Knowledge Hub

This week, eight of the country’s top Sales Consultants gathered at the Mazda Head Office (VIC), for the opportunity to be recognised as the best Mazda CX-60 Sales Consultant in Australia.

The 8 selected finalists, were put through their paces with a role-play phone consultation, showroom presentation, and test drive; all under the tight scrutiny of the Mazda Australia judging team.

Not only was Dragos the only representative for South Australia, but he was recognised as a very well-deserved runner up for the entire competition. What an incredible achievement and testament to Dragos’s knowledge and love of the brand.

The entire team would like to congratulate Dragos for this outstanding effort, and thank him for flying the Edwardstown Mazda flag proud.

Congratulations Dragos

After the exciting news of being awarded Mazda Master Dealer for 2023, we would like to take the opportunity to highlight the individual achievements of our team – by announcing the Mazda Guild Award winners for the past year.

Our people are the heart and soul of Edwardstown Mazda, and we are extremely proud to share the achievements of our members who have received Mazda Guild status, Mazda Guild Master status and other associate awards.

2023 Mazda Guild Master Status

Chris Hayton

2023 Mazda Guild Sales

Michael Coumi
Kirk Flynn
Dragos Golaes
Will Pover

2023 Mazda Guild Service

Tanya Shahinyan

A special mention to Ryan Gierke who also received status of Mazda Master Technician on the night. Edwardstown Mazda would like to thank our entire team for their hard work and dedication. We look forward to another great result in 2024!

Mazda Guild Awards 2023

We are honoured to announce that Edwardstown Mazda has been recognised as the recipient of the Mazda Master Dealer Excellence Award for 2023.

A sincere thank you goes to our incredible team. We are constantly blown away by your dedication and hard work, which makes earning this recognition possible.

To our loyal customers, we extend a huge thank you and appreciation for your continuous trust and support.

“I am extremely proud of the hard work, dedication, and effort that the whole team has put into winning this award. At the start of this journey, we set out to be a people centric dealership and by working with our staff and listening to our customers we’ve been able to achieve this recognition. We look forward to 2024 and hope to continuously improve and exceed our customers’ expectations.” – Ramsey Dannoun D.P

It is all about our people – both our dedicated team and loyal customers. As we move into 2024, we are committed to a people-centric focus in our business. We genuinely love what we do and feel extremely grateful to do this alongside a great team of people. Thank you to everyone who supports our business.

MAZDA MASTER DEALER 2023

Along with the announcement of Mazda Master Dealer 2022 for Edwardstown Mazda, comes the individual Mazda Guild Awards. Edwardstown Mazda are extremely proud to share the incredible achievements of our team members in receiving placements not only in the Mazda Guild but also the Masters Mazda Guild, the highest accolade any Mazda frontline staff member can achieve. To receive this prestigious award, team members must consistently perform at the highest level across sales, customer satisfaction and product knowledge.

Mazda Guild is awarded to Sales, Parts, and Service team members who have delivered outstanding performances throughout 2022.

A huge congratulations to the following staff members who have achieved Guild Master Status:

2022 Mazda Master Guild Winners

Mark Evans
Theo Skonis
Mat Nesbitt
Jeffrey Tayao

And the following staff members who achieved Associate Membership Status:

2022 Mazda Guild Sales Consultants

Michael Coumi
Jay Bevan
Will Pover
Kirk Flynn

2022 Mazda Guild Service

Tarlie Burke
Brandan Weber

Edwardstown Mazda would like to thank you all for your hard work and dedication. We look forward to another great result in 2023!

Mazda Guild Awards 2022

Mazda and the Rotary – A legendary pairing.

From the launch of the 1967 Mazda Cosmo to the end of RX-8 production in 2012, Mazda produced just shy of two million rotary production cars. Coupes, saloons, estate cars and sports cars were all powered by different generations of smooth and high-revving Mazda rotaries, the unique Mazda rotary engine even made its way into a pick-up truck and a bus.

Let’s go racing!

