Norton Way Mazda Newsletter - October 2015

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norton way mazda MONTH

OCT

ISSUE

12

FORECAST

Milder than average!

FULL MOON

27TH

SOCIAL

CONTACT DEALER

Mazda 2

The Award Winning Car

Earlier this year the all-new Mazda2 was named Car of the Year in the annual Car Dealer Power Awards.

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AWARD WINNING MAZDA2 UK car dealers make their vote

MAZDA & BRITISH SPORTS CARS Gearing a nations Sports cars NEW MAZDA SUV?

New Mazda Koeru SUV at Frankfurt

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NEW MAZDA SHOWROOM

All new Showroom, Models & 65 Plates

CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP

MEET THE TEAM

Some of our all-star service team

CHECK OUT OUR LATEST UPDATES AND INFORMATION CHECK OUR FACEBOOK PAGE

Mazda2 – The Award Winning Car N O R T O N WAY M A Z D A • I S S U E 1 2 • O C T 2 0 1 5

CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT OFFERS WE HAVE FOR YOU NOW

CLICK TO WATCH THE ALL-NEW ALL-NEW MAZDA2 2015

The leading motor trade title’s annual awards are decided by votes from UK car dealers, who choose the best manufacturers, models and suppliers they deal with.

variants, the 15-strong all-new Mazda2 line-up stands out thanks to its signature wing front grille, predatory headlamp styling and muscular cab-rearward styling. With a longer wheelbase and smaller overhangs to maximise interior space, the all-new Mazda2’s superior ergonomics and premium interior finishes raise the bar in quality and design in the supermini segment.

Jeremy Thomson, Mazda Motors UK Managing Director “I’m delighted that Car Dealer Magazine and the UK’s dealers have recognised the all-new Mazda2 with their Car of the Year title.

The all-new Mazda2 is another example of how our SKYACTIV technology and KODO design merge to create stylish, efficient and great to drive cars. Our dealer network has done a great job with the Mazda2 and we’re looking forward to a busy year with more all-new product launches to come and an extensive upgrade of all our dealerships with exciting new interiors and more eye-catching branding.”

With Norton Way Mazda you can have this award winning car with our great offers!

“We’ve had dozens of dealers telling us what a star it is” commented Car Dealer Magazine Editor, Colin Channon. “With lots of standard kit, a spacious interior and impressive performance levels, plus sharp looks inside and out, it’s a wise supermini buy that’s been very well received by dealers and their customers. By quite a clear margin, this year’s Car Dealer Power Car of the Year is the Mazda2” The all-new Mazda2 combines Mazda’s unique SKYACTIV technology with its striking KODO: Soul of Motion design philosophy, to bring new levels of technical sophistication, active safety and driving pleasure to the supermini sector.

With a choice of 11 petrol and four diesel 2

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ALL NEW MAZDA2

O%APR REPRESENTATIVE ON MAZDA PERSONAL CONTRACT PURCHASE

The all-new Mazda2 provides definitive proof that the best things come in small packages.

KODO: Soul of Motion design ensures that the model is packed with character and bursting with vitality.

As a compact supermini that defies convention, the all-new Mazda2 provides a responsive drive that is fun and comfortable, whether you’re heading into tight city streets or out on the open road. Features Include: - 15” Steel Wheels - Rear roof spoiler - Coming home/leaving home lights - Radio, CD player with 4 speakers - Hill Hold Assist CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL OFFER AND FINANCE DETAILS 3

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HOW MAZDA GETS THE CLASSIC BRITISH SPORTS CAR INTO GEAR Mazda UK aftersales director David Wilson Green explains that a piece of Mazda lies at the heart of some of this country’s best loved cars.

“I’ve always had a soft spot for classic British sports cars. So when I took over responsibility for aftersales at Mazda UK, I wasn’t too disappointed to learn that part of the job would involve managing the supply of MX-5 gearboxes, engines and components to a handful of British car makers.

Morgan, Caterham, Ginetta and Westfield all use the five-speed gearbox from the outgoing MX-5. It might sound straightforward, but obviously a company like Mazda with a hardearned reputation for reliability doesn’t just hand vital components to other car makers. We need to know that the gearboxes are being installed correctly and mated with engines that are compatible in terms of power and torque delivery.

