Mazda Motor Corporation has updated the Mazda Titan, a medium-duty truck for the Japanese market. The freshened models go on sale nationwide today at all Mazda and Mazda Anfini dealers.

The updated Mazda Titan lineup offers improved environmental and fuel economy performance. The standard and middle cabin models*1 with a three-ton cargo capacity now meet Japan’s FY2015 heavy-duty vehicle fuel economy standards.*2 Additionally, all standard cabin model grades are now equipped with indicator lights on the lower part of the doors to make turn signals more visible. To further improve safety, an electronic voice alert is incorporated with the diesel particulate diffuser (DPD)*3 and Smoother.*4

(FWD standard cabin model with 3.0-liter turbo diesel engine, standard body, full wide low cargo bed, two-ton cargo capacity, deluxe packaging and wood-lined steel loading panels.)

Source: http://www.mazda.com/publicity/release/2009/200905/090515a.html

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Japanese Truck Dealers

Mazda Motor Corporation began taking orders today for the all-new Mazda Axela (known overseas as the new Mazda3) at all Mazda, Mazda Anfini and Mazda Autozam dealers throughout Japan. The sales launch is set for June 11, 2009. Manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (including tax) range from 1,660,000 to 2,678,000 yen.

The first generation Mazda Axela debuted in October 2003, and has since built a devoted global following thanks to its lively, distinct styling and sporty performance. The Mazda Axela/Mazda3 is available as either a four-door sedan or a five-door sporty hatchback. It has become a key model in Mazda’s lineup, selling over two million units in world markets and currently comprises over a third of Mazda’s annual global sales.

The new, second generation Axela inherits and evolves Mazda’s highly acclaimed sporty performance and exterior styling, and offers an outstanding interior with greater quality and functionality, as well as top class environmental and safety features.

Source: http://www.mazda.com/publicity/release/2009/200905/090514a.html

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Japanese Cars Dealers

The NISSAN GT-R, winner of the 2009 World Performance Car of the Year, has improved its lap time at the renowned Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany to 7min 26 seconds 70 on April 23.

This new time underlines Nissan engineering team’s commitment to constantly challenge the GT-R’s performance. Previous recorded lap times at the ‘Ring’ were:

* 7 minutes 27 seconds 56 on April 15, 2009
* 7 minutes 29 in April 2008
* 7 minutes 38 in September 2007

This record demonstrates our commitment to the continuous evolution of the Nissan GT-R,” says Kazutoshi Mizuno, Chief Vehicle Engineer and Chief Vehicle Specialist. “We would like to continue delivering the passion and pride of ownership to our customers by improving its performance every year.”

The Nissan GT-R has won more than a dozen awards globally including Car of the Year from CAR Magazine in the UK, and Car of the Year by both Motor Trend and Autombile Magazine in the US.

While the Nissan GT-R benefits from a strong image and heritage amongst performance car aficionados, its updated 2010 version will be the first to be sold globally. It was launched:

* in Japan in December 2008,
* in the US in March 2009
* in Europe, GCC, Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan in April 2009

Europe is currently in the process of delivering the first GT-Rs to more than 2,200 pre-order customers.

The model R35 GT-R was first launched in Japan in December 2007, selling 5,900 units until March 2009. It went on sale in the US in July 2008, where 2,100 have been sold so far.

Source: http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/NEWS/2009/_STORY/090514-01-e.html

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Japanese Car Exporters

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. began sales of the BF60 mid-range 4-stroke outboard engine at Honda outboard engine dealers throughout Japan. A lightweight, compact, water-cooled, 3-cylinder, 60PS outboard engine, the new BF60 features PGM-FI*1 electronic fuel injection, Honda’s original BLAST*2 (Boosted Low Speed Torque) air/fuel ratio and ignition-timing technology and lean-burn control to deliver a combination of best-in-class acceleration and fuel economy.

The BF60’s battery charging performance, also best-in-class*3, helps support the ever-increasing need for onboard device power. Convenient and easy to use, the BF60 is available with advanced features to accommodate a wide variety of boats and applications, including power thrust, multifunction bar handle and large rudder angle for enhanced turning performance.

