There were several star performers across the range with Mazda3, Australia’s best-selling car in 2011, picking up where it left off with 4,045 sales to again top the sales charts. This is now the third time in the past year that the Mazda3 has found more than 4,000 buyers in a single month. In the light segment, Mazda2 kept its lead position with 1,624 January sales and its third strongest month ever. This is a 19% increase over the same month last year.

Mazda6 started the new year in style. Recently upgraded with leather upholstery and parking sensors across the range, Mazda6 record 663 sales, its strongest month in over a year. Also vying for the limelight was CX-7 which secured its best ever result with 1,167 sales to claim second place in the hotly contested Medium SUV segment. And with the All-New CX-5 about to hit Australian shores, Mazda is optimistic about achieving further SUV sales success.

Mazda Australia managing director, Doug Dickson said, “We are both delighted and humbled by customer acceptance of our whole range during January. While we are quietly confident of a strong year, particularly with the imminent launch of our all-new CX-5, our primary focus will remain on looking after our customers.

Source: http://www.mazda.com.au/community/news/2012/2/mazda-posts-record-sales-and-market-share

Victorian-based siblings, Brendan Reeves and Rhianon Smyth will be piloting Mazda’s turbo rotary RX-8 SP. In three previous championships, the siblings have been successful drivers of the Mazda3 MPS, but now step up to the more powerful RX-8 SP for the first time, a move which demonstrates Mazda’s faith in Reeves.

The dynamic brother and sister duo have competed together for Mazda in seven rallies and in their Mazda3 MPS have secured five first places.Reeves, who tested the RX-8 SP around Wakefield Park last month, was most enthusiastic about its performance, saying, “I am really excited to be driving the RX-8 SP at Targa Wrest Point. Although I have loved driving the Mazda3 MPS in previous rallies, it’s great to be able to step up to another challenge and get behind the wheel of the RX-8, a car which has the potential to take it to the main challengers in the Modern category.

Mazda Motorsport Manager, Allan Horsley, is confident that Reeves driving the RX-8 SP will do him proud. The RX-8 SP had some mixed fortunes in Targa’s last rally in the Targa High Country, but Horsley and his team have been working on it to refine and improve any limitations the rotary previously had. “We are cautiously optimistic that the RX-8 is in for a good run at this year’s Wrest Point, especially after seeing it come second outright at last year’s Wrest Point rally. I believe it should be on the pace again,” said Horsley.

Reeves will be competing in the Modern Category and will be amongst Jason White in his Lamborghini Gallardo, Jim Richards, driving his Porsche GT2 RS, and Tony Quinn in his new Nissan GT-R. Another Australian Motorsport power couple, Simon and Sue Evans, will be driving the Mazda3 MPS. Their carefully honed driving-navigation skills took out the Showroom category in the Targa High Country 2011 rally and they are now equal leaders in the Australian Tarmac Championship.

Source: http://www.mazda.com.au/community/news/2012/1/mazdas-tenacious-two-back-to-tackle-tassie

NASA Spec Z will offer a comprehensive contingency prize program that will reward both Regional and National Championship competitors. Nissan Motorsports will provide significant support for the series, and their contingency prize program provides cash rewards up to $850 for the top three finishers at each regional competition weekend. Additionally, Nissan Motorsports will provide $6,500 in cash support to the top Spec Z finishers at the 2012 NASA Championships.

We are very excited about Spec Z,” said Jeremy Croiset, NASA Sponsorship Manager. “We have been working closely with Nissan Motorsports on the creation of Spec Z, and it will be an excellent series for anyone looking to step into a spec vehicle that’s fast and relatively inexpensive to build, maintain and race. With the fantastic contingency prize programs that are being provided for Spec Z, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more rewarding spec series to race in.

Ron Stukenberg, Senior Manager, Motorsports Marketing Communications, Nissan North America agrees, and adds, “NASA has a proven track record of growing classes from the ground up, so we are excited to be working with NASA on the new Spec Z series. We have a number of competitors already expressing interest in the series, so the potential for this series is very strong indeed.

Source: http://www.nissannews.com/pressrelease/3235//nissan-partners-national-auto-sport-association-create-new

The Veloster achieves the maximum 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Complete with a comprehensive suite of active safety technologies, Veloster comes standard with Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Anti-skid Braking Systemn (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) & Brake Assist System (BAS). Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) is standard on DCT models.