Yet, arguably it was the rotary engine’s success in the competition that made it and the Mazda brand famous and helped to sell those production models. From Mazda’s very first efforts in international motorsport with the Cosmo in 1968, the rotary engine’s lightweight, small size, power and fast-revving nature have made it perfect for competition. In the early 70s, the Mazda RX-3 raced in championships around the globe, while the first-generation RX-7 took this to a new level winning championships on four continents. Then most famously in 1991 the Mazda 787B of Johnny Herbert, Volker Weidler and Bertrand Gachot won the Le Mans 24 Hours – making Mazda the first Japanese brand to do so.

Not just for the road or the race track

However, it wasn’t just four decades of production cars and motorsport success that made the rotary famous. Mazda’s hallmark engine also appeared in a host of concept cars, so we take a look at some of the most radical and advanced rotary-powered and inspired concept cars, starting with the prototype rotary sports car driven to the 1963 Tokyo Motor Show by the father of Mazda’s rotary engine Kenichi Yamamoto.

802 Cosmo Prototype

Strictly a test prototype rather than a pure concept car, it led to the production of 60 Cosmo test mules in 1965, followed by the first production of Cosmo sports cars in 1967. Subtly different from later production Cosmos, the 1963 802 prototypes were the first chapter of Mazda’s rotary success story. Similarly, the Bertone-designed Mazda RX-87 concept of 1967 was almost identical to the beautiful 1969 R130 Luce Coupe production car it previewed and likewise, the 1967 RX-85 concept became the 1968 Mazda R100 coupe.

Mazda RX-500

Revealed at the 1970 Tokyo Motor Show, the next rotary concept car was unlike anything seen before, a pure futuristic design it was a showcase for safety technology and looked like a car from a different planet to the Cosmo, Luce and R100 rotary production cars on sale at the time. The Mazda RX-500 was a wedge-shaped mid-engined, rear-wheel drive sports car with forward-opening butterfly swing doors. Promoted as a road safety test bed, it had multicoloured rear strip lights that indicated whether the car was speeding up, cruising or slowing down by changing colour.

The 10A 250ps rotary engine was accessed by gullwing opening engine covers. Painted orange with no headlights for its show debut it was later repainted silver, today the RX-500 concept still draws attention at the Hiroshima City Transport Museum, while it also stared on the Cartier Style De Luxe lawn at the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

1983 Le Mans prototype concept by Colani Design

Even more radical than the RX-500, the 1983 Mazda Le Mans Prototype was penned by maverick designer Luigi Colani, who was famous for his radical ‘biodynamic’ forms. While it never went beyond the conceptual stage, the 1983 Le Mans Prototype was an extreme wing car that was conceived to be powered by an over 900bhp four-rotor engine and could have been capable of 235mph if it had become a reality.

1985 Mazda MX-03 Concept

The one-off theme continued with the 1985 Mazda MX-03, which, unlike the Colani Le Mans Prototype, was a fully working concept. Powered by a triple rotor 315ps engine, this low-slung coupe was pure futuristic exuberance, with a cabin that featured an aircraft-style yoke rather than a wheel, plus digital displays and a head-up display, its technology tally also including four-wheel steering and all-wheel drive, while the long low body delivered an aerodynamic Cd figure of just 0.25.

1987 Mazda MX-04 Concept

Completely different from the MX-03, the MX-04 concept was a front-engine rear-wheel drive sports car chassis that had removable fibreglass panels, but not just one, but two different sets, allowing the car to switch from a glass dome roofed coupe to a beach buggy style open sided roadster. Powered by a rotary engine this barmy shape-shifting sports car was shown at the 1987 Tokyo Motor Show and while it was never a serious contender for production, by then Mazda was already developing the MX-5, and just two-years later, the most famous non-rotary Mazda sports car arrived.

1995 Mazda RX-01 Concept

By the 1990s, Mazda’s rotary engine had scored its biggest achievement with victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours but revealed at the 1995 Tokyo Motor Show, the Mazda RX-01 previewed the next generation of rotary road cars. A fully drivable concept It featured what would go on to be the Renesis engine that powered the last production rotary to date – the RX-8. With a 2+2 seat layout, some of the RX-01’s styling cues also hinted at the RX-8, which was revealed in 2003.

Dual-Fuel Hydrogen/Petrol Rotary Prototypes

Highlighting the flexibility of Mazda’s rotary engine technology, between 2005 and 2007 Mazda produced duel-fuel hydrogen/petrol-powered rotary prototype testbed Mazda RX-8s and Mazda5s, which were leased to companies in Japan and Norway.

