Mazda, Honda Suspend U.S. Orders for Japan-Made Models

Mazda has suspended all US orders for cars built in Japan as the carmaker is preparing to shut down its plants once again after a short reopening period. According to the automaker’s American spokesman Jay Amestoy, the decision will affect shipments of cars that were due to arrive in the U.S. in May. The Mazda official added that it was uncertain when normal activity will resume.

Mazda USA imports almost all its range from the Japan, except the U.S.-built Mazda6 and Tribute. The models produced in Japan are the Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda5, MX-5 / Miata, RX-8, CX7 and CX9. Mazda halted production at its Hiroshima and Hofu plants from March 14 through March 21, but three days ago, it resumed temporary production using parts it had in its inventory.

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New Mazda MX5-GT Racer with 275HP Completes 0-60mph Sprint in 3.0 Seconds

Meet the all-new MX5-GT, a featherweight race car with which Mazda will participate in the Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship 2011 taking on Aston Martin, Porsche, Lotus, and BMW. It may seem like a difficult task but Mazda, in cooperation with Jota Sport, the race engineering team that will run the cars in the 2011 series, have a few tricks under their sleeves.

For starters, the GT is claimed to be the lightest and most powerful MX-5 ever built. Jota Sport took some 400 hours to build the car’s shell to a specification that ensured it was 17 times stronger than required by the FIA. Weight-saving measures include the removal of interior parts, reducing component weight and dipping the shell in acid to shave 15kg. The end result is a total weight of just 850kg or 1,873 lbs.

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Swiss Treat: Mazda MX-5 '55 Le Mans' Limited Edition

In a nod to its memorable Le Mans victory in 1991, Mazda has launched a special edition version of its MX-5 roadster model in the land of smooth chocolates and punctual watches. The MX-5 ’55 Le Mans’ is named after the Mazda 787B No.55. Driven by Johnny Herbert, Volker Weidler, and Bertrand Gachot, the 787B No.55 won the 24-hours of Le Mans in 1991 claiming the first ever victory for a Japanese automobile and the rotary engine in the famed endurance race.

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Mazda Continues Rollout of Special Edition MX-5s with Kendo Model for the UK Market

Named after “The way of the Sword”, which is said to be a form of modern Japanese martial art, the MX-5 Kendo is the latest special edition model to be released by Mazda to celebrate the 900,000 units produced since the introduction of the first MX-5 in 1989. The MX-5 Kendo has been created for the UK market and will be available from March 1 in two forms, the MX-5 1.8i Kendo soft-top priced at £19,255 and the more powerful MX-5 2.0i Kendo roadster coupe with a £22,320 price tag.

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