Talking about Cars, it is a known fact that WE NEVER GROW UP, OUR TOYS JUST KEEP GETTING BIGGER !! The kids would also love to colour the images and carry out the activities.

BHPian AJ-got-BHP recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

There is nothing like an early influence in a child's life.

Talking about Cars, it is a known fact that WE NEVER GROW UP, OUR TOYS JUST KEEP GETTING BIGGER !!

I thought of sharing images from a pdf file which might interest everyone. Print, Colour, Preserve/ Pin Up on your cork board. The kids would also love to colour the images and carry out the activities:

As a matter of fact, this can be a competition during the lockdown (to start with) where everyone may participate and share the outcomes with fellow BHPians !! Will be fun 

Other BHPians are also welcomed to share such or similar engaging stuff if available with them so that everyone may indulge in it and relive our best memories once again.

This thread is meant to share all engaging car related activities which start at an early age and goes on. It can be anything interesting !!

Here's what GTO had to say about the matter:

True story = my best friend's son was born on a Sunday at about 5 PM. Once he was cleaned and brought back to the room, me & my friend started watching F1 on the TV in the same room. Needless to say, he is 14 years old today and loves F1. 

Here's what BHPian rav11stars had to say about the matter:

Are you bored looking at the numerous screens at home? Are you done with binge-watching all the series? Then here's something to take your mind and eyes off those stressing screens.

Mazda has released paper craft data for all its cars including classics like the Cosmo Sport and the R360 Coupe. They are divided into three levels of difficulty (high, medium and low). I first discovered this in the Mazda subreddit and saw many members posting beautiful models they made. Here's one of them for inspiration.

BHPian gauravanekar shared this picture of his kid:

Here's what BHPian SwapnilNalavade had to say about the matter:

I have taught my Son the Automotive ABCD. Here is the link.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The next generation of the MX-5 could be expected sometime by the end of 2025.

Mazda has confirmed that their most popular lightweight 2-seater sports car, the MX-5 Miata, is here to stay.

According to reports, the company promises that the sports car will continue to be updated, with no threat of being removed from the brand's lineup. Speaking to a media outlet, Martijn ten Brink, head of Mazda Europe, stated that the MX-5 will never die. Although, the company is yet to decide the best route to take for the model's next-generation iteration.

Brink added that the popular sports car will exist forever, moving along with the times. He mentioned how people are passionate about the Miata and have varying opinions regarding what direction it should take. Hence, it will be exciting to see where it will end up.

Reports suggest that considering each generation has a lifecycle of about eight years, the next generation of the MX-5 could be expected sometime by the end of 2025. However, Mazda is yet to confirm the same.

Source: Autocar UK

Steering feedback and handling is exceptional. 6-speed torque convertor is smooth but gets confused few times.

BHPian shauryadabas recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi everyone! I am writing this ownership review for my pre-owned 2017 Mazda 6 which I bought in Nov 2020. The car had 41k miles when I got hands on it, and today it stands at 74k miles. So, I have covered around 33k miles (53000 kms) in 21 months.

Looks too good for it's age I must say:

Why and how I bought it:

I came to USA in Aug 2019 to start my PhD at the University of Florida. Due to negligible transport facilities, I started my car search somewhere around early 2020 but it got postponed due to Covid. During the quarantine, I literally browsed through every used car available for my budget. After seeing some Mazda 6's reviews and learning about how sorted these are to drive, my heart stuck on this sedan. It was like no other car for me other than a red Mazda 6.

So, I kept on postponing till I found this red Mazda 6 at 41k miles in great condition only for 16k USD. That's correct, 16k USD, just ~12 lakh rupees for this beautifully well kept large sedan. This was the short period post Covid-1st wave when car deals were like a steal in US. (I feel so lucky when I see the prices of similar models these days, the same 15k USD cars I saw at that time are demanding more than 20k USD, even being 2 years older!!!).

Till now, I have driven it a lot in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Louisiana. It's a proper fun to drive car with good cruising abilities. I have not spent on it much apart from regular oil/filter changes and front brake pads/disc replacement once.

