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.

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Franchise holder to strengthen Mazda brand at the Grand Prix

KUALA LUMPUR: Bermaz Motor Sdn Bhd, the franchise holder for the Mazda brand in Malaysia, sees motorsports as a highly effective platform to build brand awareness, said marketing manager Shahidin Sahamid.

The company is currently working with the Sepang International Circuit Sdn Bhd (SIC), which operates the Sepang race track, to co-promote this year’s Formula One (F1) Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix.

“We are looking at new ways to expose the Mazda brand to Malaysians and F1 is something that needs no introduction,” Shahidin told StarBiz at a F1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix roadshow recently.

“To be associated with F1 gives us a lot of exposure. It’s all about speed and excitement and the Mazda RX-8 is the right car for this contest,” Shahidin said, adding that the company might consider other forms of motorsports as a platform to leverage its brand.

“We are studying and looking at those opportunities,” he said.

Bermas is offering purchasers of this year’s Malaysian F1 tickets a chance to win a Mazda RX-8.

Only those who buy the tickets at the roadshows are entitled to win.

Auto sales this year were likely to be slow down due to the economic slump, Shahidin said, adding that the tightening of credit facilities by banks would also add to weakening sales.

“But we feel that Malaysians love cars and they will find the first opportunity to buy cars when things ease up,” he said.

Bermaz acquired Mazda distribution rights from Cycle & Carriage Bintang Bhd in April 2008.

Since then, the company has sold about 1,000 units. Its best sellers are the Mazda CX9 and Mazda 6 models.

Shahidin said it was difficult to forecast how many units it expected to sell in 2009, given the tough economic conditions, adding that the company planned to launch two or three new models this year.

“We’ve got new models coming and I think it should give the Mazda 6 a run for its money,” he said.

The next F1 road shows will be held at Highway Auto City and Gurney Plaza, Penang from Mar 6-8 and One Utama, Petaling Jaya from Mar 25-29. Malaysia will host the second round of the 2009 F1 World Championship from Apr 3 to 5.

KUALA LUMPUR: Mazda roared into the automotive limelight when its Mazda6 2.5-litre won the New Straits Times/Maybank “Overall Car of the Year 2008″ award. Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop (fourth from left) presenting the Automotive Man of the Year award to Proton Holdings Bhd managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir (right) yesterday. With them are (from left) New Straits Times Press group editor-in-chief Datuk Hishamuddin Aun, NSTP chief executive officer Datuk Anthony Firdauz Bujang, Maybank CEO Datuk Abdul Wahid Omar and NSTP chairman Tan Sri Mohamed Jawhar Hassan.  The Mazda6 also came out tops in the Executive Car (below RM200,000) category. Mazda added another feather to its cap when its roomy seven-seater, Mazda CX9, won the “Best in Class” in the Premium SUV category.Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, the managing director of Proton Holdings Bhd, was awarded the “Automotive Man of the Year 2008″ Award in recognition of his leadership in Proton and turning around an ailing domestic giant into a genuine global challenger.The winners of the New Straits Times/Maybank 2008 Awards were announced at a gala dinner in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, hosted by the New Straits Times and Maybank Bhd. The guest-of-honour for the night was Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop. Also present was Datuk Aishah Ahmad, president of the Automotive Association of Malaysia. The judging panel, comprising 12 senior Malaysian motoring journalists, unanimously agreed to award the coveted prize to Mazda6 for having a next to perfect balance between performance and comfort, two factors demanded by executive car buyers.

This year also saw the addition of five Special Mention Awards.The winner of the Safety Award is the Jaguar XF, also the top choice in the Premium Executive Car (above RM200,000) category. One of its primary winning points is the pedestrian airbag that sets new standards for automotive safety. The Innovation Award went to Honda Civic Hybrid. It is the first hybrid vehicle in the market to spur a path towards a more environment-friendly automotive sector. The Volvo C30 received the Good Design Award for “leaving a lasting impression and emotional attachment, while having all the sophistication without the complications to the end-user”. Malaysia’s Top Selling Car 2006-2008 Award was won by Perodua Myvi, which saw sales of 277,993 units since its launch in 2005. (continue your reading )

MAZDA (BERMAZ) Company Cars For Sale !

Mazda3 1.6L Sedan (WPU 3111) – Sample Preview -

Hey All; I went quiet for a while as I went back to Penang with my new M6 2.5 White baby!.
I am sure some of you eagerly wanting to know my experience with the car and please find some of my comments base on my personal experience :- (continue your reading )

While we’ve already seen the new digs that Mazda has given its 2+2, rotary-powered RX-8 model at the Tokyo Auto Salon and Detroit Auto Show earlier this year, the car that’s always been shown up to this point has been the top shelf RS model. Perhaps you’re curious to know what a base RX-8 looks like without the big wheels and wings. Well, the updated RX-8 has gone on sale today in Japan, and Mazda has released new images that show the car without all that high-performance filigree. The larger air intakes up front remain, but gone are the deep chin spoiler, rear spoiler and 19-inch wheels. One of the lesser models known as the Type-E in Japan makes do with new standard 17-inch wheels (up from 16-inches). Mazda’s changes to the RX-8 are more than skin deep and nearly all will be featured on models sold in the U.S., as well.

For Malaysia, BERMAZ will be bring in this “Facelift” model this year (2008). Therefore it will comes with “Official Mazda Warranty” and services. This is the 1st time Mazda Distributor in Malaysia will carry this model in their model line up. So, u still wanna get a re-con RX-8 ? Check out the list of details in Mazda’s RX-8 in the galleries below (continue your reading )