2025 Mazda3 Is a Mature Hot Hatch—or at Least a Mild Hatch
Mazda's numerically named hatchback might be a vestige of its former naming conventions, but it still echoes the automaker's modern direction.
This fourth-generation Mazda3 made its way to roadways for the 2019 model year, which, historically, puts it close to the end of the line. Despite not having a Mazdaspeed version for hopped-up hatchback enthusiasts to add to their respective stables, this current Mazda3 packs plenty of power under the hood.
The base-model Mazda3's naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder sends 191 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque through either a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. That's not bad, but Mazda's turbocharged 2.5-liter engine shoves 250 hp (on 93 octane fuel) and 310 lb-ft of torque through a six-speed automatic.
On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the turbocharged Mazda3 hatch, puts it through the paces, and takes you on a guided tour of the 2025 model before taking you on a live drive review.
Wren also chats with Patrick Carone about the Mazda3's position in the marketplace, the competition, and more. Closing the show, the pair breaks down what makes the 2025 Mazda3 special.
Tune in below, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever podcasts are played.
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Associated Press
7 hours ago
- Associated Press
Japan's TOPIX Hits Historic High on Strong Earnings and U.S. Tariff Relief
Market optimism extends across Asia despite mixed performances, as EBC Financial Group notes renewed investor confidence in trade-sensitive sectors. JAPAN, August 13, 2025 / / -- Japan's Tokyo Stock Price Index (TOPIX) closed at a record all-time high of 3,024.21 on Friday, 8 August 2025, breaking the 3,000-point milestone for the first time in history. The index gained 1.21%, driven by robust corporate earnings and a fresh wave of optimism in global trade following the United States' decision to reduce auto tariffs on Japanese exports. Investor sentiment was buoyed by the tariff cut from 27.5% to 15% under a new trade accord, a move seen as a significant boost for Japan's export-reliant automakers. Shares of Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru rallied strongly, while technology and investment giant SoftBank surged nearly 11% after reporting a return to profit. Sony also advanced more than 4%, extending its earnings-driven rally. Strong Earnings and Policy Clarity Drive Momentum The record-breaking rally comes amid a week of steady gains, underpinned by a series of positive corporate results and clarity over U.S.-Japan trade relations. Market watchers noted that tariff relief was particularly impactful for automotive and manufacturing sectors, which have been closely watching global trade developments. 'Japan's equity markets are showing that policy clarity can be as powerful a catalyst as earnings surprises,' said Samuel Hertz, Head of APAC, EBC Financial Group. 'The combination of tariff relief and robust performance from key corporates is feeding into a stronger appetite for risk among investors, not just in Japan but across Asia.' Mixed Asia-Pacific Trade; Gold Shines on Tariff Moves While Japan's market outperformed, broader Asia-Pacific equities were mixed. Gains in Tokyo were contrasted by declines in Hong Kong, South Korea, and Australia, as some investors remained cautious ahead of anticipated appointments to the U.S. Federal Reserve that could influence monetary policy direction. Gold futures also reached a new record, with spot prices edging up to $3,392.64 per ounce amid U.S. tariff measures on gold imports, reflecting the ongoing interplay between commodities and trade policy. Market Momentum Builds on Trade Breakthrough Analysts suggest Japan's milestone highlights the importance of aligning corporate strength with supportive trade policies. For international investors, particularly those focused on Asia-Pacific equities, the developments highlight the potential for further upside in sectors benefiting from reduced trade frictions. 'While the rally in Japan is significant, it also serves as a reminder that in today's interconnected markets, shifts in trade agreements and monetary policy can quickly reshape investor positioning,' Hertz added. 'Active monitoring and agile strategies remain critical in capturing opportunities across global markets.' Disclaimer: This article reflects the observations of EBC Financial Group (SVG) LLC and is for reference only. It is not financial or investment advice. Trading in Contracts for Difference (CFDs) and foreign exchange (FX) involves significant risk of loss, potentially exceeding your initial investment. Before trading, you should carefully consider your financial status, investment objectives, expertise, and risk appetite and consult an independent financial advisor if necessary, as EBC Financial Group and its global entities are not liable for any damages arising from reliance on this information. ### About EBC Financial Group Founded in London, EBC Financial Group (EBC) is a global brand known for its expertise in financial brokerage and asset management. Through its regulated entities operating across major financial jurisdictions—including the UK, Australia, the Cayman Islands, Mauritius, and others—EBC enables retail, professional, and institutional investors to access global markets and trading opportunities, including currencies, commodities, CFDs and more. Trusted by investors in over 100 countries and honoured with global awards including multiple year recognition from World Finance, EBC is widely regarded as one of the world's best brokers with titles including Best Trading Platform and Most Trusted Broker. With its strong regulatory standing and commitment to transparency, EBC has also been consistently ranked among the top brokers—trusted for its ability to deliver secure, innovative, and client-first trading solutions across competitive international markets. EBC's subsidiaries are licensed and regulated within their respective jurisdictions. EBC Financial Group (UK) Limited is regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA); EBC Financial Group (Cayman) Limited is regulated by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA); EBC Financial Group (Australia) Pty Ltd, and EBC Asset Management Pty Ltd are regulated by Australia's Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC); EBC