That’s about what I figured.  About CX-30 (Mazda 3) sized.

I’ll take that to mean “steadfast and reliable but not going anywhere.”

We know both sides of the argument and there’s no new solutions.

How about that red line, eh?

So are we getting the “Large Architecture” or 6-Cyl Skyactiv-X at this show too, or is this all the news for Mazda from Tokyo?

Looks like building a Locost just got easier.

Hot, uncommon take: If BMW builds this car for $33k then we have the “Mazdaspeed 3" that Mazda won’t build. A 230hp 2.0L Turbo is exactly what SHOULD be in the top-trim 3. It’s got a nice interior and AWD.

Then I've mixed something up and am off base somewhere.  My apologies.

So, my understanding of the XV (as of what, 3 years ago when it launched) was that it was fundamentally an Impreza with longer struts and stiffer springs (and maybe stiffer sways).  The arms, uprights, and links were all carry-over from the standard Impreza.  As you’re running near the end of the designed motion…

Hopefully Mazda is making a tidy profit on every unit they sell so volume isn’t critical. You can’t move up-market and increase prices and expect volume. Honda and Toyota are still chasing a value driven market and given that the D3 have exited the market there’s room for other makes to consolidate remaining demand.

Because you don't have to get the alignment done on the Impreza annually.  The Crosstrek is the same car mechanically at a higher ride height that screws up the suspension.

Gatekeep much?

With the nature of the F1 parade right now, once you see a headline that Seb wins and it’s a Ferrari 1-2 then you might as well have shut the race off after the Ferrari pit stops. With no suspense left (and that definition of suspense requiring fiction is also bullshit) if they’ll keep the lead there’s basically no…

The prevalence of this "racing is news, not entertainment" bullshit amazes me.  Self-important bloggers.

Apparently believing that you can title news without a spoiler is an unpopular opinion around here that gets you shouted down.  People have, for the most part, moved on and get angry by themselves about it.  I’m with you.  The story could be titled better.

To be fair, I think Ford took less time doing this with their ST badge.  The bean counters won this time, to the detriment of the brand.

On the plus side, the cluster looks better.  I always hated the unadorned half circles.  I thought it was just the prototypes then it was there on the production version.  Cheap junk.

I was driving a bunch of different cars for work a while back. I had unpleasant experiences in two cars within the span of like 6 months.

That’s fair.  I just got the MSM, so it's the first I think of.  The Speed3's motor world probably be a decent match to the chassis.  It world lack the character of the rotary though and basically be just another sports coupe like the 350z.

I own a 2009. Oddly enough, the apex seals are often the least of my concerns. Recession era Mazda doesn’t seem to believe in galvanized steel, so it’s usually stupid stuff like the brake rotors seizing to the hubs, or a clogged catalyst, or bad ignition coils. All that ails the car can be fixed for probably $3k…

As an owner of both a Mazdaspeed MX-5 and a Series 2 RX8, you don’t want that motor. The factory turbo system is iffy and the RX is a little heavier then it looks. You really want the more then 200 horses, oh and how the rotary sings toward 9k revs. It completes the package.. It wouldn’t be as good without the motor.