Sales of subcompact cars like the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris have taken off this year, due to the ever increasing gas prices. Honda has already sold approximately 28,000 of the 54,000 Fits that are allotted for the US this year. Last year Honda only sold 23,000 of the little cars. Now Honda dealers can't keep up with the demand, but even with that evidence Mazda still remains skeptical about the market.
According to Automotive News bringing the Mazda 2 to the US to compete with the Yaris and Fit is not a priority for Mazda. The automaker is more focused on the crossover market right now than anything else.
“As soon as North American dealers see this, they ask for it,” said Mazda President Hisakazu Imaki. “But from an overall perspective of the brand and profitability, we choose not to market it in North America.”
Instead of bringing the Mazda 2 to the US, Ford is going to bring a vehicle to the US that is based on the Mazda 2 that will most likely be called the Ford Fiesta.
The new Mazda 2 is awesome, especially the new MPS variant that has a turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder that puts out 230 horsepower. It's a shame that Mazda would rather put out a bunch of crossovers. Do we really need to have that many crossovers? Mazda already has the CX-7, CX-9, Tribute, Mazda 5 and another upcoming crossover.
Full Story: eGMCarTech
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Comments (23)
This seems like a nice small car. 220 HP in a car this small equals serious performance. As usual, the US gets screwed again in getting a nice looking economical fuel efficient auto.
Posted by Clayton | July 9, 2007 1:54 PM
Posted on July 9, 2007 13:54
This seems like a nice small car. 220 HP in a car this small equals serious performance. As usual, the US gets screwed again in getting a nice looking economical fuel efficient auto.
Posted by Clayton | July 9, 2007 1:55 PM
Posted on July 9, 2007 13:55
This car could kick Yaris' and Fit's collective A$$! Too bad it's not available in North America.
Posted by Alex Greene | July 9, 2007 2:11 PM
Posted on July 9, 2007 14:11
Why shoud they bring Mazda2 here. Here in USA everyone tell us that we have to drive SUV CUV's. Ford owns Mazda, that's why it will newer come here. Ford needs to sell more CUV's - higher profit.
Posted by dima | July 9, 2007 2:26 PM
Posted on July 9, 2007 14:26
The author of this blog kills me. First, they bash Toyota for selling Land Cruisers, now they bash Mazda for selling Crossovers. Obviously this person doesn't actually carry passengers (of the American variety) with them doesn't understand just how much people rely on larger vehicles.
Posted by Payton Byrd | July 9, 2007 2:33 PM
Posted on July 9, 2007 14:33
How is it that Ford thinks that a "Ford Fiesta" is a better idea than a "Mazda 2"? If its pretty much the same car, they should just stick with the Mazda name, it would sell better.
Posted by gm0n3y | July 9, 2007 3:08 PM
Posted on July 9, 2007 15:08
I think it woud sell better as the Mazda 2 since the Ford Fiesta does not have the same image as Mazda's 'zoom zoom' campain. This type of thinking is perhaps why Ford are selling fewer vehicles.
Posted by TomLeeM/BigWarpGuy | July 9, 2007 3:18 PM
Posted on July 9, 2007 15:18
Absolutely. I have a Mazda Protege and it's fun to drive and gets great mpg (I routinely average 37 mpg combined driving), plus Mazda's manual transmissions are SO smooth. I'd definitely buy one of these over a Yaris or Fit.
Posted by Remy LeBeau | July 9, 2007 4:47 PM
Posted on July 9, 2007 16:47
Ford sells many for Focii than 3s, so why wouldn't they expect to sell more Fiestas than 2s?
Posted by Payton Byrd | July 9, 2007 8:06 PM
Posted on July 9, 2007 20:06
I actually drove a Ford Festiva in Germany which is a descendent of the original Ford Fiesta. It was a really nice car for the money. I was hoping they would bring it back to the states. I don't understand American car manufacturers. They make a lot of really good designs but only sell them in Europe. In fact a Ford won the 2006 european car of the year award. GMs brand Opel makes a lot of sweet rides also. After being stationed in Germany for 4 years and seeing what the Europeans drive, then I come back to the US and realize how bland our cars are. I think all the manufacturers to include the Japanese such as Mazda need to realize they need fresh designs here and bringing their european models to the US would be a great place to start. Maybe we could even get their diesel powertrains over here also.
Posted by Clayton | July 9, 2007 8:43 PM
Posted on July 9, 2007 20:43
While image isn't everything, I just couldn't bring myself to buy a car named the fiesta. Now a '2' on the other hand at least sounds interesting.
Posted by upl8n8 | July 9, 2007 9:29 PM
Posted on July 9, 2007 21:29
Hey Clayton,
You can find Opel in America. They are at your Saturn dealership.
I agree with your point, I drove a Ford Focus in UK in 2005. It's so much better than the American version, though the rental car version we had must have been wheezing out about 80 hp.
