The Mazda Roadster, Demio and CX-5 all won the Japan Car of the Year Awards within the last six years.
“That's three times out of six years . . . Not bad for a small car company!” remarked an enthusiastic Steven Tan, president of Bermaz Auto Philippines Inc. — the exclusive distributor of Mazda vehicles in the Philippines—during his presentation at the Mazda SKYACTIV Pavillion at the 7th Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) held at the World Trade Center in Pasay last Wednesday.
The passionately run brand has been gaining more traction than ever before—building on its outstanding engineering while relentlessly putting a premium on the emotional bond between car and driver.
This year at the PIMS, Mazda Philippines took the opportunity to showcase its 2019 Mazda Collection—highlighting its three newly updated products: the Mazda MX-5 Club Edition, newly-upgraded Mazda6, and top-of-the-line CX-9 Signature.
Standing as the centerpiece of the Mazda SKYCTIV Pavillion was none other than the world's most popular sports car—the MX-5 open-top, 2-seat Roadster.
This latest evolution of the timelessly charismatic Miata now comes with a higher-revving, 184 ps SKYACTIV-G 2.0L petrol engine that redlines at 7500 rpm—thanks to a few changes to the exhaust manifold and for using higher-pressure fuel injectors, among others. The roadster also sports a new exhaust system; and in its entirety, combines more driving pleasure with modern-day efficiency—a mantra that is central to the brand.
It is now equipped with flashier, 17-inch BBS alloy wheels and awesome, body-hugging Recaro sports seats fitted in the RF Club Edition. It is also equipped with a steering wheel with telescopic adjustment—a delightful upgrade for the meticulous driver who is keen on perfecting the Jinba Ittai (philosophical 'horse and rider as one') driving position.
For the executive client, Mazda now flaunts the fresh, new look of the 2019 Mazda6—with a beautiful new grille based on the Mazda Vision Coupe Concept. Personally, it strikes me as being reminiscent of a medieval knight's chain mail—powerful and classy.
Along with its sleeker LED headlights, redesigned tail lights and even more aerodynamic looks come further improvements in the car's dynamic handling, without sacrificing the car's trademark overall luxurious feeling.
In fact, the new Mazda6's cabin is even quieter than before. The new 2.2L SKYACTIV-D (turbodiesel) engine promises increased power; while the 2.5L SKYACTIV-G (naturally-aspirated, petrol) engine pledges even greater fuel efficiency. It achieves this, in large part, via its new cylinder deactivation system—which prompts the car to operate less cylinders at instantaneously-calculated times, when not all 4 are necessarily required.
There are also a lot of brand new elements to be found inside the 2019 Mazda6. Among them are: luxurious, Nappa leather (ventilated) seats; a 7-inch multi-info & gauge display; a bigger 8-inch infotainment display; and a truly helpful, 360-degree view monitor for easier parking. The car also struts a new set of alloy wheels.
Moving on to Mazda's premium Crossover lineup—the brand now offers to the Philippine market a new, top-of-the-line variant in its flagship, CX-9 model range—the CX-9 Signature.
It is Mazda's most luxurious vehicle to date, and comes as an AWD with ultra plush appointments such as: meticulously-crafted Rosewood trim and auburn Nappa leather seats (for all 3 rows). It is indeed at the cusp of premium Japanese craftsmanship, and is worth experiencing for yourselves. “The definition of premium and luxury is really about how it makes you feel,” Steven Tan once carefully explained to me. To that he emphasized, “It's a feel—not the price.”
The 2019 CX-9 continues to carry the technology of G-Vectoring Control (as does the Mazda6 and all other models with the exception of the MX-5) and now comes equipped with Apple Car Play and Android Auto, which make a difference in improving the interaction between car and driver/passenger. It likewise comes equipped with the same new 7-inch, multi-info and gauge display as the Mazda6's, and the same, delightful 360-degree parking view monitor.
Also on display at Mazda's SKYACTIV Pavillion at the recently concluded PIMS were its other popular products, all packed with the updated SKYACTIV body, chassis and engine, such as the handsome Mazda3 and the practical and efficiently nimble Mazda2. The CX-9's smaller, crossover siblings such as the midsize CX-5 (winner of the Japan Car of the Year Award when it came out) and the handsomely compact CX-3 were also there to wow visitors.
Furthermore, Mazda didn't only want visitors to admire their cars... they also wanted them to experience their products' driving dynamics and next-generation technologies, firsthand. For this, a visit to their trade show booth offered their clients the opportunity to test-drive any of the following vehicles at their Mazda Test Drive Center at the WTC from 10 a.m .to 6 p.m.: the Mazda2 V+ sedan; Mazda3 V sedan; CX-5 AWD Sport; CX-5 diesel Sport; CX-9 AWD Grand Touring; and BT-50 4x4 AT.
Adding to the mad-about-Mazda mood, bespoke Mazda merchandise—in the form of shirts, bags, hoodies and umbrellas—artfully designed by "first/we/drive" were also for sale at their trade show booth. They even conducted a photo contest wherein the best photo of a selfie with any Mazda vehicle on display (or even only of the vehicle itself) wins the participant a new, Bose Soundlink Micro speaker!
Last but not the least, there was a special Mazda memento displayed on site—a restoration of the first-gen MX-5 which was the last car of Filipino racing legend, Pocholo Ramirez! Mazda Philippines sponsored the engine rebuild, repainting and reconditioning of the car . . . and this same car will run once again in Clark on November 25, during the Miata Cup races with Pocholo's grandson, Stefan Ramirez, as the driver.
Mazda truly understands the bond between car and driver! Watch him zoom zoom in November!
Check out the 2019 Mazda Collection and all the exciting highlights in this years PIMS by watching this video: