Mazda MAZDA5 2010

National Base Price

Mazda MAZDA5 2010
Sport 4dr Minivan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)

National Base Price (excludes destination charge)
MSRP $17,995 Invoice $16,865

The 2010 Mazda 5 is a smart alternative for families interested in trading a full-size minivan's substantial utility for a lower price tag, greater maneuverability and lower fuel costs.

More nimble and maneuverable than full-size minivans, convenient sliding doors, manageable size for small families, low price.


Kids-only third row, no seven-seat option, engine can run out of steam when fully loaded.


Driving Impressions
The 2010 Mazda 5's four-cylinder engine is adequately powerful with a driver and youngster aboard, but when fully loaded, the 5 can start to wheeze. However, the 5 exhibits a nimble nature that will have it running tight little circles around conventional minivans. The sharp, communicative steering is particularly impressive. However, the 5 is still a tallish vehicle, and it certainly feels more top-heavy and tippy than the compact sedan on which it's based. The 2010 Mazda 5 gains stability and traction control as standard equipment.

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News: SAMSUNG OWN RECORD PERCENTAGE OF GLOBAL MOBILE PHONE MARKET

Samsung owned a record-breaking 21.2 percent of the global mobile phone market in the fourth quarter of 2009 and have gained the largest share of the market owned by a Korean company.

The handset market across the world increased 10 percent from October to December and totalled sales of 3.24 million mobile phones, said marketing researcher,Strategy Analytics.

Samsung’s market share, in 2009, rose from 3.4 percent to 20.1 percent and became the largest firm to grow among the five major mobile phone manufacturers.

LG’s market share climbed only 1.8 percent over the same period in 2000 whilst Nokia slid 1.7 percent.

Strategy Analytics said:
“While Motorola and Ericsson were struggling to enhance their profitability, Samsung and LG posted record sales again.”

“Samsung also achieved a record yearly sales volume of 200 million units.”

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News: Samsung's bada Phone to be Shown at MWC

Samsung has confirmed that it will showcase its upcoming smartphone OS, the bada at the upcoming MWC later this month.

In a blog post on its bada blog, Samsung has revealed that the bada OS will feature the latest version of TouchWiz and that it would be very simple to use. We will also be seeing the first phones based on the bada OS at work at the MWC.  The first device based on the bada OS would be the bada S8200, which is set to sport a 3.7 AMOLED screen, HSPA, Wi-Fi, GPS, and a 5MP autofocus camera. It will also be powered by the now popular Qualcomm Snapdragon processor that powers the likes of the Nexus One and the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10.

As of now, we know that the bada-based S8200 will be priced at around $575 (Rs. 27,000 approx). What we do not know is whether the S8200 will be amongst the device shown at the MWC.
As for the bada OS, from the early screenshots of it at work, it does look contemporary and quite usable. The big question is how Samsung plans to position it amidst the likes of the Androids, the Windows Mobiles and the Symbians of the smartphone arena.

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UPDATE: Samsung Aims To Triple 2010 Smart Phone Sales To 18 Million

 

SEOUL (Dow Jones)--South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. (005930.SE) said Thursday it aims to triple its global sales of smart phones this year as it seeks to gain market share in a lucrative, but increasingly competitive, part of the telecoms industry.

"We aim to sell more than 18 million smart phones this year compared to 6 million units sold (globally) last year," J.K. Shin, president of Samsung's telecommunications Division, said in a press briefing.

At that level, Samsung's smart phone sales would represent a small proportion of the 260 million - 270 million handsets it aims to sell this year. However, the sector's growth potential is seen as significant, and Samsung is aggressively increasing its smart phone lineup as competition has intensified in recent months.

Particularly significant for Samsung will be the domestic smart phone market, which it said it expects to grow to sales of 4 million-4.5 million units this year from 750,000 units last year, even as the country's total handset market is expected to remain broadly static in 2010 with sales of 23 million units.

To exploit that pent-up demand domestically, the company plans to launch its first Android-powered smart phone in South Korea market in late February or early March, Shin said.

The Android smart phone has already been available in overseas markets since July last year. Android is a mobile operating system which offers a number of enhanced services to users.

