My ideal garage in the short-term is, well, both of these cars. Or at least they are until Mazda surprises us all and brings back a Speed3, then it’s that over the GTi.

I wouldn’t count that out just yet. The electric motor/generator unit in the picture shown above isn’t integrated into the transmission in any way (the flywheel and output shaft look like they’re set to bolt up to a traditional transaxle).

1st Gear: If the Yaris iA gets axed, I only hope it comes back as the Mazda2 it is and should have been sold as all along.

I noticed that too and was pleasantly surprised. Is graverobber just testing to see if we click-through?

I must say, in retrospect Volkswagen did a great job with this interior. It gives me quite the Volvo vibe but with some added tech kept right to the center consoles. Looks good.

Eurobeat intensifies

For a split second I passed the headline as if Mario’s real-life voice actor had passed away and nearly lost my shit.

After a recent flight wherein a sudden hit from turbulence made the plane fall and pushed everyone up out of their seat a good 12 inches before the seatbelts brought everyone back down, I think I’ll pass on the risk of breaking my own neck...

After a recent flight wherein a sudden hit from turbulence made the plane fall and pushed everyone up out of their…

I have a ‘15 in the same trim & configuration. I think the chassis can handle more power, but the motor mounts are just too soft (likely made that way to help with NVH). The Speed3 was a torque-steering monster from the factory but aftermarket motor mounts fixed like 90% of it.

But with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with 187 horsepower, it wasn’t enough.

Man, even Volvo wasn’t immune from the mid-2000s plague of terrible dashboard designs. The Ford and Mazda roots shine through all too clearly.

a custom-built track in Southern California

*EPA-estimated fuel economy

I sincerely hope there’s a team in the big three national series taking note of this. A win in 18 starts takes serious skill.

Raph, I appreciate you trying to find the journalistic side of a topic that’s rarely covered and so strongly opposed by the staff. This has shown exactly why it gets little positive coverage here - the street racing/drifting/stunting scene is juvenile, poorly organized, egocentric, and ultimately dangerously reckless.

Oh come on, let the poor man have his one-eighth of a hotel room split and the three items from Seven-Eleven.

Booooooooo!

Ooooh.

It’s also optioned up the wazoo with a six-disk CD changer

I still love the fact that they couldn’t find an extra in time for that shot so the director himself put on an outfit and drove into the frame.