Rotary and Hydrogen

Highlighting the suitability of rotary engines for use with hydrogen, the RX-8 RE Hydrogen was the fifth Mazda rotary to be powered by hydrogen after earlier HR-X, HR-X2, MX-5, and 626 rotary-powered concepts and prototypes.

2007 Mazda Taiki Concept

Unveiled in 2007, the Mazda Taiki concept was a dramatically aerodynamically optimised coupe with a tapered teardrop-shaped body that scooped inside the covered rear wheels. Inspired by flowing robes its sleek body had a drag coefficient of just 0.25 and it was arguably the most radical-looking of the ‘Nagare’ concept cars. With butterfly doors and a darkened glasshouse, it was a pure concept fantasy but was conceived to be powered by the same Renesis engine as the RX-8.

2008 Mazda Furai Concept

However, other 21st-century rotary concepts focused very much on the performance elements of the rotary engine: revealed at the 2008 Detroit Motor Show, the stunning Mazda Furai was built on the chassis of a Courage C65 LMP2 race car and its 450bhp triple-rotor engine was powered by ethanol fuel. A fully working race car-based concept, it was developed by Mazda North America and was tested at several US and European tracks. Named Furai meaning ‘sound of wind’, this racy concept was the fifth and last of the ‘Nagare’ line of concept cars from Mazda.

2013 Mazda 2 EV with Rotary range extender

Further highlighting Mazda’s environmental development, the 2007 Mazda5 RE Hydrogen was a plug-in hybrid, while the 2013 Mazda2 EV prototype featured a tiny 330cc 30bhp single-rotor range-extender engine. Today, Mazda is committed to the development of a rotary range-extender version of the forthcoming Mazda MX-30.

2014 Mazda LM55 Vision Gran Turismo virtual concept

Mazda’s Le Mans heritage with the rotary engine came to the fore again in 2014 with the reveal of the Mazda LM55 Vision Gran Turismo virtual concept car. A digitally rendered concept for the Gran Turismo computer game, this low-slung Le Mans style prototype was named after the race number worn by the winning 787B at Le Mans in 1991. Bringing the performance and sound of the rotary engine to a whole new generation virtually in the gaming world, the LM55 Vision came to life as a full-size show car at the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed where it proudly sat atop Mazda’s Kodo design-inspired central feature sculpture alongside the Mazda 787B.

2015 Mazda RX-Vision Concept

However, it was later in 2015 at the Tokyo Motor Show that Mazda revealed what is arguably the most beautiful concept car conceived for a rotary engine: the RX-Vision. Mazda’s vision of the perfect front-engine, rear-wheel drive sports car and the ultimate expression of Kodo design, the RX-Vision’s stunning proportions, and delicate surfacing saw it named the ‘Most Beautiful Concept Car of the Year at the 31st Festival Automobile International, while it also made an appearance at the exclusive Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Esta in 2016. Under the long bonnet of the RX-Vision, Mazda’s designers envisaged that this sports car would be powered by a next-generation of rotary engine called Skyactiv-R.

2020 Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Gran Turismo virtual concept

Taking this imagination, a step further and bringing the RX-Vision to life in the virtual world, Mazda’s designers created the RX-Vision GT3. Just as the LM55 came to life in the virtual world in 2014, the RX-Vision GT3 was added to Gran Turismo Sport on May 22nd, 2020. With its wider front and rear track width and expanded wheel arches, the lower and more purposeful GT3 version features the wings and rear diffuser you’d expect of a virtual racer. And rotary fans in the digital world get to enjoy the next-generation four-rotor 570ps Skyactiv-R engine.

What’s next for the Rotary?

Today, 59 years after the first Cosmo prototype previewed Mazda’s debut rotary sports car, the rotary engine lives on in the hearts and minds of Mazda’s engineers as the technology is explored for its part in Mazda’s multi-solution approach to ever more efficient cars, including range-extender applications. Additionally, concept cars like the RX-Vision influence the look and styling of Mazda’s current range, while the RX-Vision GT3 brings the rotary to life in the virtual world.

