Mazda MX-5 WINS 'WHEELS' COTY 2005
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Mazda MX-5 WHEELS C.O.T.Y Finalist
The new 2006 Mazda MX-5 is a top 4 finalist in 'WHEELS' Magazine Car Of The Year 2005.
The winner is to be announced live in about 2 hours on our national Today morning show.
The other 3 finalist are...
Lexus IS 250
Ford Focus
Mercedes Benz M Class (SUV)
The new BMW 3 Series lost over the Lexus IS 250 as a top 4 finalist.
RX-8 Won WHEELS COTY in 2003..
Ford Territory (Australian designed/built SUV/4WD ) in 2004
The First (NA) MX-5/Miata won the WHEELS COTY on debut all those years ago....will it do it again in 2005....I think it will..
WHEELS Trivia... WHEELS COTY award is the longest continuous car mag car of the year award in the world...this year is number 48.
Stay Tuned!
The winner is to be announced live in about 2 hours on our national Today morning show.
The other 3 finalist are...
Lexus IS 250
Ford Focus
Mercedes Benz M Class (SUV)
The new BMW 3 Series lost over the Lexus IS 250 as a top 4 finalist.
RX-8 Won WHEELS COTY in 2003..
Ford Territory (Australian designed/built SUV/4WD ) in 2004
The First (NA) MX-5/Miata won the WHEELS COTY on debut all those years ago....will it do it again in 2005....I think it will..
WHEELS Trivia... WHEELS COTY award is the longest continuous car mag car of the year award in the world...this year is number 48.
Stay Tuned!
Last edited by ASH8; Jan 24, 2006 at 12:24 AM.
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MAZDA MX-5 WINS!!!
WHEELS Car of the Year 2005!!!...again after 16 years...with the first MX-5.
That's two COTY for Mazda in 3 Years.....
The RX-8 and MX-5 the best sports cars for the money.....anywhere in the world..
WHEELS Car of the Year 2005!!!...again after 16 years...with the first MX-5.
That's two COTY for Mazda in 3 Years.....
The RX-8 and MX-5 the best sports cars for the money.....anywhere in the world..
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Mazda MX-5 WINS 'WHEELS' COTY 2005
The full list of 2005 COTY contenders (in alphabetical order) is:
• BMW 3 Series
• Chrysler 300C
• Citroën C4
• Ford Focus
• Hyundai Sonata
• Holden/Opel Tigra
• Jeep Grand Cherokee
• Land Rover Discovery 3
• Lexus IS250
• Lexus GS300 and GS430
• Mazda MX-5
• Mercedes-Benz B-Class
• Mercedes-Benz CLS
• Mercedes-Benz M-Class
• Mitsubishi 380/USA Galant locally made.
• Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
• Nissan Murano
• Renault Scenic
• Porsche Boxster
• Suzuki Swift
• Toyota Yaris
Mazda MX-5
• BMW 3 Series
• Chrysler 300C
• Citroën C4
• Ford Focus
• Hyundai Sonata
• Holden/Opel Tigra
• Jeep Grand Cherokee
• Land Rover Discovery 3
• Lexus IS250
• Lexus GS300 and GS430
• Mazda MX-5
• Mercedes-Benz B-Class
• Mercedes-Benz CLS
• Mercedes-Benz M-Class
• Mitsubishi 380/USA Galant locally made.
• Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
• Nissan Murano
• Renault Scenic
• Porsche Boxster
• Suzuki Swift
• Toyota Yaris
Mazda MX-5
Last edited by ASH8; Jan 24, 2006 at 05:08 AM. Reason: Add in contenders of the COTY
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Sorry, Guys I got caught up in the moment.....it was live TV!!...
I knew the MX-5 would win..they are a great little 2 seater, and still the best in the world...
MAZDA ARE THE GO!!! AT THE MO!!
I knew the MX-5 would win..they are a great little 2 seater, and still the best in the world...
MAZDA ARE THE GO!!! AT THE MO!!
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From: Australia
From MAZDA Australia Website...
