product information and dispensing benefit-in-kind tax data to handling event invitations to fleet operators.

Mazda’s new Siebel database now enables the brand to offer services on a pan-European basis and, within the next 12 months, an online relationship tool will be launched that will enable interaction directly with drivers as well as fleet operators. Additionally, customers and prospects will be able to check demonstrator availability and book vehicles online.

Mr Pumfrey said: “The technological advancements take Mazda significantly forward such as wireless access 24/7 for the Regional Fleet Sales Managers allowing them to be in contact with customers anytime. Mazda has already been tremendously successful in fleet, but to further expand it is vital that fleet operators and company car drivers have all the information at their disposal to make informed decisions on the Mazda range.

“To be successful in fleet a manufacturer has to deliver excellent service. As business increases and Mazda’s corporate sales team expands the CSC has been developed to meet anticipated demand. It is a vital cog in our fleet business machine."