Mazda Demio

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Mazda Demio
Manufacturer	Mazda
Also called	Mazda2 Mazda 121
Production	1996–present
Predecessor	Ford Festiva Autozam Revue Mazda 121
Class	Subcompact
Transmission	Ford IB5
Related	Ford Fiesta Ford Fusion
Similar	Toyota Yaris Honda Fit Hyundai Accent Nissan Versa

First generation

Production	1996–2001
Body style	5-door hatchback

Second generation

Production	2002–2006
Body style	5-door hatchback

Third generation
Production	2007–
Body style	5-door hatchback

See also Mazda 121 for other cars using this name

The Demio (also sold as the Mazda 121, Mazda Metro, Mazda2 and Ford Festiva Mini Wagon) is a small minivan or tall station wagon which debuted in 1996. As of 2005, 892,000 Demios had been sold worldwide since introduction.

1 Origin
2 1996
3 2002
4 2007
5 References
6 See also

[edit] Origin

In the 1980s Ford approached Mazda to create a B-segment small car for it. This resulted in the 1987 Ford Festiva. The same platform spawned the Autozam Revue in 1990, which Mazda sold as the 121 in most markets. Then the Festiva was redesigned in January 1993, still based on the same platform. Kia also built versions of the first and second Festiva, both for itself and for Ford's sale in the United States.

[edit] 1996

When it came to redesigning the Revue, Mazda came up with a tall hatchback, minivan-esque package (the Revue was already over 1500mm tall). Introduced in a time full of negative press coverage, the Demio became a surprise hit for Mazda in Japan, and also foreshadows the current crop of B-segment minivans such as the Opel Meriva, Fiat Idea and the Renault Modus.

The new 1996 Demio (sold as either the Demio or 121 outside Japan, or Metro in Australia) used the DW platform. Production started in July of 1996. The Demio was updated for 2000 with a revised exterior, cabin air filtration, retuned automatic transmission, and available DSC. It was also sold in Japan as the Ford Festiva Mini Wagon.

Engines:

1.3 L B3-ME I4 (1996-1998)
1.5 L B5-ME I4 (1996-1998)
1.3 L B3E I4, 61 kW/108 Nm (1999-2001)
1.5 L B5E I4, 74 kW/127 Nm (2000-2001)

NBA star Scott Pippen appeared in the TV commercials for the Demio's launch.

[edit] 2002

The Demio was redesigned in 2002 on the DY platform. The Demio name continued in Japan, while the rest of the world dropped Demio and other names in favor of Mazda2. Since debut, 2 has earned itself a name for being practical and fun to drive, pushing its Japanese domestic sale to as high as 7th place.

The badge-engineered Ford version is no longer made, as Ford began importing the Fiesta into Japan. It is based on Ford's Fiesta on the Global Ford B3 platform which is based on Mazda's DY platform. The car is produced for Europe at a Ford plant in Valencia, Spain. North American sales of the Mazda2 are expected to start in 2007, where other subcompacts (Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa, Honda Fit) will also debut. It will fill the gap in Mazda's subcompact line since the Mazda 323 hatchback was discontinued for North America in the mid-1990s.

All Demios come with ABS and EBD, and stability control is optional. An innovative feature offered in Japan is e-4WD, a hybrid car-type system which uses an electric motor to power the rear wheels of this front wheel drive vehicle when needed. In the Demio, this system is used only as a traction aid, not for increased fuel economy as in most other vehicles.

Three trim levels are available, each targeted by Mazda at a different demographic:

Cozy for single women with special paint colors and an optional canvas sunroof
SPORT is for young men
Casual focuses on young families

(these are for the Japanese market only).

In Europe, trim levels are S and TS. The Japanese 1.3 and 1.5 petrol engines are not available, but Ford's 1.25-litre 16v Yamaha engine is used, and Mazda's 1.4 and 1.6 petrol, plus the 1.6 diesel are offered.

The Mazda2 is sold with a variety of Z-family engines:

1.3 L ZJ-VE I4
1.5 L ZY-VE I4
1.25 L MZI
1.4 L MZI
1.6 L MZI
1.4 L MZ-CD Diesel
1.4 L MZ-CD Diesel

In 2004 Mazda introduced the Verisa in Japan. The Verisa is based on the Demio but targeted further upmarket.

In April 2005 Mazda announced a facelift for this Demio.

Japanese actress Misaki Ito appered in the TV commercails for the Demio.

[edit] 2007

The Demio^[1] is expected to be revamped for the 2008 model year, with the sporty MicroSport coupe added for Europe and Japan. Mazda has announced that the next generation of the car, referred to as "the next sub compact, B-segment Mazda", will not be manufactured in Valencia, Spain, but in Hiroshima, Japan [1]. It will feature either an MZR 1.35 liter engine, or a larger MZR 1.5 liter engine. Additionally, Mazda has released information regarding a Mazda2 MPS model with a direct-injection Turbo engine and all-wheel-drive.^[2]. Photos of the new Mazda2 can be seen in Mazda's pertinent press release.