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Upgraded Mazda2 range on sale now

The bold and sophisticated exterior design of the Mazda2 model range is now enhanced for 2006 with new interior and exterior colours, new front, rear and fog lights, new design alloy wheels and black body trim updates. On the inside, Mazda2 has two new trim levels, and a new audio system with CD player. Mechanically the Mazda2 for 2006 is unchanged.

On sale now in the UK, the upgraded Mazda2 offers customers a nine-strong model line-up. Prices start at £8,700 (on-the-road) and rise to £10,630, with a choice of four powertrains (all Euro Stage 4 compliant) and three equipment levels. Three new body colours are available – Sea Grey Mica, Breeze Green Metallic and Neptune Green Mica – in the range of 10 exterior colours and the Capella now has stylish five-spoke 16-inch alloy wheels as standard. The 1.4 diesel with the five-speed ASM semi-automatic transmission is no longer available.

Exterior – sophistication enhanced
The 2006 Mazda2 retains its athletic and sophisticated exterior with the unmistakable Zoom-Zoom front end, strong shoulder lines and broad stance for its fun to drive appearance.

Overall length (3,925mm) and width (1,680mm, excluding door mirrors) remain as before. Enhancing this sportiness are newly designed headlights (now with round-shaped combination lamps for even more elegance), new clear-glass rear combination lamps (to emphasise the youthful look) and new ‘all black’ rear pillar design (which visually lowers the rear of the car).

Standard wheels and tyres on S and Antares models are 14-inch steel with plastic trim covers and 175/65 R14 tyres, while new five-spoke 16-inch alloy wheels with 195/45 R16 low-profile tyres are standard on the Capella.

Interior – improved quality feel
The interior design of Mazda2 has always combined stylishness and high levels of craftsmanship, with sporty touches and premium fabrics and textures for a high quality feel interior. For 2006 the Mazda2 introduces two new trim levels along with new fabrics for the seats and door trim to enhance these attributes even further. For the S model interior, the former Black is replaced by a new Khaki colour. An enhanced Black interior colour is introduced for the Antares and Capella models. Higher quality new seat and door trim materials were chosen to visually coordinate with the titanium-look centre console for a more unified interior atmosphere.

Award-winning accessibility
On the inside, the 2006 Mazda2 retains the same award-winning interior with easy access, a spacious cabin, exceptional functionality and generous equipment. With room for five adults to travel in comfort and style, Mazda2’s dimensions provide roominess that is unique for a car in this class. Versatility is enhanced by rear seatbacks which split 60/40 and can be folded to create a nearly flat load floor and a front passenger seatback which folds forwards (on all but the S models) to allow long loads to be accommodated.

The high opening hatch and low load sill (513mm from the ground) make it easy to convert the car into a small two-seat transporter for larger items. Mazda2 was voted the overall winner of the What Car? magazine ‘Comfort Test’ in 2003 and 2004.

Powertrains boosted by improved Diesel
The 2006 Mazda2’s powertrain line up retains its three spirited, 16-valve DOHC petrol engines with a choice of 75ps, 80ps and 100ps power outputs. Each engine is frugal and Euro Stage 4 compliant. The petrol engines are matched to a precise shifting five-speed manual transmission that makes driving the Mazda2 sporty and fun.

The 1.4-litre can also be ordered with a five-speed Auto Shift Manual (ASM) transmission, which allows fully-automatic or clutchless driver-selected gear changes, and makes this version of the Mazda2 especially easy to drive.

The smooth operating and lively MZ-CD 1.4-litre common-rail turbo diesel