To ensure that happens, we have a contract with Vitesse, a Leicestershire-based company that specialises in adapting our gearboxes to be original equipment for low volume car manufacturers.

Around 5000 of Mazda’s gearboxes have been used in this way and our biggest customer is Morgan. It uses them in its Classic, Plus 4 and 3 Wheeler models and over the past few years I’ve built a close relationship with the people at the factory. I remember arriving once a few years ago to be greeted by a cloud of smoke in the car park. It was actually a prototype 3 Wheeler doing donuts. They were proving the car’s durability in one of the best ways known to man: by trying to break it.

Morgan’s managing director, Steve Morris, later admitted to me that they did indeed manage to break virtually everything on the car apart from the gearbox.

Since the launch of the 3 Wheeler in 2011, Steve tells me they’ve had just one gearbox failure. And that was from an owner who, shall we just say subjected the car to intolerable abuse.

Then there were the four 3 Wheelers that Morgan lent to Top Gear Live which spent a week drifting with no gearbox problems at all.

The other Morgans that use our gearboxes were a little easier to develop. The Plus 4 – Morgan’s biggest seller – uses the 2.0-litre Ford Duratec engine. By happy coincidence, that engine was designed by the same person who developed Mazda’s 2.0-litre in the MX-5. As a result the MX-5 gearbox bolts straight onto the engine. With the 1.6 Ford Sigma engine in the Morgan Classic, Vitesse has fashioned a bespoke adaptor plate and flywheel to mate the engine and gearbox.

Each month Vitesse delivers 75 to 80 gearboxes to its various customers, to ensure we can supply that demand, Vitesse provides a forecast 12 months ahead. As time passes I have a feeling those lorries are going to become slightly more frequent. One of the most recent projects Mazda and Vitesse have been working on is using the MX-5’s automatic gearbox in the Morgan Plus 4.

Fascinating words from Mazda UK aftersales director David Wilson Green, we didn’t think we could love the MX-5 more than we do, apparently we can!

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE ONLINE

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MAZDA BOSSES KEEN ON NEW SUV BASED ON KOERU FRANKFURT STAR

A production car based on the Mazda Koeru SUV concept is a real possibility with bosses looking to gauge public reaction.

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azda bosses are waiting to evaluate the public reaction to the Mazda Koeru concept car shown at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show before pressing the go button on a new sporty SUV. Mazda President Masamichi Kogai said that they would be assessing the reaction of Mazda fans and owners to the stunning new Koeru coupe/ crossover concept.

He explained that: “we would like to see it in production, but we need to monitor customers voices and see if it can deliver sustainable sales volumes before making the final judgement. The Koeru Concept is a totally new proposition of SUVs, but everyone seemed to rave about the car

at the show, and I am encouraged to hear that.”

Kogai said that the big fear where a production model is concerned would be the car taking buyers from other crossover models in the Mazda line-up like the CX-3 and CX-5: “we need to make sure that substitution would not happen.”

Mazda Global Design boss, Ikuo Maeda and European boss Kevin Rice explained that the Koeru Concept was aimed at re-defining the boundaries of SUV crossovers. With Rice adding that the aim of the Koeru Concept, a coupe crossover, was to re-define the boundaries and make it a sporty vehicle that was more elegant and refined. He went on to say that it would not be difficult to put the Koeru Concept into production if it gets the right reaction.

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“We would like to see it in production, but we need to monitor customers voices and see if it can deliver sustainable sales volumes before making the final judgement. The Koeru Concept is a totally new proposition of SUVs” - Masamichi Kogai, Mazda President

the next generation of SkyActive II technology is looking to make 30% improvements on fuel economy by 2018.

He has also been delighted with the global reaction to the new MX-5 sports car, which he said was attracting new customers to the brand as the roadster closes in on 1 million sales. Although many manufacturers have tried to compete with the MX-5 Mr Kogai feels that none have succeeded. “No other manufacturer can compete or make a rival for the MX-5 as a lightweight affordable sports car, the only rival is the MX-5!”

