Lightweighty Charmeur

So far the Mazda 2 was not a straight best-seller. The Japanese established their smallest model halfway successfully in the streetscape and in Europe between 30.000 and 40.000 cars per year sold. But in a segment, which stands for approximately a quarter of all permissions between Narvik and Gibraltar, was the Japanese a market share from a per cent to little: Therefore the second edition of the Mazda 2, which is sold starting from 20 October, is to sell itself clearly faster and more frequently. At the latest in the year after the next the market share is to have increased with the small cars on 2,5 per cent. The Japanese create the optimism on a vehicle, which breaks with some conventions of the industry. Because there are cars, which become with the model change more beautifully, more charming and sportier, many. But such, which become smaller, easier and more economical, are rather rare. And even if then still the prices sink and in the future despite better equipment no more with 12.600, but “begin under 12.000 euro”, one may almost divide the confidence. The mini max principle becomes possible by consistent switch positions during the development process. “We wanted consumption and emissions to lower and nevertheless the costs not to increase”, say project manager Shigeo Mizuno. Therefore materials separated such as aluminum or plastics likewise like small, but engines loaded for it, a fuel direct injection or new savings systems like an asynchronous operation mechanism. Instead the Japanese asked themselves the sense question according to Mizuno: “As large and as well equipped a car must be real in this class?” They came fast to the conclusion that a few centimeter can be quite saved: Instead of 3,93 the Mazda is 2 now 3.89 meters short, which the unchanged wheel base covers skillfully by 2.49 meters and which neither with the knee liberty nor with the view into 250 litres the large trunk is noticeable. The two renouncement sound finger-broadly after a Lappalie, make however on the balance and thus at the gasoline pump an enormous difference: Because also with the equipment with each gram one gegeizt and for example the seats and the wiring harnesses became easier, to have the developers the car around round 100 Kilo abgespeckt and consumption completely without Hightech over up to 15 per cent lowered. Even the sportiest model with 103 HP strong 1,5-Liter-Motor, veritabler acceleration and a point speed of 188 km/h now is at a standard value of 5,9 litres. That corresponds to a CO2-Ausstoss of 140 gram per kilometer, for which one praises smaller cars like the new Renault Twingo or the VOLKSWAGEN Fox. A diesel engine follows in the next summer And thus the end of the flag bar is not even reached. Finally it gives for the start also a 1,3-Liter-Aggregat, which carries out alternatively 75 or 86 HP and is not completely so spritzig, but however only 5.4 litres used up and discharges 129 gram of CO2 per kilometer. Who wants to save still more, gets in the summer 2008 the offer of a 1,4-Liter-Dieselmotor, which will come 70 HP to have and close to the four-litre consumption mark. That the new Mazda 2 is thus thoroughly a reasonable car, one at least from the outside hardly regards to him. From the altbackenen Mauerblümchen with the high roof and the boring face a quick Charmeur became, which the designers in the hessian Oberursel made up elegantly. The headlights sparkle brilliantly, the issued wheel housings already witness from a certain Kraft, the roof line actual before the debut for end of 2008 advised Dreitürers - close at the Coupé, and the tail lures almost to the tender flip. Hopeless interior without Pep Inside against it it is with the new flair not far ago. At least the now available pilot lot models work strangely form and colorless. Admitted, the fits look already completely tidy. But the door boards make an uncommonly cheap impression, and in the cockpit a few shining Zierteile or the round ring is not sufficient around the radio evenly, around grey plastic landscapes aufzupeppen. The only pfiffige extra beside the practical console between the seats is the upward open magazine file in the otherwise closed glove subject - and the developers saved just there to a few cent for finer material They were otherwise generous despite the cost framework and the weight defaults surprisingly. Because there is not to be compromises with security and Mazda all lightweight construction squints to the defiance on five stars in the Crashtest, there is six Airbags and beyond that “for the first time in this segment” also in series ESP for all model variants. Just as ex factory Zentralverriegelung and electrical window lifters are installed in all versions. From the new philosophy of the Mazda 2 also the company nut/mother Ford profits. The relationship is no longer close as as with the predecessor model and Ford fusion. But at least the platform of the new Mazda 2 will carry also the next generation Ford of the Fiesta.