Britons Vote Ford Mustang as the World’s Manliest Car

Bluebeards Revenge is a UK brand of shaving cream and post-shave balm scientifically proven by Science™ [sic…] to reduce beard growth- or so it says on their webpage. The brand recently conducted an email poll of 1,835 Britons, asking them to rate the world’s “manliest” and “least manly” cars.

The results are in, and –drumbeat please- the winner is the Ford Mustang that was found to be the “manliest car on the planet” with a net total of 21% of the vote.

Runners up were the Aston Martin DB7 (15%), Range Rover (13%), Dodge Viper (11%) and Hummer H1 (10%). On the opposite end of the spectrum – the world’s “least manly” cars – were the Volkswagen Beetle (31%), Mazda Miata / MX-5 (20%), Ford Ka (11%), Toyota Prius (9%) and Nissan Cube (8%).

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Chilling Mazda MX-5 Touch and Roll Over Accident

The accident you are about to watch in the video after the break occurred during the third race of the Ma5da MX5 Mk1 Championship at the Snetterton circuit in the UK.

It all went down when the Jamie Ingram (car No.108) lost control of his Mk1 MX-5 and hit Mark Leach's blue MX-5 (car No.16), who at the time was passing on the right. Leach's car was launched into the air and then rolled over seven times before coming to halt.

Fortunately, despite the severity of the accident, Leach made it out alive but not without some injuries including a bruised lung, some whip lash, and a broken arm.

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Video: A Lap of the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit in a Mazda MX-5 GT

The Ardennes Forest in Belgium is famous not just for the failed German offensive against the Allied forces, which signaled the beginning of the end for World War II and the fall of the Third Reich, but also for its Spa-Francorchamps circuit that is a place closely linked with Formula 1.

Spa includes one of the championship's most demanding corners, the flat-out Eau Rouge. With the F1 teams heading to Ardennes for the Belgium GP on August 26, Mazda has released a video with its race driver Mike Ticehurst guiding us through a lap behind the wheel of a 275HP MX-5 GT.

You can watch it right after the jump.

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Mazda MX-5 reaches another major milestone

The Mazda MX-5 (Miata in other markets) will hit a new record this week, with the 900,000th model set to roll off the production line.

It took Mazda 21 years and 10 months to reach this landmark, after the first model rolled off the production line in April 1989. The UK accounts for over 10% of global sales and 40% of European sales.


“For British motorists, the Mazda MX-5 is the ultimate expression of our Zoom-Zoom philosophy of creating cars that are fun to drive,” comments Jeremy Thomson, Managing Director, Mazda UK. “Over 20 years, the MX-5 has maintained its position as an affordable, lightweight sportscar that is responsive and rewarding to drive, while also proving itself to be ‘recession proof’. We sold 10 percent more MX-5s last year than we did in 2009 and owners enjoy remarkably high residual values. The introduction of the third-generation models meant that the MX-5 became much more than a ‘sunny weekend’ car and the Roadster Coupe, featuring the electric folding roof, now accounts for the majority of sales as buyers look to use their Mazda sportscar all-year round.”


Nobuhiro Yamamoto, programme manager for the current MX-5, said, “Since Mazda launched the original MX-5, it has undergone two complete product redesigns and a series of upgrades. Its enduring success is due to the strong support it enjoys from MX-5 fans around the world. Going forwards, I will strive to keep the MX-5’s spirit alive while evolving it into a car that will be loved by even more people.”

