When you’re drifting your FD RX-7 through the streets of Tokyo and need to snatch a bite of sashimi at Tsukiji fish market, these carbon fiber chopsticks are the only way to go.

Own a 2010 Mazda CX-9? Does it have heated seats? Unless you’re wearing three layers of Nomex, you may want to hold off using the heaters until you can have your dealer inspect the system. On certain vehicles, a faulty ground can cause the seats to overheat and (in extreme examples) catch fire.

The recall is set to begin on March 9. Want more details? Call Mazda at 1-800-222-5500.

That’s what Mazda said about the MPV, their boxy, yet surprisingly enjoyable minivan. But they never, ever, imagined this. David Swenson over at SpeedHunters tells the tale of how he shoved a VG30DETT V-6 out of a Nissan Z car into his 1993 Mazda MPV. The end result? An MPV with 388 horsepower. As a fan of Mazdas and insane engine swaps, I wholeheartedly approve.

Source: SpeedHunters

The third generation Mazda RX-7, imported into the US from 1993 to 1995, is generally regarded as one of the finest handling cars in the world. Unmolested examples are rare, since Mazda’s 13B rotary motor, combined with twin, sequential turbochargers proved both difficult and costly to maintain. Enthusiasts, in their quest for more power, took to dropping in any motor that would fit between the front wheels: case in point, this 1993 RX-7 rocking a Corvette LS-1 motor and Tremec T-56 6 speed gearbox.

Mazda 6, Flat Rock's unloved offspring

Faced with declining sales of the 2009 Mustang and Mazda 6, Ford has announced their intention to lay off 900 workers from their Flat Rock, MI assembly plant. Displaced workers will be given the option of relocating to another facility, such as Ford’s Chicago plant, which is ramping up to build the new Explorer.

2011 Mazda 2: competition for the Ford Fiesta

Mazda is working the car show circuit with their soon to be launched subcompact hatchback, the Mazda 2. Family resemblence to the Mazda 3 and even the Mazda 6 is readily apparent, and the 2 is expected to live up to Mazda’s reputation for building entertaining cars in every niche. Slotted below the Mazda 3 family in both pricing and amenities, the Mazda 2 will be available with a five speed manual or five speed auto gearbox. Only one engine, a 1.5 liter four good for 103 horsepower, will be available. Look for the 2 to hit Mazda showrooms in summer 2010, at prices starting around $16k.

More pics (including the inside) after the jump.

Road racing, track driving, street driving… hell, they’re all dangerous to a point. Take the lucky bastard in this Mazda Miata for example – throughout the entire video, he was nice and smooth with no real drama to speak of. Then all of the sudden the camera shutters and this poor guy goes ass over teakettle. Luckily the Miata is a great car and it looks as though this guy was running the proper belts and roll bar. What the video really shows though, is how fast and without warning accidents can happen. So, to all you guys out there who love the thrill of the track, make sure you’re suited up with the proper equipment as it can literally save your life.

I want to preface this list by saying that there were many factors going into the reasons as to why each one of these cars made the cut. Some of you will agree with my choices and others will not. You see, when I do a list like this I don’t just go with who’s got the highest hp numbers, or which is the best car from 60-0. I try to be objective and look at things like, everyday usage, price, reliability, performance and roominess. I look at these cars from the vantage point of using them as an everyday driver, which means 24/7/365. Yes, some will be pricey and deservedly so and others will be more budget oriented. So, now that you know the parameters, lets get down to business.

I spent some time as a driving instructor, and I wish any of my students were as smooth as the driver dissed in this video. Maybe the guy didn’t have all the lines nailed, and maybe his shifting could have used some work, but I didn’t see anything I’d call dangerous. The primary job of an instructor is to instruct, and I sure as hell I didn’t hear any of that going on.

The video has a happy ending, though: the assnozzle instructor is now unemployed and presumably looking for something better suited to his temperment. Like being a clerk at the New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicles.

Source: Jalopnik

My '06 MX-5 on a road trip to Barber Motorsports Park

“It’s a chick car. Driving a Miata is like humping another guy – it only feels good until someone sees you doing it.”

“They don’t go fast enough to be entertaining.”

“My Civic / Mazda 3 / Tiburon / Mustang / Dodge Caravan can kick your ass.”

“Aren’t you afraid of other cars?”

In the eight years that I’ve owned Miatas (1993 “B” Package from 1998 to 2002, 2006 Galaxy Gray Sport from 2006 to present), I’ve heard it all. Yes, I know that my Miata isn’t going to get me laid. Your Corvette probably doesn’t get you laid, either. Yes, I know it’s not going to beat a Mustang GT in the 1/4 mile. Yes, I know it’s smaller than most other cars on the market today (OK, ALL other cars on the market today), but none of that matters once you get the jones. I blame mine on Dustin Hoffman – that scene in The Graduate where he’s driving his Alfa Romeo Spider 1600 Duetto up the California coast at sunrise is simply epic: