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The Mazda MX-5 is one of our favorite droptops around the NextAutos office, so we're pleased to see that this refreshed version is making its way off of assembly lines, if only in Japan for the moment. Mechanically, not a whole lot has changed with the MX-5, though cars equipped with a manual transmission can now rev up to a 7500 rpm redline and new shift settings for the automatic-equipped models have been implemented.

The MX-5's exterior speaks to Mazda's new design language that we've seen on the updated Mazda6 and Mazda3, and some new color choices and wheel options are available, along with a choice of a traditional canvas roof or folding hardtop. Inside, there are minor updates to the fabrics and switchgear, and should make for a pretty solid package overall.

While no official details have been released for the upcoming U.S.-spec MX- refresh, we'd expect that all of the JDM updates will carry over. Expect pricing to be in line with the current car's numbers, as well. Click through the post to read Mazda's official press release, too.

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We all know Mitsuoka as the interesting Japanese automaker known for its rather unique design language. Their latest creation pays homage to classic British roadsters, namely those from Morgan. And while the Mitsuoka creation won't have the Morgan's classic wood frame, it should prove to be a rather inspiring drive due to its Mazda MX-5 underpinnings.

The Mitsuoka Himiko is indeed a bit more mundane looking (yet more acceptable) than the automaker's Orochi sports car or Galue luxury sedan, and hey, you can even get the Mazda MX-5's retractable hardtop! Click through our gallery above for some detailed shots of the Himiko, and leave your thoughts about this one-off Brit, in comments.

+ Autofiends: Mitsuoka Himiko isn't a Morgan

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Caption:

Toyota Prius
48 mpg city / 45 mpg highway / 46 combined

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If there was one positive factor about 2008's energy crisis, it's that it forced consumers to put more weight on fuel economy when making car-buying decisions. And while we may have moved away from $4-per-gallon gasoline, fuel efficiency still places high on the "must have" list for a lot of new car shoppers. Now that we know how easily these price hikes can happen, it's better to be safe than sorry, right?

We've seen major manufacturers expanding their ranges of hybrid offerings, and for the first time, clean diesels are starting to make their way onto American soil, proving that you don't have to sacrifice performance for the sake of fuel consumption. Scroll through the gallery above to see out list of the ten most fuel efficient cars for 2009.

Note: This information is based off of the 2009 FuelEconomy.gov listing.

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After officially debuting its new 3 at the L.A. Auto Show this week, Mazda has decided to take control of the release of information regarding the 3 hatchback as well. Rather than face the inevitable deluge of spy photographs from outside sources, the company has gone ahead and taken its own “spy” shots, revealing a clad Mazda3 hatch running around in scenic Iceland.

The move makes a sort of sense, as Bob Lutz made clear when Camaro spy shots started cropping up all over, as it gives the automaker the ability to have its mule seen in the best possible light, even if it is largely covered up. The car isn’t dissimilar from the Mazdaspeed3 we’ve already caught out this year and should prove to be a spirited driver. Have a look at the extra pretty spy photography in our gallery above.

+ Jalopnik: 2010 Mazda3 Hatchback Spied By Mazda

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With around 1.8 million units sold so far and some 90 awards won, the Mazda3 has been treating the Japanese automaker quite well ever since its initial release five years ago. So to keep the favorable trend going, Mazda will show the all-new Mazda3 sedan at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show.
 
The styling has been nudged towards what the automaker likes to call a unified Mazda global "family face." This translates into a lower air intake, and a modernized and 'instantly recognizable' five-point grill. The lines have also been tweaked and molded on the body for a more coupe-like shape, featuring a similar the C-pillar profile as the one on the 2009 Mazda6.

Interior upgrades include a sharper and more contemporary look than the previous generation, with keyless entry and push-button start as its standard party piece. Options will include rain-sensing wipers, heated side mirrors, leather upholstery, and heated seats. While these changes are nothing too special, it does come with a Bose 10-speaker premium surround sound system, a dock for iPods, Sirius satellite radio, and connectivity for cell phones and portable media players. These additions should happily satisfy anyone with a techno-accessory junkie within.
 