The Veloster’s commanding exterior is echoed with a powerful and poised interior environment. Inside, the centre stack fascia and controls resemble a sport bike fuel tank with air vents inspired by motorcycle tailpipes and a floor console mirroring the seat of a bike. The interior is finished with modern metallic-look accents around the centre console, door handles, air vents and gear stick.

The Hyundai Veloster will be available in two trim levels (Veloster and Veloster +) and powered by an efficient 1.6-litre four-cylinder GDI petrol engine, generating 103kW. The Veloster is available with the option of a six-speed manual gearbox or Hyundai’s first double clutch transmission both achieving an estimated combined fuel economy of just 6.4 litres per 100km.

Source: http://www.hyundai.com.au/About-Hyundai/news/Articles/Introducing-the-All-new-Hyundai-Veloster-Cool-Coupe-or-Smart-Hatch

As per the previously announced forecast, the quarterly dividend for the fiscal third quarter will be 15 yen per share of common stock with the record date of December 31, 2011. Despite the negative impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the flooding in Thailand, and the appreciation of the Japanese yen, the total annual dividend per share of common stock to be paid for this fiscal year (ending March 31, 2012) is also expected to remain 60 yen as per the previously announced forecast.

With companywide efforts to minimize the negative impacts of the decline in worldwide automobile production because of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the flooding in Thailand, and the historic appreciation of the Japanese yen, Honda made a revision to the forecasts for the consolidated financial results for this fiscal year as follows with:

Net sales and other operating revenue: 7,850 billion yen
Operating income: 200 billion yen
Income before income taxes: 250 billion yen
Net income*1: 215 billion yen

These forecasts are based on the assumption of worldwide automobile sales of 3.15 million units and the average currency exchange rates of 77 yen = USD 1 and 97 yen = Euro 1 for the fiscal fourth quarter and 78 yen = USD 1 and 106 yen = Euro1 for the fiscal year.

Source: http://world.honda.com/news/2012/c120131Financial-Summary/index.html

IRVINE, Calif

The MX-5 Miata is the world’s best-selling two-seat roadster with more than 900,000 produced, and made its global debut at the Chicago Auto Show in 1989. The MX-5 Special Edition continues the sports car’s history of being a dynamically-engineered, enthusiast-approved roadster whose price doesn’t discriminate and whose luxuries are not stripped.

Available with either the six-speed manual transmission with short-throw shifter or six-speed Sport automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, the Special Edition model is based off the Grand Touring model. Both Premium and Suspension packages will be standard on the MX-5 Special Edition.

Turbo2 – Unveiled at the SEMA Show held in Las Vegas this past November, this concept is the brainchild of The Autobarn, which owns two Mazda dealerships in the Greater Chicago area. Here, a “Zoom-Zoom Concentrated” Mazda2 is outfitted with an extra-strength component in the form of a MAZDASPEED3 MZR 2.3-liter Direct Injection Spark Ignition (DISI) turbo engine. Consider the Turbo2 a subcompact cat that doesn’t purr – it growls.

Star Mazda Championship Open-Wheel Race Car – The Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear is a major part of the Mazda Road to Indy. Rising motorsports stars from around the world compete for prizes valued at $1.5 million, including a scholarship to move up and compete in the 2013 Firestone Indy Lights series.

Source: http://www.mazdausamedia.com/content/2012-mazda-mx-5-miata-special-edition-makes-north-american-debut-chicago

The introduction of the second generation in 2006 ushered in a new era for this economical coach. Since then, exactly 5,000 of these best-selling vehicles have been delivered. The milestone vehicle, a Tourismo M, formally left the Mannheim plant on 2 February 2012. At a press conference held to mark the event, Roman Biondi, brand spokesman for Mercedes-Benz buses and coaches at EvoBus GmbH, presented the symbolic key to the Keller family.

This vehicle makes it clear why the Tourismo design is so successful”, said Roman Biondi at the presentation. “It gains top marks with its attractive price-performance ratio without looking like an anonymous mass-produced vehicle. Thanks to the wide range of equipment options available, it remains genuinely individual and full of character.

The Tourismo owes its success to a consistent focus on producing a particularly economical and safe coach. Its contemporary styling, typical of the brand, and especially the Mercedes-Benz quality is appreciated by customers such as Hauser-Reisen. For Hauser, the Tourismo fully reflects the typical Mercedes-Benz brand values.

We can fit out the Tourismo to suit our individual requirements and operating needs. Whether it’s as an all-round coach for excursions and short trips or as a luxuriously equipped 5-star coach for demanding long-distance travel, our Tourismo is always professionally and smartly turned out. Drivers, tour guides and passengers are all of the same opinion”, said Hans Keller, touching on Hauser’s own concept for the interior equipment of its Tourismo fleet.

