Auto model joins upgraded Mazda2 range

The Japanese carmaker has high hopes for its new Mazda2 range.

THE significantly upgraded Mazda2 model range is now on sale priced from £9,995 (on-the-road). 
The nine-strong line-up of three-door and five-door hatchbacks offers customers a choice of three petrol and one diesel powertrains and four generous equipment levels. 
Responding to public demand, two new models are added to the range – an automatic model (with a 1.5-litre engine and four-speed transmission) and the ‘Tamura‘ offering sporty looks at a high-value price.
New features appearing across the range deliver significant improvements to interior comfort, ride quality, handling and refinement.  Outside, the new Mazda2 has a larger five-point grille and larger Mazda badge and newly-designed front fog lamp bezels and wheels.
Inside, finishes and decorative parts are revised for a higher quality feel throughout the cabin. Road holding and ride comfort have been improved thanks to a stiffer bodyshell, changes to the front suspension geometry, softer mountings for the rear trailing arms and re-tuned rear dampers.
“Making the ‘special’ Tamura model a permanent addition to the line-up gives consumers a high-value variant with a sporty flavour beneath the regular, fully specified Sport models,” said Mark Cameron, sales director of Mazda UK.
“The new automatic ‘Mazda2 Activematic’ is certain to expand the appeal of our smallest car.  Changing traffic conditions and advances in automatic gearbox technology are steadily increasing the attraction of this kind of transmission,” he added.
For the upgraded Mazda2’s powertrain line-up, the three petrol engines have been re-tuned to Euro Stage 5, improving fuel economy  and reducing CO₂ emissions. The five petrol Mazda2 cars now have a rating under 120g/km and move to the lower tax ‘C’ band, while the diesel model moves down to band ‘B’, so six models qualify for £0 Road Tax first-year rate and reduced Benefit in Kind costs, offering users significant savings.
Mazda dealers are currently offering upgraded Mazda2 buyers three finance packages available for retail sales only, until January 3,2011. The Tamura also comes with three years complimentary servicing and road fund licence if the customer elects to finance through a two or three year Mazda Personal Contract Purchase. During this period, Mazda is also offering a ‘customer saving’ of £300 off the list price of the new TS² Activematic model, plus existing Mazda customers can also benefit from a £500 loyalty bonus available on all models in the upgraded Mazda2 range.