The power comes in the form of either a 2.0-liter inline-4 capable of generating 148 horsepower and135 pound-feet of torque, or a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder that produces 167 hp and 168 lb-ft of torque. To transfer power to the wheels, there is yet another list of choices ranging from a five-speed or six-speed manual transmission, as well as a five-speed electronically controlled Sport-AT autobox.
 

The safety features of today have come a long way from just padding and seatbelts. Nowadays, the technology released by auto manufacturers is becoming more and more advanced. Some may even start to implement radar in cars, if a recently released report can be trusted. As the story goes, beginning February 2009, Mazda may be adding a Rear Vehicle Monitoring System (RVMS) as standard on every European Mazda 6 Sport model.

The system utilizes two sensors mounted facing rearward that detect vehicles behind and to the sides of the fitted car. It will alert the driver when there is a car in the blind spot just off the rear of the quarter panels, and even provide a warning if there is a vehicle approaching at a rapid pace. The RVMS will also notify the driver of any vehicle, within 150 feet rear of the car that is approaching at more than 36 miles per hour. This should help drivers to anticipate cars that will be in the blind spot area by the time a lane change is initiated. All of these indications are given through a small speaker near the A-pillar, in the form of a warning tone.
 
Though the report and the extent in which this safety feature will be fitted have yet been confirmed by Mazda, the system may help reduce the high number of accidents occurring while performing lane change maneuvers.

+ Motor Authority: Mazda implementing rear-facing radar system from 2009

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Now that the new Mazda3 has been shown to off to the public, it seems that engineers at Mazda are plowing ahead with another new version of the car, the fire-breathing 2010 Mazdaspeed3.

The first super noticeable feature on the upcoming white hot hatch is the massive scoop that graces the front hood, surely an add worthy of a second glance from even the most died-the-wool Subaru junkie. That intake is likely there to feed a turbocharged 2.5-liter four, with Mazda said to increasing displacement just a bit for this generation of Speed3. The resultant powerplant should be good for at least 300 horsepower, and may even signal a shift to an all-wheel-drive vehicle—though a front driver is still the most likely configuration.

An impressive set of front and rear spoilers, as well as two hefty exhaust pipes help to complete the look of the ultra aggressive Mazda; making our hearts beat a little faster at the prospect of our first drive in the process. Read the photographer’s own notes below.

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The Mazda RX-8 continues to have us puzzled as to why more of these aren’t on the road. No, the rotary engine isn’t four-season friendly, and neither is the car’s rear-wheel-drive, but when the weather is right, the RX-8 really shines. For 2009, a re-worked exterior sports a slightly more aggressive fascia, and while our Grand Touring model doesn’t have all of the beefy visual add-ons found on the R3 (a new model for ’09), we still had a lot of fun throwing this Mazda into bends and revving the twin-rotor engine way up past 8000 rpm.

(Click through the post to read our full notes on the RX-8.)

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Say this for Mazda designers; they certainly know how to get some serious mileage from a single design theme. Casting its tried and true Nagare styling language into the form of a highly efficient city car, Mazda came up with the flowing Kiyora for the Paris show. The concept may look radical, but it is powered by a truly conventional small four-cylinder engine; relying more on a slippery shape and lightness to make mpg headway.

Have a closer look at the Kiyora in our huge live image gallery of the concept above.

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We’ve seen plenty of spy shots of the 2010 Mazda3, but now the automaker has released the first official images of its new pivotal compact. The overhead front photo of a sedan variant came bundled with a press release confirming that the sedan will debut on November 19 at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, while the five-door model will roll out elsewhere on the international show circuit.

Although no real specifics were divulged, the Mazda3 is expected to be marginally longer and wider than the outgoing car, and it will once again be available in America with a choice of two four-cylinder engines, a 2.0-liter and a 2.5-liter, both with direct-injection.

What do you think of the 3’s new duds? Check out the official press release below, then drop us a line in ‘Comments.’