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It's 2 hard to resist

Mazda says its new B-segment car should be coming to Thailand - and it promises a lot of thrills

- Great, the 2 complies with Mazda's Zoom Zoom image...

Certainly. Look at all those sleek design cues...it makes the predecessor, also known as Demio in Japan, so obsolete in appearance. We once brought you a single picture of its side profile. Here is the full set of official pictures from Mazda. Enjoy.

- Boy, the 2's interior looks equally as remarkable...

Definitely. Along with the exterior, the 2's interior seems to be a selling point over its competition like the Toyota Yaris and Honda Jazz. A mix of alloy-like panels and black plastics helps yield a sporty feel, not the mention the accentuated panels dials and three-spoke steering similar in appearance to that of the MX-5 roadster. The 2 should knock its rivals flat.

- Will it come to Thailand?

Mazda Sales Thailand is understood to be keen in selling the 2 here. And if it wants to, it has to assemble it in Asean to enjoy competitive prices against the Yaris and Jazz. As ever, there should be a Ford version - that's not out yet in all-new Fiesta form - for it to maximise production costs. Earliest time would be next year.

- Will it come as an Ecocar?

Mazda would have liked to. But the latest views from the taxmen in Thailand suggest that Ecocar might not see the light of the day. Mazda currently has no plan of making anything smaller than the 2 (unlike Ford that has the A-segment Ka), except for the 2's three-door hatchback version.

- Just how compact is the 2?

Preliminary specifications make the 2 just as big and wide as the Yaris and Jazz, but lower by roughly 50mm at 1,475mm. But the 2's trump card is the wheelbase length that's 40mm longer than rivals' 2,450mm tally. In other words, the 2 has better packaging in terms of balancing out a functional interior and driving agility.

- And the 2's engines?

For Europe, there's 1.4-litre diesel and 1.3-litre petrol engines. Of more relevance to Thai buyers is the 103hp/136Nm 1.5-litre motor. These outputs may be lower than the Yaris (109hp/141Nm) and Jazz (110hp/143Nm). But the 2 tips the scales at some 954kg making it lighter than both the Yaris and Jazz that weigh roughly 1.05 tonnes depending on specifications.

- Should I wait for the 2?

Perhaps, if you're in no hurry to get a new car. That's also because Honda is planning to introduce the all-new Jazz early next year and widen your choice. Details on the next Jazz are scarce, but we heard a similar package, design and engine. You know, if it ain't broke, don't fix it - except for the CVT that could be replaced with a five-speed conventional automatic.

FORD'S FUTURE EQUIVALENT: The all-new Fiesta will share the 2's platform and engines when it is introduced in Europe later this year to replace the current one (right). Ford Thailand has yet to join the B-segment and could do so with the help of the 2. Selling points in both cars will be fun looks and class-leading driving manners like in the 3/Focus compact cars.

Bangkok Post

Last Updated : Sunday April 08, 2007