In The News>Awards

Press Release: Mazda South Africa With a staggering 61.4 percent of cast ballots from writers and readers; the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Roadster was named The Truth About Cars’ (TTAC) 2016 Best Automobile Today; a US based website covering automobiles, automotive products and the auto industry. The Mazda MX-5 was not the only Mazda to make the Top10 Best Automobiles Today; the Mazda3 and the Mazda6 come in at 7^th and 8^th positions respectively. The recently launched in South Africa Mazda MX-5 Roadster is the sixth model in Mazda’s new-generation line-up of vehicles featuring the full range of SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY and KODO-Soul of Motion design. This lightweight open-top two-seater front-engine rear-wheel drive sports car is designed to provide pure Jinba-ittai driving fun. In redesigning the model Mazda concentrated on stimulating the senses and sensations through which people enjoy cars at a deeper level than ever before. SKYACTIV is the umbrella term for Mazda’s range of next-generation technologies-including gasoline and diesel engines, transmissions, body and chassis – developed under Mazda’s Sustainable Zoom-Zoom vision to provide both driving pleasure and outstanding environmental and safety performance.

Mazda continues to add the long list of international awards with the Mazda2 taking the third position in the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists Car of the Year awards (SAGMJ COTY). For a compact hatchback to only be bested by Volvo’s game changing XC90 SUV and the equally impressive Ford Fusion luxury sedan, bears testimony to the Mazda2’s impressive credentials, cementing its reputation as best in class. With the previous generation Mazda2 already a SAGMJ COTY winner in 2008, and with the all-new model having already taking top honours in the Japan Car of the Year 2014-15 as well as being awarded a Golden Steering Wheel 2014 in Germany, and Good Design’s Gold Award in Japan, the Mazda2 impressed local motoring journalists as well as buyers with its funky design, high specification level, and involving drive. Judged by a panel of 26 motoring journalists, 12 finalist cars are chosen to compete for Car of the Year and are awarded points and scored on a variety of categories including interior design & practicality, exterior aesthetics, safety & technology, performance, handling & dynamics, efficiency, value for money and overall excellence. From the SAGMJ, “Beaten by a narrow yet decisive margin, both the Ford Fusion and Mazda2 are for all intents and purposes winners in their own right and respective segments.”

The all-new, recently launched Mazda3 has scooped scooped the title of best ‘Family Car’ in the Scottish Car Of The Year. Its victory in one of the most significant categories in the SCOTY awards reinforces just how compelling a proposition the all-new Mazda3 makes for both private buyers and company car drivers. The recently launched in South Africa, all-new Mazda3 received judge’s praise on styling, driving dynamics, quality, performance and efficiency. “The efficient all-new Mazda3 has superior design, quality interiors and dynamic driving prowess. The new SKYACTIV* technology delivers solid performance and low emissions in both hatchback and sedan and the KODO-Soul of Motion design language merits that the Mazda3 impresses within a highly-competitive segment. We are very proud to be brand custodians of this now award winning compelling model in South Africa.” Says David Hughes – MD of Mazda South Africa Mazda is no stranger to the SCOTY awards; in 2012, the Mazda CX-5 won the ‘Safety’ award, and in 2013 the Mazda6 2.2-litre topped the ‘Eco’ award honours list. *SKYACTIV is the umbrella term for Mazda’s range of next-generation technologies-including gasoline and diesel engines, transmissions, body and chassis – developed under Mazda’s Sustainable Zoom-Zoom vision to provide both driving pleasure and outstanding environmental and safety performance.