Mazda brings Super20 MX-5 along with other tuned models to SEMA Show

In order to take full advantage of the aftermarket fanboys trolling around SEMA, Mazda released more than a few examples of the paths tuners could take when modifying its MX-5 roadster, Mazda2, and Mazda3 models.
The Mazda2s seen here are designed with two different goals in mind: looking slick on the street, or tearing it up at the track.
The Mazda2 Street keeps it simple by getting lowered on a set of 15x9s and adding some lower-body graphics, while the Mazda2 Evil Track gets the same rims, more aggressive vinyl, and enough safety/racing gear to meet NASA and SCCA standards. The "Evil Track" also wears a Mazda Design body kit and rides on H&R coilovers.
Next are two Mazda3s, a Turbo 4-door and the "Redline Time Attack". The Redline model is said to put down over 500 horsepower through 18-inch Volk wheels thanks to a fully built 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. The sedan, however, keeps the output more modest. Instead, the turbo'd four-door gets a power bump to "well over 250 horsepower", a sporty black-out treatment, front brakes from a Mazdaspeed3 (rears from a Mazda5), and 19-inch RX-8 R3 wheels. The sedan also sits on a KW coilover setup and gets a new rear sway bar.
The Grand-Am GT RX-8, as you can see, is a race car. Built by SpeedSource and Riley Technologies, it has a tube frame skeleton, a 3-rotor 20B Mazda racing engine, and has been doing well in the Grand-Am GT series by taking six of twelve races.
Last are the two MX-5s. The MX-5 Cup, targeted at racers, has been put on a diet and gotten a little juiced; it now weighs under 2,600 lbs and its engine puts out 195 horses. For more on the Cup, scroll on down for the specs.
The other MX-5 is an anniversary model called the Super20 in celebration of the car's 20th American anniversary. The hardtop Super20 gets its fenders expanded around the 16-inch Enkeis, a stripped-down interior with roll-bar and suede (those two go hand-in-hand), and a supercharged Cosworth mill. Other mods include an improved brake system (lines, rotors, pads, ducts) and performance-oriented suspension tuning (hollow sway bars, shock tower brace, Mazdaspeed coilovers).
Mazda North America design director says, "The versatility of Mazda vehicles is extraordinary. With just minor modifications to a stock Mazda, it can be ready for the track or a car show. Our SEMA cars demonstrate this ability; taking a vehicle from the dealership and making it a truly unique piece."
Clearly Mazda knows how to do the small sporty thing; now, if they can be as successful moving upscale as they have been with cheap, fun racing, there are more than a few companies out there that should be concerned.
By Phil Alex

MX-5 Cup Car

Engine Modifications: A MAZDASPEED cold air intake system is required.
Chassis Modifications: The only modification is the addition of the 3-piece front strut tower brace that comes with the sport package.

Transmission/Final Drive Modifications: The stock six-speed gearbox is used by all cars.
Suspension/Steering Modifications: The MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development MX-5 Cup kit is comprised of double adjustable shocks, specified springs and threaded-perch coil-overs. All cars also run identical anti-roll bars and end links.

Brake System Modifications: Brakes must maintain stock brake rotor specifications.
Wheels: All cars run their choice of the stock alloy 17x7" wheels available on MX-5 Miatas.
Tires: The series spec tire is the BFGoodrich g-Force R1, size: 225/45/17.
Body Modifications: None
Safety Modifications: All MX-5 Cup cars run with full safety equipment, including an eight-point rollcage that must be welded into the car. Other safety equipment includes a racing seat, head/neck restraint, an electrical shut-off switch and an incorporated fire-extinguishing system.

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VIDEO: Top Gear Shooting in Israel with BMW Z3, Mazda MX-5 and Fiat Barchetta

Thanks to one of Carscoop's commentators, we can now show you a video of Top Gear's trio of power obsessed presenters -that would be Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond- filming an episode in the Holy Land. As noted in our previous article with the scoop pictures, the cars of choice for Top Gear's latest escapade, are a trio of older generation roadster models - the BMW Z3, Mazda MX-5 and Fiat Barchetta.

There's also a guy with a white racing helmet driving what looks like an old Suzuki Alto, but we're not sure if he's part of the Top Gear crew or if some fans of the show decided to make fun of The Stig. As always, any help with the translation, would be welcome. Watch the video after the jump.

Hat tip to 'Mako'!

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Top Gear Caught Filming Battered Up BMW Z3, Fiat Barchetta and MX-5 at Israel-Jordan Borders

The crew from Top Gear [the original, not the US clone that some are persistently trying to shove down our throat - we get it, it's coming...], was snagged chilling at the border between Israel and Jordan.

According to one of our tipsters, Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond drove their specially modified BMW Z3, Fiat Barchetta and Mazda MX-5 roadsters from Jordan to Israel and their next stop will be at the Golan Heights and at Nazareth. Maybe we'll get some new photos from the shoot, but for now, enjoy some high-res pics after the jump.

Hat tip to Ran!

Source: Hwzone

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AMX07: Mazda Miata / MX-5 base, Aston Martin looks !

Since it looks like it’s an Auzzie day today, I thought I’d check around the web and see what those folks “down-under” have to give us when it comes to terms of “wheels” and I stumbled upon this “freak”!

This, ladies and gentleman, is the Auzzie made, AMX07 which is a rebodied 2nd generation Mazda Miata / MX-5 Roadster! The AMX07, which is available as a kit or as a completed vehicle completely transforms a standard, 1989-1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata (NA series) into a wanna-have an Aston Martin for the poor

Brainchild of Brisbane-based Custom Automotive Restyling, the AMX07 was awarded the “Dare To Be Different” trophy at the Gold Coast Autosalon, on June 3-4. Read more at www.amx07.com/index.php Via: Wheelsblog

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