Mazda2 in Thai is Mazda Soang, which sounds like ‘Nice’ in Cantonese, which was why the Malaysian group was quite tickled every time the name was announced when we covered the Asean Media Launch event held in Bangkok and Chiangmai. Our Japanese hosts also took to the double meaning after we pointed it out, very much liking the connotation. That is understandable because they seriously want this car to be wildly successful. It is awkward for Mazda to be so out of the mainstream, in terms of both image and economic viability. The Mazda2 project can therefore be seen as a make-or-break attempt.