Source: http://world.honda.com/news/2009/p090514BF60-4-Stroke-Mid-Range-Outboard-Engine/

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Honda Outboard Engine Dealers

Mazda Motor Corporation has launched the freshened Verisa compact car for sale in Japan. The newly refined model features high quality interior and exterior improvements and goes on sale today at all Mazda, Mazda Anfini and Mazda Autozam dealerships nationwide. Manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (including taxes) start at 1,560,000 yen for the Verisa C, with its high quality fabric seats, and 1,650,000 yen for the Verisa L, which offers leather seats as standard.

Improvements to the Verisa C grade include new Lilac Grey fabric seats. The door trim and glove box lid have a matching color, invigorating the cabin space. Three exterior body colors are also newly available, including Lilac Silver Metallic.

Source: http://www.mazda.com/publicity/release/2009/200905/090511a.html

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Mazda Vehicles, Japanese Dealers

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that Insight ranked as the industry’s best-selling car among new vehicle registrations* in Japan for the month of April 2009, with sales of 10,481 units (source: Japan Automobile Dealers Association). It is the first time in history for a hybrid model to be the industry’s best selling vehicle in Japan for any monthly sales period.

Fit was the industry’s best-selling car among new vehicle registrations in Japan for calendar year 2008 and the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009. Fit was also the industry’s best-selling car for the month of March 2009, for the fourth consecutive month since December 2008, until it was displaced by Insight to become the industry’s second best-selling car in April 2009,with sales of 9,443 units. It is the first time Honda has occupied the industry’s top two best-selling car positions.

Source: http://world.honda.com/news/2009/4090511Insight/

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Honda Hybrid Cars, Automobiles Dealers

Lexus announces the launch in Japan today of the “IS250C” convertible, an addition to the “IS250″ “intelligent sports sedan” series.

The IS250C features an electrically operated metal top that ensures the four-seater maintains its characteristic beauty equally with the top up or down.  This exciting convertible aims to embody the joy of open-air driving for both the driver and passengers.

Source: http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/news/09/0507.html

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Toyota Sports Sedan

Round 3 of SUPER GT was held on Monday, May 4th at Fuji Speedway (4.563km/lap) in Oyama-chou, Shizuoka prefecture. Starting the 88-lap race from pole position, the MOTUL AUTECH GT-R (#1 Satoshi Motoyama/Benoit Treluyer) took their first victory of the season.

Round 3 of SUPER GT has become an established Golden Week tradition. In slightly cloudy weather, this year’s race saw over 50,000 fans - many of them families, gather on a warm, calm day. Though SUPER GT events are regularly 300kms, this race was 400kms. With this longer distance, two pit stops were mandated for all participants, and various strategies were refined throughout.

In official qualifying, held on the previous day, Satoshi Motoyama in the #1 GT-R did just what he had done in the last round at Suzuka by taking pole position, and was designated starting driver. From the first lap Motoyama built up a lead, despite his rivals’ attempts to reverse the situation. In the middle of the confusion in the early stages, the HIS ADVAN KONDO GT-R (#24 Joao Paolo de Oliveira/Seiji Ara) was able to get past on lap 9. Until its pit stop on lap 20, the #24 GT-R held onto that position. However, swifter pit work got the #1 GT-R back out on track first, taking the fight to the race-leading #36 Lexus SC430. After the driver switch, Treluyer in the #1 GT-R waited for his chance to pass the SC430, never allowing the gap to widen throughout the latter half of the event.

On lap 60, the car came in for its second stop, the team’s rapid work once again getting it back out quickly, to successfully take over the race lead with a margin of approximately 6 seconds. From that point, Motoyama ran the remaining laps, maintaining a gap to the car behind with his stable lap times. Towards the end, the #36 SC430 actively tried to recapture the position, very nearly catching the GT-R. In addition, delays caused by other GT500 class machines meant the gap had narrowed to a mere 0.2 seconds by the final lap, but the car reached the goal without ever letting its rival past.

Source: http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/NEWS/2009/_STORY/090507-02-e.html

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Japanese Sports Cars