Source: http://media.daimler.com/dcmedia/0-921-657300-1-1458918-1-0-0-0-0-0-11700-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0.html

Stuttgart / Istanbul, Turkey

IETT is dedicated to providing reliable and environ-mentally friendly passenger transport in the metropolis, Istanbul. IETT, which was established in 1871, operates light rail systems, subways, regular-service buses, and utilizes the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) mobility concept.

Hartmut Schick, Head of Daimler Buses, underscores the importance of the three-figured order for the Daimler subsidiary in Turkey, “This latest major order is further testimony to Daimler Buses’ dynamic growth in Turkey and thereby contributes to the strengthening of our global presence.” Schick also reiterates Daimler Buses’ claim to leadership, “Every day, we are working diligently to expand our leadership position in the bus sector, and we are delighted by what we have achieved to date.

At the ceremony for the signing of the contract by Wolf-Dieter Kurz, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Türk, and Hayri Baracli, Managing Director of IETT, the long-standing Daimler customer commented about the follow-up order, “With a tradition of more than 140 years, IETT is generating new momentum for the creation of a modern Istanbul. We are investing in an updated fleet consisting primarily of Mercedes-Benz city buses for public passenger transport in Istanbul.

This way, we are making a significant contribution to comfortable transportation in Istanbul.” IETT operates Mercedes-Benz Conecto city buses for regular service operations. For the urban mobility concept Bus Rapid Transit, IETT uses the high-capacity articulated bus Mercedes-Benz CapaCity. By utilizing lanes separate from private transport, BRT is noticeably assisting the relief of city traffic.

Source: http://media.daimler.com/dcmedia/0-921-657290-1-1459116-1-0-0-0-0-0-11700-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0.html

Stuttgart/Sindelfingen

With the introduction of the new urban delivery vehicle, Mercedes-Benz is adding another production series to its family of vans. The Citan is supplementing the Vario (6.0 to 8.2 tons), Sprinter (3.0 to 5.0 tons), and Vito (2.77 to 3.2 tons) to broaden the range of products in the lower weight classes of the van market, where it will significantly boost sales.

Whereas the small vans segment was still a niche market in the mid-1990s, it has now grown to around 700,000 units in Europe. Mercedes-Benz Vans plans to gain a market share of four to five percent in this segment. Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, is convinced that the Citan will be a big success.

We will take advantage of the trend toward city vans, which our brand will be able to exploit thanks to its attractively priced vehicles and the high quality of our products and services,” says Mornhinweg. “Our typical Mercedes-Benz reliability, 24/7 service, and, last but not least, our great brand image are key selling points as far as our commercial customers are concerned.

Due to its large number of variants, the new urban delivery van with the star is suited for a broad range of commercial applications. Not only will the Citan be offered as a panel van, a crewbus, and a mixed-use vehicle; it will also be available in a variety of lengths and weights.

Source: http://media.daimler.com/dcmedia/0-921-1459149-1-1459160-1-0-0-0-0-0-11700-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0.html

DETROIT, Mich

The 2013 LX 570 gets a new look at both the front and rear. New LED daytime running lights complement new headlamp design and new larger fog lamp bezels. Taillamps are also updated, while the rear license plate surround gets a revised look and the tow hitch cover is more integrated. Both front and rear bumpers are refreshed, and the rear bumper protector is enhanced by a chrome accent.

The spacious, eight-passenger cabin of the LX 570 receives a number of upgrades and changes. The driver’s seat gets a new Easy Access system, which makes entering and exiting the vehicle easier. The steering wheel and driver’s seat automatically retract when the ignition is turned off. Front seats also feature improved cooling, and a 120-volt power outlet has been added to the middle row.

The LX 570′s 5.7-litre V8 delivers the punch and towing power demanded in this segment. The powerplant produces 383 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and peak torque of 403 lb.-ft at 3,600 rpm. Crucial to LX customers who tow with their vehicles, 90 percent of peak torque is available at just 2,200 rpm.

The LX 570 is equipped with an electronically-controlled six-speed automatic transmission that estimates road conditions and predicts the driver’s intention in order to select the appropriate gear ratio for the vehicle’s speed and the driving conditions. A sequential shift mode allows the driver to select gears manually. Even at very low speeds, such as trail driving, the transmission operates smoothly and imperceptibly.

Source: http://www.lexus.ca/lexus/experience/en/home/whatsnew/whatsnew_news.jsp#2013-LX-Unveiled