"The year of 2010 will be a challenging year for Samsung as handset companies, smart phone manufacturers and even PC makers are rushing to roll out smart phones to attract customers," Shin said.

To improve its chances of gaining market share, the electronics giant said it will roll out smart phones based on various operating systems, including its own operating software 'bada', Google Inc.'s (GOOG) Android and Microsoft's Windows Mobile.

Samsung Electronics sold a total 227 million handsets, including smart phones in 2009, to achieve a market share of 20% and a double-digit growth in operating profit margin, the company said in a statement.

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Monster Ford Fiesta Ready for Rally Race Debut

Ford has unveiled the Fiesta rally car for the Monster World Rally Team.

While details are limited, Ford stated the car is "based on the race-winning European Rallycross Fiesta prepared by Olsbergs Motorsports Evolution." Power comes from a turbocharged 2.0-liter Duratec engine which is capable of producing over 490 hp (365 kW), but due to a series-required turbo-inlet restrictor, the Fiesta will only be able to crank out 330 hp (246 kW).

Set to be driven by action sports figure, rally driver and DC Shoes co-founder, Ken Block, the Fiesta will compete in seven Rally America events this year. According to Block, "I am very excited to finally be in the Fiesta.

Ford has a great platform with the Fiesta, and I can't wait to see what I can do in the Rally America championship and at the X Games later this year."

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Honda Begins Operation of New Solar Hydrogen Station

Honda has launched a new solar-powered hydrogen fueling station capable of refilling fuel cell electric vehicles overnight. The device, under development for ten years, could theoretically be installed in the home garage of any future customer.

The single-unit station produces 0.5 kilograms of hydrogen over an eight-hour period. Sadly, many consumers would likely not find this to be purposeful in many situations. 0.5 kg of hydrogen will only move the Honda FCX Clarity a total of 30 miles.

Honda's new home station is not meant to replace commercial filling stations, which will still be necessary to fully fill a vehicle quickly, often in less than five-minutes. The slow-fill home-based station would be used to reduce costs to the end user.

A full "fast fill" at a commercial location would provide the Honda FCX Clarity with a 285-mile range, according to a press release. However, the FCX Clarity's range is listed at 240 miles on the official website for the vehicle.

Honda claims the fuel is produced more efficiently in the new home station than previous solar units, with enough hydrogen created for a typical urban or suburban commute. This efficiency was increased by 25% thanks to a smaller and lighter "high differential pressure electrolyser," replacing a system made up of an electrolyser and separate compressor.

Because the system is missing a storage unit, the station will only produce hydrogen when a vehicle is connected. Although some would no doubt prefer to refuel quickly by tapping into a storage tank, the tank would likely prevent the system from being installed at many homes due to land-usage and zoning rules.

The system's solar panels hook up to the grid, sending electricity during daylight if a vehicle is not hooked up. Honda says most customers would use off-peak electricity to power the station when recharging overnight.

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Ford stricken with Toyota's pedal recall

Ford stricken with Toyota's pedal recall - halts production of Transit in China
Ford has initiated a stop work order on a full-size van because it uses the same gas pedal believed to be the cause of sudden, uncontrolled acceleration in several Toyota models. Roughly 1,600 Ford Transit Classic diesel vehicles for the Chinese market have been assembled since production began in December.

Production was frozen on the Transit Classic, which is built by a joint venture with Jiangling Motors Co. The van's accelerator, sourced by Indiana-based firm CTS Corp., is a part alleged to be the leading factor in 20 deaths and 2,000 complaints in Toyota vehicles dating back to 2005.

The decision by Ford and Jiangling is a preventative measure, as no complaints have yet been filed about the van. "We have not determined whether we have a problem there yet," said Ford head Alan Mulally in an Associated Press report. "What we do know is we found a similar design."

The Chinese-spec Ford Transit Classic is believed to be the only Ford vehicle that uses an accelerator produced by CTS.

"That's part of our routine process. When a company has a recall, you conduct a review and determine if you share any of the same vendors, design, parts," a Jiangling spokesman said.

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