Mazda 2 V Review
Zoom Part Deux

This took place because Mazda wanted a car that would appeal to the European market, and one that diverts attention away from the Japanese domestic market, hence the ugly, boxed shape of the former model.

Change? What?

Mazda is starting to take it’s “Zoom-Zoom” very seriously.

First and foremost, the new 2 has an all-new platform, built with the use of lighter, newer “ultra high-tensile steel” in increased proportions for better lateral stiffness and hence, 22kg worth of weight savings for the 2’s bodyshell alone.

Their so called 'gram strategy', that they successfully applied to the latest MX-5, meant placing the right things in the right places. Even silly things like the car audio system meant a thorough re-working in a vain attempt to save 2.86kg over the old one.

I would imagine all you car audio fans throwing a couple of heavyweight, high fidelity amplifiers in there, ruining Mazda’s day in the process...

The suspension looses 13kg worth of fat, of which some of it comes from reducing the length of the trailing arms in the rear and lower arms up front. Then there are things like a smaller radiator and cooling fan and consequently a smaller coolant reservoir, shorter air intake pipes with no resonator box, no under-floor catalysts, smaller bonnet, smaller hinges, smaller everything....

Try 100kg - a full ten percent off the old model. Remarkable.

Mazda’s surgical move towards car liposuction is a good one, considering how new models always end up being “one up” in terms of size, weight and product positioning. Therefore, Mazda maintains that their “2” is targeted at cars similar in class as that of the old “2”.