Mazda to decide on hybrid or electric path Mr Kogai went on to talk in depth on Mazda’s plans for engines in the future, and revealed they were currently assessing customer reaction to trials in Japan of an electric Mazda 2 supermini and a hybrid Mazda 3. Whichever system proves to be the best option will be adopted across their entire line-up. He also talked openly about rotary power being used in future Mazda’s and said that they had a team of rotary engine specialists working urgently on research, but that there were still challenges to find a solution to certain problems associated with the technology, including cold start. But he pointed out that Mazda was more focused on improving the internal combustion engine ‘to the max’ and with

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REPORT MORE ON THE NEW MAZDA KOERU SUV

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New Showroom, New Models, New 65 Plates.

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Our Brand New Mazda showroom

This September our Mazda showroom got a complete over haul & facelift and we think it looks brilliant, even if we do say so ourselves.

We are very proud of how it looks and we want you to see it so why not come down and join us for a coffee and take a look around! We know you’ll love it too.

What makes it even better is that there is a whole new range of Mazda models in our new showroom with new 65 plates. The All new Mazda 2, the All New MX-5 and the All New CX-3 are ideal new cars for you to test drive right out of our new dealership.

CLICK HERE TO READ ALL ABOUT OUR NEW MAZDA SHOWROOM 8

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Don’t start the winter risking you or your passengers’ safety. With bad weather and darkness to contend with, you need to be sure that your vehicle will be fit and safe to handle all these conditions.

Our Honda Trained Technicians will check your car inside and out, including: · Battery · Brake Fluid · Coolant

· Tyres · Lights

· Bearings · Suspension · Exhaust

· Oil · Brakes · Pads

If anything is identified as critical, illegal and in need of replacement, we will contact you with a quotation.

FANTASTIC SAVING AVAILABLE IN OUR PARTS DEPARTMENT ANTIFREEZE

1 litre Bottle – ONLY £5 5 litre bottle – ONLY £13.95

SCREEN WASH

WINTER TYRES

250ml – ONLY £3.15

From £49.99+VAT

Speak to a member of our Aftersales Team to find out more CALL OUR NORTON WAY MAZDA SERVICE TEAM DIRECT NOW ON 01462 754 448

CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS ON THIS OFFER AT NORTON WAY MAZDA

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M E E T T H E N O R T O N W AY M A Z D A S E R V I C E T E A M Our friendly and qualified team are here to help you every step of the way. When arriving at our showroom, you will be greeted by one of our service team so we thought we’d take this opportunity to introduce them to you!

WILL HORNER

Will Horner is our Service Manager for both Mazda and Suzuki, and has been in that role for the last 3 years. He joined Norton Way over 12 and a half years ago as a Trainee Service Advisor and has been a fantastic example of someone working their way up in the company.

His favourite part about working with Norton Way is building on the company’s fantastic local reputation and making sure every customer is sent away with a smile on their face. His favourite vehicle in the range is the new MX-5, for obvious reasons. A fun fact about will is that he was the 1st boy ever born in Hinchinbrook Hospital.

BOB CANTWELL

Bob Cantwell is our Senior Service Advisor, who has been with Norton way for 22 years after joining us in April 1993.

His favourite thing about the company is that it is a family run business that has senior management that are there to answer too, it doesn’t have a corporate feel. He goes on to say this is shown by the amount of people that have had long careers at the company. Bob’s favourite part of working with Mazda products is there quality and reliability, which makes his job as a service advisor much easier.

LEE BILLINGTON

Lee Billington joined the business over 4 years ago as a Service Advisor. Like Bob, Lee also credited the family run feel the business has and says it creates a great working atmosphere.

His favourite vehicle in the Mazda range is the MX-5 and loves its sporty feel and it’s thrilling rear wheel drive. Lee is a Luton Town FC fan and is a season ticket holder there, he also enjoys going fishing in his spare time.

JULES BARCLAY

Last of all is our newest member, Jules Barclay who is a Service Advisor. She has been with the business for 1 year and her favourite thing is that her team feels like a work family.

When asked about her favourite Mazda she said they were all fabulous and there was a vehicle to fit into everyone’s different needs. A fun fact about Jules is you can tell her favourite drink by her registration plate on her car (A popular Spanish Red Wine).

READ THE FULL INTERVIEWS WITH OUR NORTON WAY MAZDA SERVICE TEAM HERE 11

Norton Way Mazda Norton Way North, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire SG6 1BL www.nortonwaymazda.co.uk Tel: 01462 754 488