Mazda2 Goes Extreme with Rally Concept

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October-14th-2005, 08:30 AM

Mikeyb

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Mazda2 Goes Extreme with Rally Concept

Sydney: Mazda Australia today unveiled the second of its “extreme cars”, a rally-ready Mazda2 at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney.

With its stripped-out interior, bonnet-mounted driving light pod with four Hella Rallye lights, chunky Dunlop Direzza rally tyres, 15x6.5 Compomotive wheels and roof-mounted fresh-air vent, the Mazda2 Rally Concept looks race ready.

Extensive engineering work ensures that its purposeful looks are backed up with strong off road ability.

Developed under the experienced rally eye of Mazda’s motor sport manager, Allan Horsley, the Mazda2 Rally Concept features a full race Bond roll cage specifically designed to provide crash protection while adding additional body stiffening to Mazda’s smallest car.

Other body upgrades include a sump guard and a carbon fibre shield to protect the car’s fuel tank from the rigors of racing at high speed on gravel.

Mechanically the car features reworked suspension with an increased ride height and employs Eibach springs and modified shock absorbers.

Increased power is expected over the standard Mazda2’s 1.5-litre 82 kilowatt engine with the rally car using a competition, free flowing, 2.5 inch exhaust system.

A brake upgrade and additional engine tuning, which will further boost engine output, will be completed in the coming months.

“As with our first `extreme car‘, the RX-8 turbo, which was unveiled at the Sydney motor show last year, the idea, planning and building of the Mazda2 Rally Concept came together very quickly”, said Mazda motor sport manager, Allan Horsley.

“However, the standard Mazda2, in this case the range topping Genki model, proved to be an ideal platform from which to build a competitive, fun-to-drive rally car. It offers great handling, steering and a stiff, communicative chassis, attributes that are ideal for rallying.

“Development work has been underway for only four weeks and we have a lot more work to do, but I’m confident that the car will have what it takes to make its mark”.

Mazda’s second “extreme car” builds on the company’s impressive rally credentials, with Mazda Australia winning the Australian Rally Championship in 1988 with the 323 Turbo AWD.

Mazda Australia’s “extreme car” program was conceived as an ideal way to challenge the company’s corporate imagination and extend the Zoom-Zoom appeal of the Mazda range.

Red cars always go faster and the Mazda2 Rally Concept is no different. Using True Red as its base color it also features a black and silver roof and a number of dynamic black and silver highlights.

Inside most of the Mazda2’s interior has been removed including many of the trim panels and the rear seat.

The standard front seats have been replaced with two Sparco race seats and like all rally cars the driver and navigator, who will wear the latest Stilo WRC Carbon helmets, will communicate through an integrated Stilo Centralina intercom system. Navigation information is provided by a Terratrip system.

Significant weight reduction has been made by removing all luxury features found in a Mazda2 Genki and many mechanical parts including the air conditioning unit.

The Mazda2 Rally Concept shares Mazda’s Australia’s International Motor Show stand with Mazda’s class-leading range including the just updated Mazda2 and Mazda6, the Mazda3 sedan and hatch; the four-door rotary-powered RX-8 sports car and the all-new third generation MX-5 and the turbocharged, all-wheel-drive Mazda6 MPS.

The Australian International Motor Show at Darling Harbour, Sydney, opens its doors from October 14 to 23.