Revised Mazda2 Takes Home Japan COTY Award
The newly revised Mazda2 — Demio in its home market of Japan — won’t be in United States showrooms until sometime during the 2016 model year, but when it does arrive, it will be bringing along its first award: the 2014-2015 Car of the Year Japan, as presented by the Japan Car of the Year Committee.
The fourth vehicle to adopt the automaker’s Kodo design language — after the CX-5, Mazda6 and Mazda3 — the Mazda2 took home the award just two years after the CX-5 did the same. The win is Mazda’s fifth overall.
All passenger vehicles announced or in production in Japan between November 1, 2013 and September 30, 2014, with over 500 units produced/planned for the home market, were eligible for this year’s award.
Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.
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I don't think these are on the road yet, even in Japan. They haven't even announced details for the engine here in the US. It makes me wonder, have the voters for the Japan CotY even driven it yet? If not, how can they possibly vote for it? What kind of backroom deals go on to get such an award in such a case? And how can Mazda, being as small as they are, swing it?
The bigger news is where the Jeep Cherokee placed.
I've never rented a Mazda 2 but I've chuckled as I walked past them on the lot. And then I see the photo above of the Japanese guy submerged in what for him is a spacious mid-sizer. How utterly different and generous all of global cardom must be to the 5'5"! I am truly jealous when I see someone gazing *under* the rvm; I have to completely remove them to get them out of my face and permit vision to the right. And yet they can design so well for us big Western louts that we have the Camry, second in sales only to pickup trucks. So capable, them little nihonjin fellers.
I've been in Fuji speed way last weekend to watch WEC LeMans series. Mazda had a small booth to show their classical LeMans series race car and new Demio. What made strong impression was Audi guys very seriously examining the Demio's interior and giving best compliments to the finish level. It's really world class level car in that perspective.