Are they here yet?

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Sun Dec 21, 2014 3:10 pm

I sometimes reflect on what a strange industry the motor industry is.
How often do you see that a vehicle is produced that is pretty much spot-on in terms of all the key parameters.
Great styling, mechanicals are reliable and suited to it's niche, all the required basics but no unnecessary crap.
Then each subsequent update takes it further away from the ideal.
Three vehicles that come to mind straight away are the first Mazda 6 Luxury Sport, the MX5, and the Subaru Outback Wagon.
There is a Canberra registered red NA HT (lowered & big wheels) now living close by and every time I walk past I think what a great looking car it is. As much as I like my NB8B, I reckon it's hard to improve on the NA.

smy0003 · Postby **smy0003** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 3:15 pm

The house behind mine is full of LHD GM test products in various levels of camouflage. Including the Caprice PPV police car, chevy sonic (barina) and there was a camaro there many moons ago as well.

Manufacturers test vehicles all over the place all the time.
It's not impossible to see an ND running around.
Although this is the Internet; pics or it didn't happen.

speed · Postby **speed** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 5:26 pm

Mr Morlock wrote:guys Nevyn mentioned the Batmobile and leads me to my little story. Last week whilst walking the dog and crossing a side street and lo and behold arrives the Batmobile- excellent condition and a great eye catching vehicle. It was complete with the masked crusader and a young lady in the passenger seat- but no room for Robin. I gave Batman the thumbs up and he asked me if I had seen any criminals around the area. I responded no and he remarked that he must be doing his job very well. Another thumbs up from me and he hangs a turn and disappears up the street with red light flashing. It made my morning- who gets to see Batman when out walking the dog in a suburban street- my lucky day.
Now I believe in Batmobiles so just maybe there is an MX5 of the latest generation ready to pass you as you pick up the paper or walk the dog.

Nice one!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

rjastra2 · Postby **rjastra2** » Fri Jan 02, 2015 3:59 pm

smy0003 wrote:The house behind mine is full of LHD GM test products in various levels of camouflage. Including the Caprice PPV police car, chevy sonic (barina) and there was a camaro there many moons ago as well.

The difference is that GM has a manufacturing outpost here filled with engineers and resources. And the Camaro was based on the Commodore chassis.

Mazda could well be testing a MX5 to see if it like local fuels etc. But it probably wouldn't do it in suburbia.

greenltd · Postby **greenltd** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 4:48 pm

The Australian outback is also used for hot weather testing by many overseas manufacturers, although the ND is probably beyond that stage.

Nevyn72 · Postby **Nevyn72** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 11:32 am

Looks like things are starting to get a little more real! :mrgreen:

Nevyn72 · Postby **Nevyn72** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 2:57 pm

From over at the big forum, indications are.....

Production to start on the 15th of April.
Available for purchase in Japan, sometime in June.
Available in Europe, US & Canada -> July-ish.....

New 'pre-site' launched in Japan today.
http://www.roadster.mazda.co.jp/pre/

Still no performance specs yet.

Dre · Postby **Dre** » Sun Jan 11, 2015 2:30 pm

Looks nice in black (trailer pic).

kalt · Postby **kalt** » Sun Jan 11, 2015 6:51 pm

Mr Morlock wrote:guys Nevyn mentioned the Batmobile and leads me to my little story. Last week whilst walking the dog and crossing a side street and lo and behold arrives the Batmobile- excellent condition and a great eye catching vehicle. It was complete with the masked crusader and a young lady in the passenger seat- but no room for Robin. I gave Batman the thumbs up and he asked me if I had seen any criminals around the area. I responded no and he remarked that he must be doing his job very well. Another thumbs up from me and he hangs a turn and disappears up the street with red light flashing. It made my morning- who gets to see Batman when out walking the dog in a suburban street- my lucky day.
Now I believe in Batmobiles so just maybe there is an MX5 of the latest generation ready to pass you as you pick up the paper or walk the dog.

Yesh, I saw Batman in his Batmobile last night driving up Toorak Road. I too, believe.

I saw the bug-eyed Subaru Impreza parked out the front of a La Porchetta months before it's Australian release years ago. I wrote it off as a Chrysler Neon with an aftermarket bodykit and bonnet at the time, how embarrassing..