Mazda’s Rotary Powered Concept Cars

One of the most beautiful concept cars ever devised, the Mazda Taiki will always look futuristic! Concepts are supposed to push the boundaries both stylistically and technically, but even some of the most forward-thinking examples seem rather conventional next to the Mazda Taiki, which looked nothing less than stunning when it was unveiled in Tokyo late in 2007 (and shown at the 2008 Australian International Motor Show).

Taiki was the fourth concept from an acclaimed series of design studies unveiled by Mazda (previous concepts in the series were named Nagare, Ryuga, and Hakaze). It is an exercise in advanced aerodynamics that hints at a future generation of more sustainable sports cars. It is designed, according to Mazda, to “visually express the flow of air” and takes inspiration from the shape of the traditional flowing robes that enable a celestial maiden to fly in Japanese legend.

The dramatic taper of the rear bodywork and outrigger-style rear wheels combine to reduce the car’s aerodynamic drag coefficient to just 0.25, thereby improving fuel economy. In addition, a kick-up of the car’s underside at the rear results in zero aerodynamic lift, improving high-speed stability.

Taiki is powered by Mazda’s next-generation Renisis (rotary 16X engine) which features a longer stroke and larger displacement of 1600cc (800cc x 2) to raise thermal efficiency and boost torque at all engine speeds. A new direct injection system and aluminum side housing enhance the rotary engine’s traditional merits of lightweight and compact size.

Mazda’s designers say the Taiki’s interior is inspired by traditional Japanese carp-shaped streamers and, like the exterior, is designed to convey the sense of airflow. Among its innovative features are streams of red light, which flow past either side of the driver to visually depict leaps in engine revs.

2007 Mazda Taiki Concept

A completely new look!

Launched in 1985, the second generation of the RX-7 (“FC” or Savanna RX-7 in Japan), featured a complete restyling much like similar sports cars of the era such as the Nissan 300ZX. Mazda’s development team, led by Chief Project Engineer Akio Uchiyama, chose to focus on the American market when designing the FC, where the majority of first-generation RX-7 models had been sold. The team drew inspiration from successful sports cars that were popular at the time, such as studying the suspension design of the Porsche 928. While the SA22C (1stGen RX-7) was a purer sports car, the FC tended toward the softer sport-tourer trends of its day, sharing some similarities with the HB series Cosmo. Handling was much improved, with less of the oversteer tendencies of the SA22C. The rear end design was vastly improved from the SA22C’s live rear axle to a more modern, Independent Rear Suspension (rear axle). Steering was more precise, with rack and pinion steering replacing the old recirculating-ball steering of the SA22C. Disc brakes also became standard, with some models offering four-piston front brakes. The 13b twin rotor was available as naturally aspirated or as a turbo depending on the model and market. Customers could choose between a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission.

Innovation

Mazda also introduced Dynamic Tracking Suspension System (DTSS) in the FC. The revised independent rear suspension incorporated special toe control hubs which were capable of introducing a limited degree of passive rear steering under cornering loads. The DTSS worked by allowing a slight amount of toe-out under normal driving conditions but induced slight toe-in under heavier cornering loads at around 0.5g or more; toe-out in the rear allows for a more responsive rotation of the rear, but toe-in allowed for a more stable rear under heavier cornering. Another new feature was the Auto Adjusting Suspension (AAS). The system changed damping characteristics according to the road and driving conditions. The system compensated for camber changes and provided anti-dive and anti-squat effects.

Limited Edition – Infini (Japan Only)

In Japan, a limited edition of the FC called Infini was available with production limited to only 600 cars for each year. Some special noted features for all Infini series are the Infini logo on the rear, upgraded suspension, upgraded ECU, the higher power output of the engine, lightened weight, 15-inch BBS aluminum alloy wheels, Infini logo steering wheel, aero bumper kits, bronze coloured window glass, floor bar on the passenger side, aluminum bonnet with scoop, flare, and holder. The car was thought of as the pinnacle of the RX-7 series (until the introduction of the FD). The Infini IV came with other special items such as black bucket seats, 16-inch BBS wheels, Knee pads, and all the other items mentioned before.

Turbo!