Following are my observations over time:

The pros

• A very very beautiful sedan compared to it's rivals (Accord/Camry/Sonata).
• Steering feedback and handling is exceptional.
• Interior quality and practicality.
• 19-inch wheels (look attractive).
• 12-speaker BOSE system sounds crisp.
• Reliable (similar league as Toyota).
• Blind spot monitoring is a boon on expressways.
• Adaptive full-LED headlamps are great!
• Fuel efficiency considering 2.5L NA petrol is decent.

The cons:

• 19-inch wheels and low-profile tires (harsh ride on undulations).
• Missing Adaptive Cruise Control (almost standard on every car sold in US 2018 onward)
• Acceleration is nothing to boast about, but fast enough.
• 6-speed torque convertor is smooth but gets confused few times.
• No Apple-Carplay/Android-Auto.

I have posted some pictures along with few details on each:

Interior looks premium. Quality, fit & finish are great.

Side profile looks clean with those lines and curves.

19 inch wheels and low profile rubber look enticing.

Has Sport mode which makes the drive more engaging but consumes ~2-3% more fuel. You can also see the electronic parking brake. The infotainment controller looks and operates just like BMW's IDrive.

Climate control switchgear is intuitive to use and feels robust. The screen gives 2013-2016 BMW vibes.

In-built Navigation shows useful info. On long drives, I mount my phone for the main navigation and also run this in-built navi as an additional assist.

My best numbers till date, this was a 2hr drive. 41.5 mpg equates to ~17.6kmpl.

Chilling in its unnatural habitat.

Final pic for this post.

All in all, it has been great experience with this car and I so much wish that Mazda comes to India soon. I am sure their SUV line-up, namely, CX-30, CX-5, CX-50 will be hit here if priced well.

I will be active with new posts about my Mazda 6. Thanks!

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The current options in this segment either lack reliability or are overpriced for what they are offering.

BHPian SR-71 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

While we have come a long way from the humble Ambassadors and Premier Padminis to having the latest and greatest adorn our car showrooms, we are still behind many countries, even among developing nations, when it comes to choices. This is pronounced in the mid-level commuter segment. We are spoilt for choices in the Rs 1 - 20L (ex-showroom) price bracket and we have decent choices in the luxury segment. It's the mid-level commuter segment that's almost empty. Offerings in this segment either lack reliability or are overpriced for what they offer. It's blatantly ruled by the European twins or the lone Japanese Elephant. However, this is a segment that is spoilt for choices the world over and we really don't get much of it here.

So what cars you would like to see enter India in this segment? Please share your thoughts on this. Multiple models are allowed but please ensure that your choices:

• are restricted to cars that make sense for the large populace interested in this segment
• are restricted to cars that already have RHD offering
• do not cover luxury brands
• do not cover models confirmed to launch in near future (2022 Tucson for example)

Here's what BHPian amol4184 had to say about the matter:

Mazda CX5, Kia Sportage and Hyundai Elantra N line.

Never driven the Elantra N Line but the true blue Elantra N has been receiving high praise from all across. Obviously, we won't ever get it here so I will make do with the N Line which isn't a bad car in any way except maybe Hyundai's polarizing front end design.

As for CX5, the interiors are fabulous. All Mazdas have stunning interiors. If launched here, that car will sway people just based on the interior quality.

Sportage for Kia's newfound design language. I just love mid-size to big Kia SUVs (Telluride is incredible but way too big) and Sportage finds a nice balance between small and too big. With Kia on a roll, Sportage makes sense.

Here's what BHPian RohaNN_kWh had to say about the matter:

Not sure why the Sportage and Stinger were never launched!

When KIA was just opening shop in India, they had an event in Wheelers Club, Meerut and I went there along with my friends to see what this new brand is about, upon reaching I saw KIA Sportage, Carnival & Seltos parked with club members being shown the new cars. I loved the way Sportage looked (almost futuristic compared to what was available at that time) and was something that our market would've loved if priced competitively.