MAZDA MX-5 WINS WHEELS CAR OF THE YEAR
24-JAN-2006
MELBOURNE, Australia: Mazda’s iconic MX-5 roadster has been awarded Australia’s top motoring prize - 2005 Wheels Car Of The Year.
Competing against 20 vehicles, the MX-5 sports car was voted Australia’s best new car by 10 expert judges.
Wheels magazine editor, Ged Bulmer, said: "Precision and harmony are what make it so special to drive.
"The MX-5 is so perfectly balanced, so intuitively agile, so thoroughly thrilling, that it cannot fail to make the spirit soar."
Now in its 43rd year, Wheels Car Of The Year is the world’s oldest continuously running new car award and Australia’s most coveted automobile prize.
The Wheels 2005 Car Of The Year prize makes the MX-5 roadster a two-time winner with the original, lightweight open sports car taking the honors in 1989.
Mazda has now won the Wheels Car Of The year prize six times, making it the most successful full-line importer in the Australian market. Past winners were the 323 in 1980, MX-5 in 1989, the 626 in 1983 and 1992 and the rotary-powered four-door RX-8 sports car in 2003.
MX-5 was named 2005 Car Of The Year ahead of a wide range of new models including the BMW 3-Series, Lexus IS, Lexus GS, Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Mercedes-Benz CLS, Porsche Boxster, Chrysler 300C, Nissan Murano and the Toyota Yaris.
Mazda Motor Corporation President and CEO, Imaki-san said "We are very proud and appreciative that Mazda's MX-5 has received such a high accolade from Wheels magazine in Australia.
"During the development of the all-new MX-5, special efforts were made to ensure that this exciting new Zoom-Zoom car was fun to drive. Zoom-Zoom is in our DNA and we are pleased that the expert judging panel enjoyed their experience of the MX-5 so much that they have voted it their Car of the Year."
MX-5 Program Manager, Kijima-san said "Since the first generation, "Jinba-Ittai" has been the essence of MX-5. Jinba Ittai, translated, means oneness between horse and rider. When developing the all new MX-5, we wished to establish an emotional relationship between the driver and car that achieves true unity as well as pursuing lots of fun. We greatly appreciate the judges' support of this product concept.
"I share my delight with our entire product team; we are all very proud to see MX-5 receive this award. We will continue with the infinite challenge: to design a car for our customers which is fun, light weight and enjoyable for people all over the world."
Mazda Australia managing director, Doug Dickson, said: "Sixteen years ago the original MX-5 defined the affordable sports car. It had agility and balance and that split second coordination that unites driver and car.
"The car had to be light, compact, and balanced and it had to feel and sound just right. And because it was an MX-5 it also had to be affordable. Not an easy engineering task to get right once.
"Winning the 2005 Wheels Car Of The Year award is proof that the all-new MX-5 continues this tradition while improving the ‘fun to drive factor’ ten fold. Put simply the MX-5 is pure Zoom-Zoom.
"That’s why Mazda puts a little bit of the heart and soul of this iconic MX-5 sports car into everything we do".
In 2005, the all new MX-5 also won Japan Car of The Year and New Zealand Car of the Year.
Mazda MX-5 was chosen after an intensive six days of driving the cars over thousands of kilometers at a proving ground and on public roads.
The five key areas of the Wheels Car Of The year judging criteria are:
Function: How well does it work?
Technology: Does the car deliver advantages to consumers through improved technology?
Efficiency: How effectively does the car utilise material resources?
Safety: How well does the car protect its occupants?
Value: Does the car’s price reflect its qualities?
MAZDA MX-5 WINS WHEELS CAR OF THE YEAR
24-JAN-2006
MELBOURNE, Australia: Mazda’s iconic MX-5 roadster has been awarded Australia’s top motoring prize - 2005 Wheels Car Of The Year.
Competing against 20 vehicles, the MX-5 sports car was voted Australia’s best new car by 10 expert judges.
Wheels magazine editor, Ged Bulmer, said: "Precision and harmony are what make it so special to drive.
"The MX-5 is so perfectly balanced, so intuitively agile, so thoroughly thrilling, that it cannot fail to make the spirit soar."