Financial (MU) Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission Mauritius (FSC). At the core of EBC are a team of industry veterans with over 40 years of experience in major financial institutions. Having navigated key economic cycles from the Plaza Accord and 2015 Swiss franc crisis to the market upheavals of the COVID-19 pandemic. We foster a culture where integrity, respect, and client asset security are paramount, ensuring that every investor relationship is handled with the utmost seriousness it deserves. EBC is a proud official foreign exchange partner of FC Barcelona and continues to drive impactful partnerships to empower communities – namely through the UN Foundation's United to Beat Malaria initiative, Oxford University's Department of Economics, and a diverse range of partners to champion initiatives in global health, economics, education, and sustainability. Michelle Siow EBC Financial Group + +60 163376040 email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook YouTube X Other Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Motor 1
a day ago
- Motor 1
In Defense of the Toyota GR Corolla Automatic
Some cars absolutely need a manual transmission. Buying an automatic Mazda Miata, for example, is an indefensible decision. The short-throw six-speed is a large part of what makes that sports car so iconic. I recently criticized the new Volkswagen Golf GTI for the same reason—it no longer offers a manual. The lone transmission is a seven-speed dual-clutch, and it's great, but it takes much of the charm away from a car so synonymous with rowing your own gears. Other sporty, affordable cars fall into a similar category; the Hyundai Elantra N, the Subaru WRX, and—as we've learned—the Toyota GR86 simply aren't as good with automatics. Or in Subaru's case, a CVT. The Toyota GR Corolla, though, is different. In fact, it might be just as good with an automatic—maybe even better. But before you reach for your pitchforks, hear me out. When Toyota originally launched the GR Corolla, the only transmission was a six-speed manual. It was an excellent gearbox—quick, responsive, and direct—but it limited the market to hardcore enthusiasts. While you can still buy the GR Corolla with a manual—and Toyota estimates that about 50 percent of its customers do—Toyota knew it needed to broaden the hot hatchback's appeal with an automatic option for 2025. And no, they didn't use some off-the-shelf ZF. Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1 Instead, Toyota looked to its Gazoo Racing team. Through extensive motorsports testing—both on the rally stage and on the track—the GR Corolla's "Direct Automatic" eight-speed was born. It debuted first in the European GR Yaris before making its way to the US in the Corolla. Earlier this year, I spoke to Chief Engineer Naoyuki Sakamoto, who told me exactly what it took to bring the track-tested automatic transmission to a road car: "That automatic transmission was developed through motorsport activities. We took that transmission to the GR Yaris in Japan, and we joined the Japanese rally championship series… Then, we identified any problems in motorsport racing conditions. After that, we decided to apply that automatic transmission to the GR Yaris." Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1 Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1 Sure, auto executives use phrases like "track-inspired" all the time, but in this case, Toyota engineers worked tirelessly to ensure that its automatic transmission actually felt like it was ripped from the track. And largely, it does. Testing it at Eagles Canyon Raceway in Texas, a few months back—a pretty nifty little club track tucked away deep in the hills of Texas—the Corolla auto instantly felt special. High-strung, eager to hang revs, and quick to shift through its short ratios, the eight-speed barely needed any of my help finding the right cog around the 2.7-mile track. In fact, Sakamoto encouraged me not to use the paddle shifters at first go as a way to really allow the gearbox to do its own thing. And flicking them the second time 'round didn't reveal any demonstrably better qualities. If anything, it only exposed my unfamiliarity with the track. But I digress… Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1 'Toyota engineers worked tirelessly to ensure that its automatic transmission actually felt like it was ripped from the track.' Buyers should also be thrilled with the fact that the GR Corolla gets more torque from 2025, thanks largely to the new gearbox. Toyota upped the twist from 273 pound-feet last year to 295 pound-feet this year. The reality, though, is that only a small fraction of buyers will actually take their Corolla to the track. That's true of most sporty cars. Where you really want the Corolla to feel special is on the road—it should be just thrilling in a roundabout as it would be on Angeles Crest. In this respect, the GR Corolla succeeds better than most. The high-strung qualities that make this transmission such a darling on the track prove just as lovable on road. There's always torque when you need it, and a firm-enough press of the go pedal results in an immediate downshift followed by a wave of power. The buzzy three-cylinder doesn't sound half bad, either. Admittedly, the gearbox can feel a bit over-eager at times—like a golden retriever with too much energy. It doesn't necessarily need to be that on-edge for runs to the grocery store or trips to the doctor's office, but even in its most docile setting, there's really no turning it off. Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1 Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1 But as opposed to something like the GTI's gearbox, which is mostly lifeless unless you're at the limit, the GR Corolla doesn't need a ridiculously twisty road or a super-fast piece of pavement to feel fun. Even when puttering around town, it's thoroughly enjoyable. That's what makes it so special. For some, there's no convincing them that an automatic—let alone a traditional torque-convertor, rather than a dual-clutch—is a better option than a manual. And I get that. But in a market where the manual is less desirable than ever, it's nice to have options—especially if those options could potentially open the door to a new generation of enthusiasts. Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Lucid Stock: Can Gravity Production Volume Solve All Problems?