I also remember seeing a Stinger GT in NCR back then. Sporty looking sedan with nice road presence.

Off-topic but can we have Suzuki Jimny? Please.

Here's what BHPian Doge had to say about the matter:

Any Mazda, really. I have been in the new Mazda 3 and MX5 and, oh man, they are such tasteful and high-quality cars and good value, too. Plus, they look gorgeous, have nice interiors and drive great, too. Add the Japanese engineering and reliability and you have some of the most complete cars around.

Next would be Euro Toyota's. For example, CH-RV looks so cool and the quality is great, too. Hybrid is very efficient as well.

Here's what BHPian vivekkp had to say about the matter:

I would love to see Dodge coming to our country. I know it's wishful thinking but after having driven the Dodge Challenger, oh, its sweet engine note and response. Alas, 2023 is the final production year of this magnificent beast with Chrysler going to drop this icon due to their electrification plans.

Ok, coming back to reality, I know this is never going to happen with the current taxation in place.

Here's what BHPian androdev had to say about the matter:

The problem we have is quality and not quantity. With govt taking 40%+ in the form of various taxes, it's extremely difficult to offer the quality that a customer expects for the on-road price paid.

The cheapest car without much localisation is what one should look for if an overall premium feel is important. Such cars currently start at Tucson, Civic, Camry, Tiguan, etc. Even second-hand cars of such models feel better than new cars of localised models.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

This happened in Australia. I was driving my wife's Mazda 3 & hit a pothole during a right-hand turn at less than 50 km/h.

BHPian kiku007 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Some of you might have read or even robustly participated in the discussions on the accountability of Toll Road operations in this thread.

I think we have accepted the fact that it is a utopian concept to expect accountability from toll road operators in India.

What if I tell you that my local council in Australia paid me for the cost I incurred to replace a car tyre that was damaged by a pothole? Read on.

Day-1

• I was driving my wife's Mazda 3 and hit a pothole during a right-hand turn at less than 50 kmph.
• The on-board TPMS reported a massive loss in tyre pressure in the front LHS tyre.

• Parked the car and called Mazda Roadside Assistance (RSA).
• Within ten minutes of calling them, their RSA partner RACQ had their person next to our car.

• The flat tyre was replaced with a space saver. No sweat.

• Went to the tyre shop to check on the puncture.
• There's a hole in the sidewall and the tyre had to be replaced.

Day-2

• I was talking to fellow mates in our Drive club about potholes and sidewall stiffness.
• I even spoke about it on TBHP here.
• Fellow Drivermasters asked me to lodge a claim with the Council and ask them to pay for the new tyre.
• So I gathered all the evidence and that includes pictures of the potholes and the invoice.

• I lodged a damage claim with the City Council on a Sunday night.

Day-3

• I get an e-mail and a call in the morning from the Council! That kind of response time beats several private companies.

• They had assigned a person to check and fix the pothole. The Council has engaged a company to process their liability claims and they gave me the contact details.
• I contacted the Insurance/Liability processing company and lodged my claim (again).

Day-5

• They assigned a Case officer to assess my claim.

Day-11

• Claim processed. They offered to pay for the tyre.
• There's a clause that, "no admission of liability basis" but that's fine.

It is an understatement to say that I'm impressed with the outcome. Accountability exists.

Is this the norm or an exception in Australia? Anecdotal evidence from speaking to several friends here indicate that it is quite common here. The key is to have access to the right information, present a strong case and be polite. I prefer that to the social media vilification approach that some people take.

The city had heavy rains the previous week and that possibly explains the appearance of the potholes. I'll try to get a picture of how they've fixed the pothole.

I don't know how relevant this is for the councils in India but it'll be interesting to know if they also have similar claims processing systems. Maybe they'll go bankrupt if they have such processes. However, what's the excuse for toll road operators?

