Mazda Premacy

Mazda Premacy
Manufacturer Mazda
Production 1999–present
Predecessor Mazda MPV
Class Compact MPV, Minivan,

The Mazda Premacy is a compact MPV built by the Japanese manufacturer Mazda since 1999 and now in its second generation (third in the Japanese domestic market as of July 2010).

The first generation Premacy was built in Japan and exported to Europe and Asia. A re-badged version was sold by Ford in a few Asian markets (including Japan) as the Ford Ixion or Ford MAV.

The second generation is sold outside Japan as the Mazda5. Ford Lio Ho in Taiwan, which assembles Mazda5 for the local market, adapted a re-badged version as the Ford i-MAX in 2007.

The first generation Premacy was a two- or three-row, five- or seven-passenger vehicle, while the second generation adds a third row of seats for up to six passengers in American form, and seven passengers outside the United States. Both generations feature near-flat floors, folding or removable second row, and fold-flat rear seats.

Contents

First generation (1999–2004)

First generation

Also called Ford Ixion
Haima Freema (China)
Production 1999–2004
1999-present (China)
Assembly Changchun, China
Hiroshima, Japan
Taiwan (Ford Lio Ho)[1]
Body style 4-door 2/3-row minivan
Layout Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Platform Mazda CP platform
Transmission 4-speed automatic
5-speed manual
Wheelbase 2,670 mm (105.1 in)
Length 1999-2002: 4,295 mm (169.1 in)
2002-2005: 4,305 mm (169.5 in)
Width 1999-2002: 1,695 mm (66.7 in)
2002-2005: 1,705 mm (67.1 in)
Height 1999-2002: 1,590 mm (62.6 in)
2002-2005: 1,600 mm (63.0 in)
Related Mazda 323

When released in 1999, the Mazda Premacy was one of the least expensive seven-seaters available on market. The 1999 Premacy used Mazda's CP platform. It was available with either front or all wheel drive and was equipped with four-speed automatic transmission. As the Premacy was based on a sedan platform, it was less modular than some if its adversaries such as the Opel Zafira and Toyota Ipsum and was therefore relatively easy to maneuver. The second and third row seats could be folded and removed as on many other minivans.

This generation Premacy was also sold in some Asian markets as the Ford Ixion.

The first generation Premacy is still manufactured by China's FAW Haima Automobile where it is called the Haima Freema.

It was powered by a number of engines:

Second generation (2005–2010)

Second generation
Also called Mazda5
Ford i-MAX
Production 2005–2010
Assembly Hiroshima, Japan
Body style 4-door 3-row minivan
Layout FF layout
Platform Ford C1 platform
Engine 1.8 L MZR I4
2.0 L MZR I4
2.3 L MZR I4
2.0 L MZ-CD Diesel I4
Transmission 4-speed/5-speed automatic
5-speed manual
Wheelbase 2,750 mm (108 in)
Length 181.5 in (4,610 mm)
Japanese domestic market: 4,505 mm (177.4 in)
JDM S: 179.3 in (4,554 mm)
Width 69.1 in (1,755 mm)
Height 64.2 in (1,631 mm)
Japanese domestic market/Europe: 1,665 mm (65.6 in)
Related Mazda3
Ford Focus (Euro Mk.2)
Ford Focus C-MAX
Volvo S40

The new model has been for sale since summer 2005. It is now sold as the Mazda5 in all markets apart from Japan[2]. While classified by Mazda as a mid-sized wagon, it competes with other vehicles classed as Compact MPVs in Europe, and is viewed as a mini-minivan in the United States. It is based on Ford's global C1 platform, meaning it shares many parts with the Mazda3. The Mazda5 replaced the Mazda MPV as Mazda's minivan offering in most export markets.

The Mazda5's closest relative is the European compact MPV, Ford Focus C-MAX, though the Mazda5 uses minivan-style sliding doors in the rear while the Ford has four conventional front-hinged doors. This version of the vehicle was also introduced for sale in the United States, making it the first compact minivan in that market since the 1994 Mitsubishi Expo (in the United States) and 1995 Nissan Axxess (in Canada). The Mazda5 is marginally larger than the 1984–1989 Toyota Van. Competition joined the North American MPV market in 2006 with Mecedes-Benz's B200 (in Canada and Mexico) and in 2007 Kia Motors followed suit with the 2007 Kia Rondo (in the United States and Canada).

In North America, due to safety regulations, the Mazda5 fits six passengers using three rows of seats, with two seats per row. Elsewhere, it is sold as a seven seater using Mazda's "Karakuri Seating System", which means the car has three rows of two seats, with the seventh seat a fold away jump seat in the centre of the middle row. The Mazda5 has three-point seat belts on all seven seats.

The middle row of seats recline and slide front-to-rear, and fold flat. The rear row also folds flat.

For the 2006 model year Mazda offered fewer Mazda5 options than in other markets. The North American version lacked the front-to-back roof rails that were included as standard in other markets. Other notable Mazda5 options not offered in North America included a back-up camera, power-assist side doors and even a choice of engine (2.3 L only). A second-row DVD entertainment system was eventually offered as a dealer installed add-on. Mazda produced a limited number of Mazda5 units featuring all-wheel-drive but this version was not made available outside of Japan for the 2006 model year.