The Turbo II model uses a turbocharger with a twin-scroll design. The smaller primary chamber is engineered to cancel the turbo lag at low engine speeds. At higher revolutions, the secondary chamber is opened, pumping out 33 percent more power than the naturally aspirated counterpart. The Turbo II also has an air-to-air intercooler which has a dedicated intake on the hood. The intake is slightly offset toward the left side of the hood. In the Japanese market, only the turbocharged engine was available; the naturally-aspirated version was only available for select export markets. This can be attributed to insurance companies in many Western nations penalising turbocharged cars (thus restricting potential sales). The Japanese market car produces 185 PS (136 kW) in the original version; this engine was upgraded to 205 PS (151 kW) in April 1989 as part of the Series 5 facelift. The limited edition, two-seater Infini model received a 215 PS (158 kW) version beginning in June 1990, thanks to an upgraded exhaust system and high-octane fuel.

Australian Motors Mazda introduced a limited run of 250 ‘Sports’ model Series 4 RX-7s; each with no power steering, power windows or rear wiper as an attempt to reduce the weight of the car.

Convertible – 1988 Mazda RX-7 convertible (FC)

Mazda introduced a convertible version of the RX-7, the FC3C, in 1988 with a naturally aspirated engine. The convertible featured a removable rigid section over the passengers and a folding fabric rear section with a heated rear glass window. Power-operated, lowering the top required unlatching two header catches, power lowering the top, exiting the car (or reaching over to the right side latch), and folding down the rigid section manually. Mazda introduced with the convertible the first integral wind-blocker, a rigid panel that folded up from behind the passenger seats to block unwanted drafts from reaching the passengers—thereby extending the driving season for the car with the top retracted. The convertible also featured optional headrest-mounted audio speakers and a folding leather snap-fastened tonneau cover. The convertible assembly was precisely engineered and manufactured and dropped into the ready body assembly as a complete unit—a first in convertible production. Production ceased in 1991 after Mazda marketed a limited run of 500 examples for 1992 for the domestic market only. In markets outside the US, only the turbocharged version of the convertible was available.

10th Anniversary RX-7

Mazda introduced the 10th Anniversary RX-7 in 1988 as a limited production model based on the RX-7 Turbo II. Production was limited to 1,500 units. The 10th Anniversary RX-7 features a Crystal White (paint code UC) monochromatic paint scheme with matching white body side mouldings, tail light housings, mirrors, and 16-inch alloy seven-spoke wheels. A distinctive 10th Anniversary package feature is the all-black leather interior, which included not just the seats, but the door panel inserts as well as a leather-wrapped MOMO steering wheel (with 10th Anniversary Edition embossed horn button) and MOMO leather shift knob with an integrated boot. All exterior glass is bronze tinted (specific in North America to only the 10th Anniversary), and the windshield was equipped with the embedded secondary antenna also found on some other select models with the upgraded stereo packages. Other 10th Anniversary Edition-specific items were headlight washers, glass breakage detectors added to the factory alarm system, 10th Anniversary Edition logoed floor mats, 10th Anniversary Edition embroidered front hood protector and accompanying front end mask (or “bra”), and aluminum under the pan.

Super Rare GTUs (1989–1990)

In 1989 Mazda introduced a limited model labeled the GTUs. Starting with the lightweight base model, which came with manual windows, no rear wiper, the sunroof and A/C was dealer optioned, the GTUs added items found on the Turbo model such as four-piston front brakes, ventilated rear brake rotors, vehicle speed-sensing power steering, one-piece front chin spoiler, cloth-covered Turbo model seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 16-inch wheels, 205/55VR tyres, and a GTUs-only 4.300 viscous-type limited-slip differential (all other FC LSD’s were 4.100). This allowed quicker acceleration from the non—turbo-powered 13B. It was rumoured that Mazda built 100 cars in 1989–1990.

Continuing the rotary’s success

A total of 272,027 Mazda 2ndGen RX-7 FCs were built. With head-turning good looks, mechanical innovation, and the introduction of a convertible the 2ndGen RX-7 proved to be a popular and iconic car. Ending production in 1992, the FC continued the success enjoyed by the 1stGen RX-7 (SA22C, FB) but also paved the way for one of Mazda’s most iconic cars ever, the 3rdGen Mazda RX-7 (FD) later in 1992.

2nd Gen Mazda RX-7