Mazda: the little car maker that could

It has just occurred to me that while browsing through Car and Driver's website, five of Mazda's seven models for 2016 are ranked best in class.  Considering how small a company Mazda is compared to industry giants such as Toyota, Ford, Honda, and General Motors, this is a huge accomplishment.  Almost every review I have read recently about a new Mazda product praises its driving dynamics, style, quality, and value. 

Credit for this turnaround needs to be shared jointly between Mazda's Kodo design language and its Skyactiv approach to creating cars.  First, the brand's Kodo design language has gifted new Mazdas with handsome athletic proportions befitting cars of a higher price bracket.  It is also satisfying to see concepts with Kodo styling enter production with minimal styling changes.  For many years, people were teased with concepts featuring Nagare design touches with next to none appearing on production cars, save for some swooshes along the flanks of the Mazda 5 and smiley face grills for all.  Interiors benefit from an increase in quality and improved ergonomics.  Car and Driver goes so far as to call the Mazda 3 interior the best you can buy for under $30,000.  The magazine praises its seating position and the placement of primary and secondary controls.  Everything is where it is supposed to be and the layout is designed to not distract from the task of driving; something that is very satisfying to do in the newest crop of Mazdas.

All new Mazdas are built using a philosophy called Skyactiv, the gist of which is optimizing every component of the car for maximum efficiency and performance.  Skyactiv gasoline engines are built with a compression ratio of 14:1 which is unparalleled among other mass production engines.  This results in higher fuel efficiency and increased performance figures.  The Mazda 6, using a 184 hp Skyactiv engine is able to sprint from 0-60 in seven seconds while still returning 37 mpg on the highway.  The Skyactiv approach also applies to transmissions that handle gear changes faster and smoother, and platforms and chassis that are built from lightweight materials to boost efficiency and handling.

The latest Mazda to benefit from a Skyactiv overhaul is the MX-5 Miata.  In many ways the Miata is in a class by itself.  No other automaker offers a rear drive sports car with a convertible top that is a joy to drive for less than $40,000.  The last closest competitors were the short lived Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky twins.  Even though the Miata could relax and get soft, it hasn't.  The new car is shorter, sits on a smaller wheelbase, and weighs less than the outgoing car.  Power is provided by a 155 hp 2.0 liter with direct injection.  A new six speed manual gearbox helps cut acceleration to 60 mph to 5.9 seconds.  Fuel economy sees a massive leap from 24 to 30 mpg.  The interior is roomier and the materials are of a higher quality than the previous generation.  Base models can be purchased for as little as $25,735, an increase of $945 from last year, but only $267 more than the inflation adjusted base price of the original 1990 Miata.  Overall, the Miata throws into question why one needs a big heavy sports car.  The Miata has usable performance at an affordable price.  If driving is your paramount concern, look no further than the new Miata.    

Though all new Mazdas represent impressive leaps forward compared with the models they replace, I was quite surprised to hear that Mazda will not be bringing its new 2 hatchback to the United States next year.  The company cites low number of sales regarding this decision.  After seeing some statistics I can begin to understand what they are on about.  In 2014 Chevrolet sold 93,518 Sonics, Ford sold 63,192 Fiestas, and Honda sold 59,340 Fits.  Mazda only managed to move 13,615 copies of the 2.  Driving through my state I see these numbers in action.  Sonics and Fiestas are everywhere and I hardly ever see a 2.  Still there is some hope.  The platform lives on in the new CX-3 albeit with four wheel drive.  And the Scion iA is a sedan version of the 2 sold in other markets.  The driving dynamics remain the same, although Scion saw fit to add a hideous whale shark mouth that is the stuff of nightmares.  Mazda also assures Americans that the 2 will come back if it is ever needed, for example if gas prices suddenly spike again.  Still, considering it received all the styling and Skyactiv enhancements of other Mazda models, it seems a shame not to bring it here now.  13,000 people may not be a large number, but I guarantee every one of them would have a smile on their face. 

High School DxD review

I've seen quite a few harem animes over the years and none of them are perfect.  Let's be honest, you don't watch this stuff if you are looking for something intellectually stimulating.  Fatal flaws in harem series include really wimpy male leads, no plot development, and way too much gratuitous nudity to be taken seriously.  I was quite surprised to find that High School DxD has actual depth and tries to make itself worth the viewer's time.  

