Automobility

By David Boldt boldface2020@gmail.com

This year marks Mazda’s centenary, a significant achievement for a company whose beginnings preceded the global depression of the ’30s, World War II and the dropping of an atomic bomb on the city in which Mazda’s parent company, Toyo Kogyo, was founded. If you’re a Mazda enthusiast in the U.S., your history with the brand is shorter. Some of that history is referenced below in the following press release.

HIROSHIMA, Japan. (Jan. 30, 2020) – Mazda Motor Corporation celebrated its 100th anniversary with an employee event at its headquarters in Hiroshima, Japan.

Centenary official comment by Akira Marumoto, Representative Director, President and CEO: “Mazda originated as a company producing cork and then took the path to manufacturing automobiles. Now, our cars have found friends with many customers from over 130 countries and regions. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the customers, dealers, suppliers, business partners and the local community, who have supported us over the years through good and bad times, to whom we owe our 100 years of existence. As we strengthen co-creation and cooperation with all those connected with the company, we will continue to challenge ourselves to create unique products, technologies, and experiences that our customers love.”

It was in the early ’70s that I would visit my first Mazda store. This is shortly after Mazda’s formal arrival in the U.S. and before the intro of its rotary-powered models in American

showrooms. Earlier, Mazda had forged an engineering relationship with Germany’s NSU, hoping to make NSU’s revolutionary Wankel rotary appropriate to volume production. The affirmation of the relationship came with the intro of Mazda’s Cosmo Sport in 1967. Although not built in significant volumes, the Cosmo Sport served as a harbinger for greater things from Japan, Inc., including Toyota’s acclaimed 2000GT and Datsun’s 240Z, both arriving by the end of that decade.

And while the OPEC crisis of 1974 was a gut punch to a lineup predicated on responsive (albeit thirsty) rotaries, Mazda’s rotary lived on in the 2-place RX-7 and later RX-8. It was, however, the more prosaic GLC hatch that saved Mazda in the States. That salvation would later turn into the hallelujah moment represented by the 1989 launch of the all-new Miata.

If you had lived through the rise and fall of the British sports car — its death came with the uptick in emission and safety regs for the ’74 model year — the Miata was an absolute revelation. Inspired by the British roadsters from MG and, to a lesser extent, Triumph, the Miata’s lines channeled those of the Lotus Elan, although the Miata’s footprint was much larger.

After a 15-year wait for a credible replacement for the MGB, the Miata had American enthusiasts at “Hello.” And while tightly drawn two-place roadsters never sell in volume, Mazda has worked the category for the long haul, capturing more than a million sales with the car’s four generations.

Following the success of the Miata, the enthusiast community was rewarded with Mazda’s “Zoom Zoom” campaign, which combined fast imagery with a genuine uptick in performance. That renewed emphasis on performance was best embodied by Mazda’s MazdaSpeed variants and, not coincidentally, winning on the track. Mazda was the first Japanese OEM to take an overall win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991. In motorsport, this was roughly akin to Lotus winning at Indy and solidified Mazda among the top ranks of competition-oriented, original equipment manufacturers.

Today, Mazda’s U.S. product lineup features more crossovers and, regrettably, less “Zoom Zoom.” But in both its marketing and engineering, driving (we’re told) still matters. And while performance may be on the backburner, Mazda design continues to reach for the near-luxury position its Board of Directors has decided it will pursue. For the love of the cars, we wish them well.

David Boldt brings years of experience in automotive retail sales and public relations to his automotive reporting. More can be found at txGarage.com. INSIDE MAZDA The Mazda Cosmo Sport.

By David Mullen david@katytrailweekly.com

"If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time." – Apple founder Steve Jobs.

The takeaway from the inaugural XFL football game between the Dallas Renegades and the St. Louis BattleHawks was hardly memorable. The local team, and the league in general, is facing an uphill challenge. In football jargon, it is not 4th and long, but based on initial impressions, it is going to take a lot of big gains to win over pro football fans. On Feb. 9, head coach Bob Stoops' Renegades lost to St. Louis 15-9. It was a brutal game to watch. Dallas could muster only three field goals. Granted, their projected starting quarterback Landry Jones was injured and couldn't play, although he suited up for the game. Their defense surrendered 191 rushing yards, far and away the worst total of any team in week one. Dallas was the only XFL home team to lose.

All of the week one XFL games were under the projected point totals. Six of the teams scored 23 points or less. Without a preseason, there was really no way for Las Vegas to set odds. But that didn't keep game broadcasters from discussing point spreads throughout the game, which the XFL embraces.

On a misty day at Globe Life Park before 17,026

xFL Dallas Renegades head coach Bob Stoops.

inquisitive fans, enthusiasm started high. Apparently, in lieu of cheerleaders, the Renegades have employed bikers as mascots. The roar of a motorcycle engine is played over the PA system as a tool to build excitement. But the passion quickly ebbed and the concession lines didn't flow keeping people away from the non-action for long periods of time.

"Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." – U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Many football people, like Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman, thought the league had a great start and showed potential. “I think this league has a real chance,” Aikman said. He might be a shill for his friend and former teammate, Renegades director of player personnel Daryl “Moose” Johnston, because the quality of play was clearly underwhelming. Plus,

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