The line of Mazda, that "Zoom-Zoom" brand from Japan, expands in 2006 with more sport-tuned vehicles added. Mazda's MX-5 Miata roadster evolves in a new design with more power below the hood, while new Mazda5 emerges as a multi-activity vehicle with ride traits of a sporty car but the cabin of a SUV with three rows of seats for six riders.

The RX-8 is a high-revving sports car with perfect weight balance and a high-tech vehicle packing a modern version of Felix Wankel's rotary engine. It's a two-door sports coupe that cleverly conceals a four-door design with the practicality of a sedan and two rows of seats. Heart of RX-8 is its powerful rotary engine. The twin-rotor plant generates 238 hp with a six-speed manual gearbox or 197 hp with the optional four-speed automatic.

Mazda loads RX-8 with equipment but clusters optional items in packages. The Sport Package includes xenon headlights, foglamps and a vehicle skid controller; a Touring Package brings a moonroof and Bose audio system, while the Grand Touring Package adds leather seats and heat elements in front buckets and exterior mirrors.

The new multi-activity vehicle from Mazda features a wedge-shaped body and a big cabin with room for six. There's a broad sliding door on each flank and a low floor deck for easy entry to rear quarters, plus a one-touch mechanism for second-tier seats to move away when accessing the third row. Powertrain is Mazda's aluminum 2.3-liter four-cylinder plant with sequential valve timing (S-VT) to generate 157 hp. Transmission choices include a five-speed manual or four-speed Sport automatic with manual shift mode.

Mazda5 trims out in Sport and Touring editions. The Sport stocks power controls and a stereo AM/FM/CD, an anti-lock brake system (ABS) and side air bags as well as curtain-style air bags above all three rows of seats. Mazda5 Touring adds front foglamps, a rear spoiler, side skirts, a moonroof in the roof and a six-disc CD changer in the dashboard.

A new shape for the exterior package applies to Mazda's sporty mid-size cars in three variations -- Mazda6 the four-door sedan, Mazda6 5-Door as a five-door hatchback and Mazda6 Sport Wagon with five doors. Power for the series stems from a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine or a 3.0-liter V6. On four-cylinder models, Mazda upgrades the optional automatic transmission from a four-speed to a five-speed design to enhance fuel economy ratings. On V6 models, modifications in the engine improve exhaust emissions and boost output to 215 hp.

The sleek package displays styling hints borrowed from European touring cars. A spacious cabin shows two front buckets and a rear bench for three with split folding seatbacks. Gear on Mazda6i with the four-pack includes ABS and a traction control system (TCS). Mazda6s with the V6 gets side air bags plus curtain-style air bags.

Consider this new model the quickest and most agile sports sedan ever made by Mazda. It's based on a Mazda6 four-door sedan but features a turbo-charged and inter-cooled engine with all-wheel-drive (AWD) traction plus standard dynamic stability control (DSC) program. A 2.3-liter DISI (Direct Injection Spark Ignition) turbo four-pack screams with 264 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque.

The AWD device divides all of that torque and routes half to the front wheels and half to the rear. Styling of the body varies from Mazda6 with the addition of unique fascias front and rear, revamped forward fenders, curvy side sills and a spoiler on the tail. The cabin earns bolstered sport buckets, sill scuff plates with stainless-steel inserts and aluminum pedals, and a cool Bose audio system. (CONTINUED...)