The story revolves around a second year high schooler at Kuoh Academy named Issei Hyoudou who is the most perverted guy at school.  Naturally, all the girls at school despise him.  Imagine Issei's shock when a beautiful girl named Yuma Amano asks him out on a date.  In the back of Issei's mind, he can't help thinking that this is too good to be true.  It turns out that it actually is.  At the end of their date, Yuma reveals herself to be a fallen angel named Raynare and fatally stabs Issei with a spear of light.  Leaving him to die, Issei is revived by Kuoh Academy beauty Rias Gremory who is actually a devil.  Issei turns out to be in possession of a Sacred Gear housing the Red Dragon Emperor, which caused the fallen angels to perceive him as a threat.  Rias also sensed Issei's power, and wants him to join her group of devils at the school.  All of them are members of the Occult Research Club, where Rias is the club president.  During the rest of the series, Issei, Rias, and the other devils in the club make contracts with humans, participate in ratings games with other devil clans, and solve conflicts that involve the school and the underworld.  Issei's goal is to one day be a harem king with a number of female devils in his care.

One of the things that first hooked me into the show was its brutal honesty about what it is.  Whereas other harem shows try to make the lead male into a Dudley Do-Right where he is unwillingly the object of affection for a number of girls, Issei makes no attempt to hide that he wants a whole group of girls crawling over him.  At the same time, he seems unsure of what to do when he gets exactly that.  Despite his perversion, Issei is not a sex fiend.  He cares about his friends and wants to treat them the right way, even if it means refusing their sexual advances on him.

Issei is a very interesting character unlike any I have seen in other harem animes.  As already mentioned, he makes no attempt to hide that he is a pervert, yet he is far more admirable and caring than his initial impression would lead people to believe.  This is something that the devil girls grow to like about him.  You can sense his concern when one of his friends is in danger, and his anger when he encounters whoever threatens to is responsible for harming his friends.  More importantly, Issei is not without his own inner demons (no pun intended).  After his experience with Raynare, he is afraid of getting too close to the girls on the chance that they might reject him.  As a result, he is reluctant to call Rias by her name, instead referring to her respectfully as "President," even when they are alone together.  This insecurity regarding relationships is something any teenager can understand and instantly sympathize with.  Issei is also capable of laying down some serious hurt on a number of supernatural enemies.  The sacred gear he possesses first materializes as a gauntlet, and later becomes a full suit of armor when he activates his Balance Breaker.  The Red Dragon Emperor, Ddraig, who resides in the armor communicates with and mentors Issei throughout the series. 

Character development is another of High School DxD's merits.  Each young devil receives a rounded back story at some point helping explain where they came from and why they act or think the way they do.  None of them are perfect, and the series does a good job examining the chips each carries on his or her shoulders.  The story itself is also quite good.  The first season provides a strong introduction to the main characters with plenty of funny moments and intense action scenes, cumulating in a memorable season finale.  The second season uses the format established in the first and introduces a few more main characters and backstory regarding the conflict between angels, fallen angels, and devils.  The third season, which has just about wrapped up, flounders a little bit near the end as it tries to establish a more serious tone, but I would say it's still decent.  The universe that this series creates is really intriguing.  The devils break stereotypes by being portrayed as very honorable individuals.  At the same time, figures and creatures from other mythologies around the world are included, giving the series truly global scope.

Don't get me wrong though, this show is not without its over the top use of fan service.  At least one female character is topless or completely naked every episode.  Even Issei's devil powers revolve around perverted means.  But at the same time, it is refreshing to see the show try to be more than just raunchy eye candy, and it largely succeeds at that.  The characters are likable and the story is quite entertaining.  Time constraints and budget limits do require shortcuts leaving some characters and plot points left unexplained.  You would have to read the manga to learn more about each of the characters.  However, the anime does a good job with what it has.  I recommend High School DxD to anyone looking for a harem series that goes above and beyond its brief to create an entertaining story complete with a rich cast of characters who viewers will enjoy spending time with.

Top 10 Worst Badge-Engineered Cars

Badge-engineering is a common practice in the automobile industry.  It decreases the cost of building a brand new car by utilizing platforms and body panels from existing models.  Some manufacturers can do a good job at hiding the donor car underneath their new car, others not so much.  Here is a list in my humble opinion of the 10 worst examples of badge engineering.