Posted by Obviously DaMinority | July 9, 2007 11:00 PM
Posted on July 9, 2007 23:00
I really hope they sell it under Mazda brand (if they ever bring it to North America). This looks so much better than current Ford Fiesta:
http://www.ford.co.uk/fiesta
Plus, Mazda brand has far better rep than Ford. But then, knowing the North American car manufacturers, they'll probably do the exact opposite.
Posted by Alex Greene | July 10, 2007 7:29 AM
Posted on July 10, 2007 07:29
The subcompact tuner market is HUGE throughout Europe and in Japan.
The Yaris and Fit that we get here in the states are already neutered and watered down versions of their foreign counterparts. They may share similar stylings, but beyond the badge there is very little under the hood worth getting excited about other than gas mileage.
Im sure that we will see the body design soon enough, but the only time we'll see the 220 HP "2" in any incarnation is when some kid rips out the engine and replaces it with an imported one.
I for one and not looking forward to another crappy USDM version of an awesome EUDM counterpart.
And respect to Subaru and Mitsubishi for the WRX and the Evo; at least they are true to the EUDM/JDM models they are built from.
Posted by Alistair | July 10, 2007 1:24 PM
Posted on July 10, 2007 13:24
I'd buy one. I wouldn't ever touch the Ford version though. It's fugly!
Posted by kyle | July 10, 2007 2:18 PM
Posted on July 10, 2007 14:18
I haven't seen the Mazda 2 in the sheet metal but in pictures it looks far nicer than the Yaris and the Fit.
If I was in the market for a new car I'd be interested in a 2. American drivers are fickel; if gas prices go down they will be lining up for full size pickups and SUVs; if prices go up and stay there they will want small cars.
Q for Remy LeBeau: you get 37 MPH in a Protege? How the heck do you do that? I have a Protege5 and all I manage is 25 MPG around town and 30 MPG highway. The best millege I ever managed was 42 MPG in a '82 Toyota Starlet.
Posted by Bruce Jackson | August 9, 2007 6:06 PM
Posted on August 9, 2007 18:06
I hope Mazda brings this car to the US, especially a Mazdaspeed version. I love the MS3, but its a tad more then I want to spend on a car. I currently have a Yaris that I gave to my girlfriend. It's a great car, but the handling is so-so and a little more power would be nice. A MS2 would solve all of those problems! I'd buy it in a heartbeat. On the other hand, they can keep the Ford Fiesta version of this. As usual, the styling of the Ford leaves a lot to be desired for me. It's ugly. Ford, do us all a favor and give us the Mazda 2, and every better... a Mazdaspeed 2!!!
Posted by J-Man | August 13, 2007 9:37 AM
Posted on August 13, 2007 09:37
STUPID FORD, I'LL BUY MAZDA 2 WITHOUT THINKING.
FORD CAN'T EVEN GIVE ME A FIESTA FOR FREE.
Posted by GEORGE TSAI | January 18, 2008 12:48 PM
Posted on January 18, 2008 12:48
I have not bought a US made car for the last 29 years.
I'll buy a Mazda 2 but definitely not anything with Ford, Chrysler or any GM products.
Sorry, American car makers... you have trashed your brands for 30 years, it'll take at least another 30 years to bring them back if you try hard enough.
Posted by LeRoy P. Smith | January 18, 2008 1:04 PM
Posted on January 18, 2008 13:04
I am japanese lives in US but there are so many nice compact Japanese cars "unsold" in the states.
Ex:Yaris5Dr(<sold in Canada), NEWER Mazda2 (also famous as Demio in Japanese domestic market), NEWER 2008 honda Fit (FAR better than the older version sold in the states NOW).
Besides, you guys will surprise how CHEAP these cars are sold in Japan. They are INTENTIONALLY selling over-equipped versions of thesecars and ripping-off our money! :(
Posted by japanese | March 20, 2008 11:56 AM
Posted on March 20, 2008 11:56
I'd purchase one of these as a Mazda 2. It looks good the way it is. No need for a restyle to bring it to the US. They always do that and it kills the looks.
I just about purchased a Mazda 3s Sport 5 door this week. I found it to be almost exactly what I wanted.The problem was the MPG. Sure it has the 2.3 engine but the 2.0 engine doesn't get good mileage in the 4 door version either.
If they would take this Mazda 2 and install the 2.0 engine and the 5spd with a sport tuned suspension...Winner for my $$$
This car designed by Ford USA is sure to be ugly and perform like poo.
Posted by Chris | March 30, 2008 7:55 AM
Posted on March 30, 2008 07:55
@ Clayton:
We aren't screwed in the US. I have a MazdaSpeed3 hatch with 260+ horsepower. And it's only a few thousand more than the tiny 2.
Posted by Stu | June 16, 2008 1:15 PM
Posted on June 16, 2008 13:15
I like the style of this car but i like the ford fiesta style just as much but like the interior alot better. The 2s interior seems kinda plain (radio,ac controls) its a shame that ford doesnt have the reliability of mazda.
Posted by Taber | June 28, 2008 6:42 PM
Posted on June 28, 2008 18:42