Article: Mazda demonstrates that small lightweight cars be safe too

[MetroMPG]

When Mazda redesigned its stylish new B segment car, they made it over 200 lbs lighter than its predecessor. According to ABG, they've just voluntarily subjected it to European crash testing, and it came out 5 stars for adults, and 4 stars for child protection



http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/12...s-be-safe-too/

The moral of the story? Don't let your children anywhere near this deathtrap! Right? Small cars are unsafe! (Right?)

Why Mazda doesn't bring this vehicle to North America is a mystery. They currently have no competitor for the brisk-selling Toyota Yaris or Honda Fit.

[MetroMPG]

Ah - just double checked, and a version of this car may in fact be headed this way - as a Ford.

Ford of Europe will derive its next-generation Fiesta subcompact from the same platform as the all-new Mazda2, which made its world debut at the Geneva motor show this month.

A small, unnamed B-car, as the industry calls the segment, is destined for North America around 2009 and will be based on the Fiesta, Ford says.

Source: http://www.thestar.com/article/195093

So, the hip bone's connected to the ... leg bone...

[cfg83]

MetroMPG -

More of the same :

Mazda2 coming to America as Ford Fiesta in 2009
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/04...iesta-in-2009/

I think we need to credit our own Sam Abuelsamid for predicting this one a month ago. He spotted a Ford Fiesta in Detroit in early March, and thought at the time that the Fiesta might make a good candidate for the then-just-confirmed news that the Mazda2 would be coming to the U.S. (others guessed differently). Last week, Sam's prediction was confirmed, according to Motor Trend. Built using Ford's new consolidated global small car platform team, the vehicle architecture of the next-gen US Ford Fiesta will indeed be the same as on the Mazda2 , and it's headed to the states in 2009, Motor Trend says.

CarloSW2