10. Citroën C-Zero/ Peugeot iOn/ Mitsubishi i

Starting off the list is one that has some historical precedence.  To give their companies a large SUV, PSA Peugeot-Citroën collaborated with Mitsubishi and was allowed to rebrand the Outlander as the Peugeot 4007 and the Citroën C-Crosser.  Additionally they also sell versions of the smaller Mitsubishi Outlander Sport.  When it comes to the i electric car, Peugeot and Citroën each slapped their badge on the bonnet.  There is nothing wrong with doing this since it would have been very expensive for PSA to develop its own car from scratch.  However, that doesn't make the i donor car any prettier to look at or cheaper to buy.

9. Lincoln MKX/ Ford Edge
Lincoln has for too long relied on tinseled up Ford products to fill its showrooms.  That unfortunately does not seem like it is going to change any time soon.  The good news though is that with new cars such as the MKZ and the MKC, you really have to squint to see the Ford product behind the waterfall grille.  That's not the case with the MKX, hence explaining its presence on this list.

8.  GMC Yukon/ Chevrolet Tahoe
In a similar story to the Lincoln/Ford affair, GMC bases its entire lineup on better appointed Chevrolets.  The sin here however is that the current Tahoe can be specced so nice it begs the question why the Yukon needs to exist.  The Cadillac Escalade avoids inclusion on this list because GM has put considerable effort into making its top SUV more distinctive from its lesser brethren.

7. Lexus LX 570/ Toyota Land Cruiser
Seeing a trend here yet?  This entry is almost tied with the GM pair except that the base Land Cruiser starts within a couple thousand dollars to the Lexus.  At least the Yukon starts at the upper end of the Tahoe lineup.

6. Chrysler Town and Country/ Dodge Grand Caravan

Oh Chrysler, you perennial third banana of the Detroit Three.  You've put in some good effort on your promise to reduce the overlap in your different lineups, but your minivans remain a testament to the past.  There is a plan to kill off the Grand Caravan and replace it with a three row crossover.  Until then however, it is difficult to separate or even tell the difference between the GC and the T&C.

5. Infiniti ESQ/ Nissan Juke

Love it or hate it, the Nissan Juke is something else.  If there is any car that does not need the badge engineering treatment it would be the Juke, but that didn't stop Infiniti from trying.  It does nothing to fit into the Infiniti lineup.  (Heck it barely fits into the Nissan lineup).  There are a few nicer appointments inside but the weird motorcycle motif remains.  To a casual observer, it would seem like an aftermarket job.  So far the ESQ is only for the Chinese market.  Hopefully it stays that way.

4. Mazda Tribute/ Ford Escape

At the time, it seemed a stroke of genius.  Mazda was owned in part by Ford and did not have any SUV to rake in serious money.  The Tribute wasn't bad, it just wasn't spectacular in any way.  The design was largely unchanged from the Ford making it stand out like a sore thumb at the Mazda dealership.  There was also no dynamic improvement over the Ford making the choice to buy one a matter of which dealer was closer to your house or which company offered the best price.  Alas the Tribute has largely been forgotten in the wake of its replacement, the fantastic CX-5.

2. (tie) Ram ProMaster/ Fiat Ducato & Fiat Freemont/ Dodge Journey

It seemed right that these two should be tied for the same position since both are a result of the Fiat and Chrysler merger.  As testament of their new alliance models were shared between brands to help sort out individual weaknesses.  Ram didn't have a work van in its lineup unless you count the stripped down Grand Caravan nee C/V.  Therefore Fiat supplied its giant Ducato van from Europe for Ram to use.  It's not bad aside from being rather hideous to look at, and that it wears its Ram badge rather awkwardly.  The same can be said of the Dodge Journey-based Fiat Freemont.  Previously, Fiat had no SUV in its stable and the Journey was the best candidate for a rebadge.  Again, the problem is that it doesn't look like any other Fiat, but the real complaint is that it is offered with a manual transmission in Europe, something keen drivers in the US would love to have.

1. Holden Volt/ Chevrolet Volt

Here it is, the worst case of badge engineering in recent memory.  This one you really have to see to believe.  Holden has always been a refuge for GM products from around the globe.  In the past few years, it felt that it needed to offer its plug in hybrid vehicle in the Australian market.  The choice came down to either the Volt or the Ampera.  We have the Volt here in the US while Europe enjoys the much cooler looking Ampera.  There is no difference between the American Volt and the Australian Volt.  However, the sin of all sins is that Holden did absolutely nothing to change the grille of the Volt.  If you look closely, you can still see where the Chevrolet bow tie would go underneath the Holden lion.  You can't do much worse than that.