Now in its 43rd year, Wheels Car Of The Year is the world’s oldest continuously running new car award and Australia’s most coveted automobile prize.
The Wheels 2005 Car Of The Year prize makes the MX-5 roadster a two-time winner with the original, lightweight open sports car taking the honors in 1989.
Mazda has now won the Wheels Car Of The year prize six times, making it the most successful full-line importer in the Australian market. Past winners were the 323 in 1980, MX-5 in 1989, the 626 in 1983 and 1992 and the rotary-powered four-door RX-8 sports car in 2003.
MX-5 was named 2005 Car Of The Year ahead of a wide range of new models including the BMW 3-Series, Lexus IS, Lexus GS, Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Mercedes-Benz CLS, Porsche Boxster, Chrysler 300C, Nissan Murano and the Toyota Yaris.
Mazda Motor Corporation President and CEO, Imaki-san said "We are very proud and appreciative that Mazda's MX-5 has received such a high accolade from Wheels magazine in Australia.
"During the development of the all-new MX-5, special efforts were made to ensure that this exciting new Zoom-Zoom car was fun to drive. Zoom-Zoom is in our DNA and we are pleased that the expert judging panel enjoyed their experience of the MX-5 so much that they have voted it their Car of the Year."
MX-5 Program Manager, Kijima-san said "Since the first generation, "Jinba-Ittai" has been the essence of MX-5. Jinba Ittai, translated, means oneness between horse and rider. When developing the all new MX-5, we wished to establish an emotional relationship between the driver and car that achieves true unity as well as pursuing lots of fun. We greatly appreciate the judges' support of this product concept.
"I share my delight with our entire product team; we are all very proud to see MX-5 receive this award. We will continue with the infinite challenge: to design a car for our customers which is fun, light weight and enjoyable for people all over the world."
Mazda Australia managing director, Doug Dickson, said: "Sixteen years ago the original MX-5 defined the affordable sports car. It had agility and balance and that split second coordination that unites driver and car.
"The car had to be light, compact, and balanced and it had to feel and sound just right. And because it was an MX-5 it also had to be affordable. Not an easy engineering task to get right once.
"Winning the 2005 Wheels Car Of The Year award is proof that the all-new MX-5 continues this tradition while improving the ‘fun to drive factor’ ten fold. Put simply the MX-5 is pure Zoom-Zoom.
"That’s why Mazda puts a little bit of the heart and soul of this iconic MX-5 sports car into everything we do".
In 2005, the all new MX-5 also won Japan Car of The Year and New Zealand Car of the Year.
Mazda MX-5 was chosen after an intensive six days of driving the cars over thousands of kilometers at a proving ground and on public roads.
The five key areas of the Wheels Car Of The year judging criteria are:
Function: How well does it work?
Technology: Does the car deliver advantages to consumers through improved technology?
Efficiency: How effectively does the car utilise material resources?
Safety: How well does the car protect its occupants?
Value: Does the car’s price reflect its qualities?
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From: Melbourne, Australia
Let's not forget the MX-5 has borrowed RX-8 suspension components.
MX-5 also used the "SHOCK CONES" first utilised in the RX-8.
But then again, to drive a car with 50:50 weight distribution is something that has to be experienced. IT is simply an experience you cannot put in words... it's LOVE!
WAY TO GO MAZDA!
MX-5 also used the "SHOCK CONES" first utilised in the RX-8.
But then again, to drive a car with 50:50 weight distribution is something that has to be experienced. IT is simply an experience you cannot put in words... it's LOVE!
WAY TO GO MAZDA!
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From: Australia
Originally Posted by RX-Hachi
Cool, way to go Mazda. And let's not forget our RX-8 won this same award 2 years ago. 
Also winning New Zealand's COTY 2006
And here in OZ 'WHEELS' COTY on debut and again in 2006.
When you consider it's a small 2 seater and up against the most expensive brands that Europe, Australia, US have to offer, it shows just how special this little car is....its bloody amazing mate!
I am looking forward to one day taking it out for a "squirt".
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