Here's what BHPian akshay4587 had to say about the matter:

I drive an Alfa Romeo 159 with 235/40/19 tyres in Melbourne, and I am waiting for the day, I have to run after the council for such a claim since some roads were terrible; hopefully, they have improved, since I am away from Australia for a year now.

Such claims aren't uncommon; a few years ago, a signboard on a freeway towards Melbourne airport fell on a Kia Carnival (Or some other MPV), it could have been fatal as well. The car was replaced free of cost, I cannot recall if the recipient got some compensation for the trauma.

Here's what BHPian Gansan had to say about the matter:

Doesn't look like much of a pothole! I wonder how it totally damaged the tyre at 50 kph.

Here's what BHPian ABHI_1512 had to say about the matter:

The city council in Australia must have some real sympathetic people there. They have compensated for almost a non-existent pothole whereas folks here break their axles and still can’t convince the insurer, let alone any city corporation or council. The magnanimity shown here is in complete contrast to our country where we keep paying tolls for non-existent roads even!

Here's what BHPian CarNerd had to say about the matter:

That's one of the advantages of living in a developed country with less population and efficient public administration. I don't think we can even dream of something like that happening in India. Here, As soon as a new road is laid, we can measure the time taken for the first pothole to appear using a stopwatch!

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Japanese manufacturers Mazda, Suzuki and Yamaha have issued an apology over improper fuel economy and emission tests conducted.

According to a government report, the companies cleared vehicle's fuel efficiency under improper conditions. The tests were conducted at a different speed, rendering the tests invalid. The test result samples were examined from different periods going back to 2012 in case of Suzuki. The move was prompted by the government after improper testing at Subaru and Nissan came to light last yea.

In case of Japanese cars, no rules were broken or any recalls issued. The automakers didn't find any significant issues with the actual emissions and fuel economy figures. Out of 12,819 samples tested by Suzuki, 50% had been tested incorrectly. In case of Mazda, 4% tests were found to be irregular while 2% of Yamaha's test results were irregular.

Last year, Kobe Steel, Mitsubishi Corporation and Toray Industries - all suppliers to automakers globally, admitted fudging product data.

Source: Reuters

Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota), Mazda Motor Corporation (Mazda) and Denso Corporation (Denso) have agreed to jointly develop basic structural technologies for electric vehicles. The three companies will set up a new entity with each one providing engineers for effective implementation of the joint technological developments.

Many countries have announced the shift to electric/hybrid vehicles, and some of them are even mandating the automakers to sell a percentage of models as electric cars. The timely development of electric vehicles in many markets across the segments is difficult for a single automaker. Keeping this in mind, the three Japanese companies have come together to develop basic structural technologies for EVs through various segments like small cars, minivans, SUVs and light trucks. This joint venture aims to utilize Mazda's computer modelling-based development, Denso's electronics technologies, and the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform.

The main aim of the company will be to research into the common platform for upcoming EVs, testing the various platforms and their individual components and optimizing the use of each part to its most suitable platform. The companies also aim to create a business structure that is open to participation by other automakers and suppliers.

The new company will be called as EV C.A. Spirit Corporation and will be located at Nagoya, Japan. Toyota will invest 90% of the capital while the other two will contribute 5% each. Denso along with Suzuki has recently set up a Lithium-ion factory in Gujarat.

Japanese automakers Mazda and Toyota have officially entered a long term partnership. As per the official statement, a joint committee will now be set up to evaluate how to utilize each company's respective strengths.

Details on what this partnership will mean for future technologies / products are limited as the companies have chosen to keep the targets of this partnership vague. Developments on the environmental and safety technology front can be expected. Reports suggest that Mazda could receive fuel-cell and plug-in-hybrid technology from Toyota in exchange for SKYACTIV petrol and diesel engines. These speculations are also fuelled by the fact that Toyota President, Akio Toyoda has praised Mazda’s SKYACTIV technologies and the KODO concept.

Previous collaborations between Toyota and Mazda have included the licensing of Toyota's hybrid technologies to Mazda and the production of compact cars for Toyota at Mazda's plant in Mexico.