Spin9k

Mazda needs a lot of things, and fast... bleeding only goes on so long before the patient passes out on his way to a sad demise. They need partners, they need overseas production now, they need good marketing now, they need halo car(s) now. But most of all they desperately need a "Raison d'ętre" in the mind's eye of the car buying public. "Sk-Active" perhaps? Jury is out.

'Zoom Zoom' is what Mazda has been. But that's like talking about the little engine that could. Most, if not all other auto makers on planet earth (ok forget Tata and Smart), have => real zoom-zoom (speed/acceleration) available than Mazda. Mazda's handling virtues only counts if you care, and most wouldn't know what "better handling" was anyway, and would likely complain about the twitchy steering or some such nonsense, because they're used to something else.

Perhaps their accent on styling, which is getting 'better', or loads of unexpected creature comforts (they don't have currently) as it worked for Hyundai, and straight up MPG (they are but questionably calling it Sky-Active) would help them.

All hands on deck I would say.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

Mazda can have a luxury brand but they just don't have the money to do that right now.

Mazda is never known to be good with engines. that's a sad fact. even their MZR it's not all that impressive, and that's already one of their most well known engine (except the Rotary)

great sales on the first month ... that is great! that's good to know; but how much money did they "ACTUALLY" made? most of their cars came from Japan and that hurts them a lot.

HiFlite999

iTrader: (2)

Exactly, and that's why Skyactiv-G needs to be good and Skyactiv-D needs to be great.

serothis

This is probably going to sound crazy but I wouldn't mind seeing Mazda and Mitsubishi partner up.

Mitsubishi has a pretty stable financial support structure outside of the auto industry. And certainly they could use some help to get their auto line some life. Both could really benefit from each other. Imagine an EVO XI based on a skyactiv mazda3 sedan. And Mazda could get Mitsubishi's AWD system to put on their CX line and on the speed3.

that just me rambling though.

Bladecutter

Well, how about that?
Looks like Fiat sounds like it would be interested in a partnership with Mazda, if they ever got together and talked about it seriously.

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2...or-suzuki.html

I don't even know what to think about that possibility.

BC.

TALAN7

I'd like to se Mazda team with Chrysler/Fiat. Moreso with Chrysler. They could do what Mitsubishi and Dodge did back in the day with the 3000GT/Stealth except with the rotary. The car could be built in America to keep costs down. It definitely would help with parts availability and Dodge could get a lightweight sports car for their lineup. Mazda's of course would be the next RX8, Dodge could call it the Daytona. Do 3 models, base naturally aspirated, hybrid powertrain with electric motors at wheels for more torque/mileage, and full blown turbo model to round out the line. That way you could please everyone. Base could just be lightweight, inexpensive model to compete with you BRZs etc, hybrid for those who want better mileage but they get a performance boost as well, and turbo hi power model to compete with the Mustang GTs (maybe Boss), Camaros in straight line, but out handle them easily on track. Working with Doge/Chrysler they should be able to get the cost down a bit.

TALAN7

Also, with an American company finally behind the rotary, it could finally take hold and become more mainstream.

Mazmart

iTrader: (12)

Ha ha! My sentiments as well. We could end up with Mazdas having Chrysler parts

A Ferrari chassis with a 4 rotor would be nice though .

Paul.

bse50

You don't want that to happen.

I laugh at who says that a partnership with an american company would make the rotary mainstream. It could be true for the US but the rest of the world is still smart enough to stay miles away from most american cars.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Uh, no thanks. I'd rather Mazda just work with the money raised from the share sale.


To be perfectly honest, I don't want the rotary to become mainstream. Sell well? yes. Mainstream? no. I want Mazda to still be the one to think outside the box, to take convention and give it the boot. No other "main" brand does that, possible exception of some exotic brands.

Mazda's partners are best found in the people that use them. Racers. Teams, organizations, tracks, or even series. None of them would individually pick up the share % Mazda would get from a conventional "partner", but they are the ones with the largest stake in how Mazda survives, as well as the direction Mazda goes.


Is this realistic? Probably not. But then again, perhaps this recent share sale did exactly that

TALAN7

Mazda could still do all the development and even the building of the engines in Japan. What they need is money and another brand behind them, when I mean behind them I mean behind the rotary. Ford wasn't behind the rotary. If Ford was we may have seen a rotary Probe. With another brand willing to sell a rotary car it would go a long way to making the rotary not just a fad that comes out for 7-10 years then fade away for another 7-10 years. The rotary needs continued major development. it's already way behind it's piston counterparts.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Audi is the first other brand to actually put money behind the rotary. You won't find another manufacturer willing to fund Mazda's rotary. The best you could to is find another manufacturer willing to buy Mazda's SkyActive tech off them, because if they fund Mazda as a "partner" in any form, they will have a say in what gets developed, and you can bet that they will object to the rotary development costs. Mazda's funding source needs to be people that care about the rotary OR could care less (i.e., buyers of non-rotary Mazda models or people that buy into the rest of Mazda)

MattMPS

honestly that partnership will NOT work....

will work a partnership with Suzuki, instead....products are complementary....

Mazda need to SELL technologies to raise money