ASH8

Don't know how credible this is but Mazda are supposedly working on an even smaller SUV.... called the CX-3...

Frankly I doubt it, but you never know?

http://www.caradvice.com.au/160481/m...-the-pipeline/

MattMPS

For Europe Market i say YES....high margins on this kind of cars...here in Italy there is plenty of Mini Crossman...mainly drived by womens....

zoom44

Dont forget they have been making the Verisa all along. even when they began the new style Mazda 2 production the Verisa has remained. And it was being built in Europe at one point

http://www.verisa.mazda.co.jp/?link_id=gc

personally I've always liked the style of that little car/cuv

frankly if they add kodo styling and edge it a bit more towards that suesified cx-5 it would be a hit

ASH8

Never heard of the Verisa being made in any other place other than Hiroshima as it is only a JDM model, and I would not exactly call it an SUV either

But, I can see all normal cars will end up being SUV's, or should I say 'normal type' body shells on big wheels.
Short *** people, particularly Sheila's (sorry, no offense ) love the high up driving style...mini trucks.

Don't you just love 'consumer demand'..it is a race to the top..who has the highest seated driving position "so we can see"...it is BS.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

hahahaha

It's sad to see that people wants bigger cars simply because they "thought" it will fix their "zero driving skills" problem ...

MattMPS

yes, ash..but they must think about what consumer is asking for...

cx-7 and cx-9 are HUGE successful around the world...II gen Mazda6 a lot less....

zoom44

hmmm Verisa was spotted driving around the US and also Germany last year...

http://rumors.automobilemag.com/spot...ver-37131.html

oh and look Ford is eyeing the same market space

http://rumors.automobilemag.com/ford...ket-64437.html

SayNoToPistons

iTrader: (8)

A direct competitor to the Kia Soul, Nissan Juke, and Mini Countryman? I can dig it.

zoom44

exactly

Spin9k

Just what I'd like to try/buy... but of course ... not in amerika

Sedans are so lame, hatchbacks are ok, micro suv/vans rule for usefulness.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

too bad CX-5 does not give enough MPG. otherwise. trade my mazda3 2010. no questions.

waiting for Sky-Diesel.

Mazmart

iTrader: (12)

I've always wondered why we don't get Verisa in the US. It is so 'Mini'. They should have made 3 door and 5 door hatch versions for us 5 years ago. We can 'out Mini' Mini and 'out BMW' BMW.

Call it Mazda CX-3 Amati and target it directly against the Mini. Then give us and RX-7 Amati riding on the architecture if not identical platform as the MX-5. Replace RX-8 with RX9 Amati 2 years afterward with a modified version of the rwd sports platform designed strictly to wound and conquer the BMW 3.

This would renew the Amati vision without the expense of initially creating new dealer groups (Page from the Hyundai book). The Amati products would all be higher profit items.

One can only wish and always dream.

Paul.

ASH8

You really are dreaming Paul, the continued 'dumbing down' ad in the US for the CX-5, I see no up-marketing of future products adding 'class' to the brand...so far it is pretty pathetic, and one You-tube guy responded what 'the hell is Skyactiv'?...

I only hope there is some classy follow up ads for this launch of the CX-5...
It is almost as if MNAO want Mazda to go bust/broke...If the CX-5 does not work they will.

zoom44

the ads work perfectly well. it must be an australian vs u.s. market thing that doesnt translate well

ASH8

Well YT reaction on the Dr Seuss commercial is not particularly good....in fact has the worse 'dislike' rating out of all the 468 Mazda vids I have by a million miles.

I really hope they have something else...how you can say it 'works perfectly well' when the car is not even for sale yet?...works perfectly well on what?.

ASH8

Reaction is far far worse of Mazda's YT site.....they need to clean it up..fast.

ASH8

More on a possible CX-3...

MAZDA is planning to massively increase its presence in the booming SUV market, with more engine variants of its CX-5 compact SUV set to be introduced over the next 18 months – and an all-new ‘CX-3’ micro-SUV also understood to be in the pipeline.

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2579B1001F14FD

usnidc

I have not seen one "CX-5" ad in the Washington Dc market other than the Seus ad and they don't really say anthing about the all new CX-5. if peopel don't troll the car magazine sites they wouldn't even know the CX-5 was out.

Saw a BMW ad advertising "Efficeint Dynamics" and how wonderful their cars are to drive. Not sure I would want a car with "E.D."... but mazda is not even advertising the most fuel effeceint SUV on the market!

Mazmart

iTrader: (12)

My guess is that the big ad campaign begins March 1st.

Paul.

Gambit

I've been seeing ads here (Philly/NY area) for a while, including the Dr. Seuss one, and my local dealer has a few in stock

Spin9k

Let's hope the adage "Any publicity is good publicity." holds true with this strange cartoonish ad idea, but this isn't a good harbinger....

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/29/m...-dr-seuss-lor/

monchie

Why make an SUV that is small and its for a family of 4 or more? I don't get it?

ASH8

Yeah, I just don't know with MNAO management, I sort of understand the reasons aligning a new car launch with "Hollywood" and a movie...look at the RX-8 and X-MEN.

But a children's character?, yes I get the environmental side of the promo, but, honestly it just looks amateurish, almost like they ran out of launch idea's..
It looks cheap...like come on a physical mascot of 'Lorax', etc, etc.

I really thought Mazda America's wanted to go 'upmarket' with the brand and image.
Who are they targeting this SUV too?, obviously Gen Y - the Echo Boomer's, those young guys with a small family and NO income!!?

I just believe Mazda NA could of done it with just a little more class..

Perhaps I am totally wrong, perhaps it will pass the CX-5 as a run away sales success...I really hope so...this car has to sell and sell well.

ASH8

A small CX-3....Definitely for smaller countries (size wise) like Europe, looks like everyone (not me) want a small bodied car on a high wheel base, big tires and rims, high seated 'commanding' driving position.

As we know the CX-7 is being discontinued in Australia and I believe the US and Canada. Japan stopped selling the CX-7 some time ago, replaced now with the CX-5.

Where would a CX-3 be made?

Spin9k

Not thinking 'country size' has anything to do with the usefulness of a car this size. I drove an Eagle Summit (Mitsubishi rename) for a decade. High seating position, tall, little BIG box it was, haul almost anything, easy on gas, fun (it was AWD), safe in the snow. It just rusted to death and so I got a PT Cruiser, which was close, but no AWD, not quite as spacious, but turboed. Now it's time for it to go....

What I really hate about SUVs is the high rear lift to put anything in the rear, and it also reduces cargo height a lot, plus the basic bulk of the whole SUV concept. The Mazda 5 would sort of work, but the 3 rows of seats in it is absurd. It's a uBus, not a cargo hauler....

The Verisa has a nice low cargo floor, just needs to be taller to hold large items I need to carry around for work. USA gets so few vehicles in the genre, it's frustrating. I'm almost forced to go big just to get enought room (not for people).