Mid-generation changes

For 2008, the Mazda Premacy/Mazda5 received a mid-cycle refresh with updated front bumper, wheels and rear LED lights for Touring and Grand Touring trim levels. The automatic gearbox was updated to five-speed. The interior received a few changes to the dash including luminescent gauges, an updated radio control layout with auxiliary input, a rear A/C vent, and center console, and a full set of armrests for the first and second seating rows on North American models. Mazda first released the 2008 Mazda Premacy in Japan, with other markets to follow.

For 2010, Mazda added electronic stability control and traction control to the Mazda5,[3] safety features that were formerly cited as oversights on the vehicle.[4]

Specifications

The wheelbase is 2,750 mm (108 in) with an overall length of 4,610 mm (181 in). For the Japanese domestic market it is C model/F model – 4,505 mm (177.4 in) / S model – 4,565 mm (179.7 in).

Engine options:

Recall

Mazda was forced to recall the Mazda5 in the United States shortly after production began due to a risk of exhaust system fires, discovered by US Mazda engineer Curtis Lee. Owners that were not made aware of the manual shifting mode ("sport mode") of the 4-speed automatic transmission would mistakenly leave the shifter in that position, resulting in high temperatures as the car would remain in second gear. Mazda's solution was to add a heat shield around the muffler and to alter the vehicle's software to not allow excessively high engine speeds beyond a short period of time when in "sport mode". Although the five-speed manual transmission equipped cars would seemingly not need to be recalled, Mazda chose to retrofit all Mazda5 versions with the new parts and software. The company also gave customers US$500 (for Canadian owners, it is C$500) plus a loaner car while the problem was mitigated. 2,700 vehicles were affected.

Awards

The Mazda5 was named "Best New Multipurpose Family Vehicle" in the 2006 Canadian Car of the Year awards. Consumer Reports ranked the Mazda5 as the best "tall wagon" in their test, though the car failed to gain a "recommended" rating due to unknown reliability.

In April, 2006, the Japan New Car Assessment Program (J-NCAP) awarded the Mazda5 a maximum six-star rating for front-occupant crash worthiness. In Europe, the Mazda5 was awarded a maximum five-star "adult occupant" safety rating in September 2005 by the Euro-NCAP.

Third generation (2011–)

Third generation
Production 2010-
Model years 2011- (Overseas)
2012- (Mazda5)
Assembly Hiroshima, Japan
Body style 4-door minivan
Layout FF layout
Platform Ford C1 platform
Engine 2.5L I4
2.0L I4
1.8L I4
Transmission 6-speed manual
5-speed automatic
Wheelbase 108.3 in (2,751 mm)
Length 180.5 in (4,585 mm)
Width 68.9 in (1,750 mm)
Height 63.6 in (1,615 mm)

The third generation Mazda5 debuted at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show. This model received revised styling, marketed by Mazda as Nagare and Furai concepts. In Europe the new Mazda5 is offered with either a 1.8-liter four-cylinder or a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with direct-injection and Mazda’s i-stop start/stop technology, which will reduce emissions by 15 percent. Both engines include a six-speed manual transmission as standard,[5] as well as new environmental friendly features.[6]

For 2012 the Madza5 comes with a 157 hp (117 kW) 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. A six-speed manual transmission is standard in the base model, with a five-speed automatic optional while both the Touring and the Grand Touring come with a five-speed automatic with manual mode. There was no 2011 model of the Mazda5 in the United States & Canada. The third generation began sales in Japan in July 2010. The Mazda5 comes in three grades: 20CS, 20E, and 20S. The base model CSdoes not include i-stop.

The top performance version, the Mazdaspeed5 (or Mazdaspeed Premacy), will be launched two years after the launch of Mazda Premacy in Japan.

In June 2011, a Nissan version of the third-generation Premacy known as the Nissan Lafesta Highway Star was released. Unlike the Premacy, the new Nissan Lafesta Highway Star ditches the Nagare design.

Plug-in hybrid version

Main article: Plug-in hybrid

Mazda is developing a rival to the plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt; Mazda tests are sufficiently advanced that Mazda has a working prototype in a Mazda5 MPV bodyshell [7].

See also

References

  1. ^ "Facilities | Ford Motor Company Newsroom". Media.ford.com. http://media.ford.com/plant_display.cfm?plant_id=129. Retrieved 2010-07-27. 
  2. ^ Mazda. "Official product page on Mazda's Japanese site". http://www.premacy.mazda.co.jp/?link_id=gc. Retrieved 2010-03-03. 
  3. ^ Mazda Website – Mazda5 2010 Model [1] Mazda USA Retrieved on 2010-03-17
  4. ^ Healey, James R. [2] "Mazda5: A minivan that's actually cool? Yep" USA Today 2008-03-14. Retrieved on 2010-03-17
  5. ^ "Geneva Preview: All-New Mazda5 Model Set for Debut in March | AutoGuide.com News". Autoguide.com. 2010-01-21. http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2010/01/geneva-preview-all-new-mazda5-model-set-for-debut-in-march.html. Retrieved 2010-06-18. 
  6. ^ "2011 Mazda5 in Details; Motorward". Motorward.com. 2010-06-28. http://www.motorward.com/2010/06/2011-mazda5-in-details/. Retrieved 2010-06-29. 
  7. ^ "Mazda plans Volt rival". Autocar. 2008-08-28. http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?AR=234607. Retrieved 2009-08-08. 

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