The US-Spec Hatchback Spied

[streetfiesta]

I heard the Mazda2 is coming stateside! The competition can only bring good!

[golf strom]

Originally Posted by streetfiesta

I heard the Mazda2 is coming stateside! The competition can only bring good!

That's a change from a year or so ago when Mazda said that they wouldn't be bringing it here because it didn't fit their plan in the USA. Perhaps that has changed now that Mazda and Ford are loosening their ties.

I have to think this might be the reason WHY Ford has decided to put a more full tilt Americanization on the Fiesta because they know that Mazda will be cornering the younger crowd like they always do when it comes to smaller cars....Interesting.

[mrbirdman330]

If the Mazda 2 comes it will be a disaster for the Fiesta if its too watered down while the Mazda 2 will see almost no changes at all.

[golf strom]

Originally Posted by mrbirdman330

If the Mazda 2 comes it will be a disaster for the Fiesta if its too watered down while the Mazda 2 will see almost no changes at all.

I WOULD think this too, but Ford in Dearborn might have different ideas. I agree with you in the logical sense, but maybe Ford is going after the lower end part of the market while Mazda goes for the younger more sophistacated crowd, BUT I thought Ford wanted to change their perception among US buyers. Didn't they!?!?!?!?!!

[mrbirdman330]

You know whats awfully funny especially in my area, I remember when the Focus debuted and how it was aimed at the college crowd with the commercials. It was suppose to be fun and hip to drive yet I tend to find more elderly driving and owning the Foci in my region while the younger crowd that I do see driving have banged up beaten to death Sedans, and Hatches. Makes me angry to see a beautiful car in such a disgrace.

Back on track, it wouldn't surprise me to see what Dearborn does to this car like it did to the others. Hype people up of this great car and then see an uber watered down thing that nobody wants because lack of great options and worse the horrible quality of the first two years in production. Recall after recall, people angry at what they paid for and they end up selling and buying the competition. This case a Mazda 2, same car better quality and more options that customers want. One can only hope Dearborn finally gets the hint at what people want in a car not what the men in suits claim the people want.

[Marc]

Could it be that both the Fiesta and Mazda2 come rolling off the same assembly line? The previous 2 was built in Valencia, Spain, in coorporation with Ford (article doesn't say if the Fiesta was built there, but I know Ford builds cars in Valencia).

As for cars for the wrong demographics: the Scion cars are unknown in the old world. I know these boxy cars are liked by the younger crowd, and so Daihatsu made a similar car, for a similar audience in Europe: the Materia.

But instead, elderly seemed to buy the car!

[GhiaFan]

Originally Posted by golf strom

I WOULD think this too, but Ford in Dearborn might have different ideas. I agree with you in the logical sense, but maybe Ford is going after the lower end part of the market while Mazda goes for the younger more sophistacated crowd, BUT I thought Ford wanted to change their perception among US buyers. Didn't they!?!?!?!?!!

Wow how backwards would that be. To see the Mazda 2 and Fiesta side by side, the poor Mazda2 is very low budget looking.

Ford N.A. would have to totally destroy any resemblance the N.A. Fiesta has with the global Fiesta for the Mazda2 to be the more sophisticated of the two vehicles.

[Marc]

[mrbirdman330]

Scion is actually Toyota but for some reason here in the US and in Europe the XB, XA, and tC are marketed as Scion as opposed to Toyota. I have no clue as to why this was done. And seeing those pics scare me very much, Dearborn better be able to compete with that.

[BRGT350]

Looking at the Mazda 2, there is going to be no competition with the Fiesta. The nose is very boring and bland. The back is nice, but any nicer than the Fiesta. Overall, the Mazda 2 looks cheap and average. Reminds me of a Mazda Yaris or Versa. The front proportions all screwy, and it has nothing to make it stand out. I am sure the US version of the Mazda 2 will get the annoying smiling face, which will make it looks even stranger. There is no way I would take the Mazda over the Ford.

After seeing a lot of Mazda 3's at this past weekends autocross, I have decided that car is way too big for me. The C-Segment cars are all getting too big.