Key Points The EV maker's second quarter fell short of Wall Street estimates. The loss of regulatory credit sales is a blow to Lucid and other EV makers. Lucid is now drastically accelerating production of the Gravity SUV. 10 stocks we like better than Lucid Group › Despite coming into the second quarter with momentum after a number of consecutive quarterly sales records, Lucid Group (NASDAQ: LCID) was the latest electric vehicle (EV) maker to pump the brakes on expectations. Lucid, among its competitors, is driving through tricky waters when it comes to navigating tariffs, removal of the federal EV tax credit, and the loss of regulatory credit sales. One saying rings true for Lucid though: Volume solves all problems. More specifically, Gravity SUV production volume will solve all problems. Here's why. Q2 recap and speed bumps Automakers around the globe are navigating choppy waters when it comes to increasing costs due to tariffs. Lucid started things off by trimming its full-year production outlook, making Lucid only the latest automaker casualty to pump the brakes after tariff and trade policy changes. The automaker now expects to produce between 18,000 and 20,000 EVs in 2025, down at the midpoint from its earlier forecast for 20,000 vehicles. Revenue of $259 million fell short of Wall Street estimates, as well as its adjusted loss of $0.24 per share, which was worse than the $0.22 per share loss consensus estimate. Regulatory credit loss Adding to Lucid's pain is the loss of regulatory credit sales. Essentially, automakers that produce EVs were given credits for their production, while automakers producing vehicles that didn't meet emissions standards were fined. One way to avoid the fine was to simply purchase regulatory credits from automakers with a surplus, such as EV-only automakers like Lucid. That was until the Trump administration removed the fine for vehicles not meeting emissions standards, effectively and immediately removing any incentive to purchase regulatory credits, shutting off a valuable chunk of business for EV makers such as Lucid. Volume solves problems What Lucid needs is a good dose of volume! More specifically, Lucid desperately needs to ramp up the production of its Gravity SUV, which has been in low production since launching. It's important because the $7,500 federal EV tax credit is set to disappear on Sept. 30, effectively pulling forward demand from those on the fence to get in before the discount is removed. That means there will be a roughly equal power lull during the fourth quarter, so the sooner the Gravity is producing at full capacity, the better. Unfortunately, things haven't gone exactly to plan. "This is something I've said before, and I say it again, we're not where we want to be with the Gravity at this time of the year. We actually wanted to be ahead, making significant ... progress every day," Lucid CEO Marc Winterhoff said in an interview with Yahoo! Finance shortly after Q2 earnings. On the bright side, Lucid does expect production to ramp up drastically during the second half of the year. But to meet its lofty goal of 18,000 to 20,000 vehicles it would need a serious acceleration. Consider that Lucid produced only 6,075 vehicles during the first half of the year. To meet expectations Lucid would have to pull forward the launching of a second shift at its Arizona Factory. What it all means One of the major developments to watch with Lucid is the company's fight to become gross profit positive, which rival Rivian Automotive accomplished in both the fourth and first quarter. The problem is investors might not see desired progress in gross profits during 2025, depending on the countermeasures Lucid unleashes during the fourth quarter to help offset the lull following the pull-ahead in demand. Those discounts and incentives can be costly. Ultimately, despite a less than glamorous second-quarter report, Lucid still has momentum and is well-positioned with production of its Gravity accelerating as we speak. But long-term investors would be wise to anticipate a bumpy few quarters as the industry, and consumers, grapple with changes in pricing due to tariffs and trade policy. Should you invest $1,000 in Lucid Group right now? Before you buy stock in Lucid Group, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Lucid Group wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $653,427!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,119,863!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,060% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 182% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of August 11, 2025 Daniel Miller has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Lucid Stock: Can Gravity Production Volume Solve All Problems? was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
