The Mazda3 needs a redesign. By the time it’s scheduled 2010MY redesign rolls around, it will be 6 years old. While I agree it still looks good and (I own one, and a 6), I think with the advent of the new Mazda6, the new Mazda1 (which I’m almot certain we’ll see), and the new RX-7 (a bit further off), the 3 will start to look a little dated on the lots. And, as the hugely-successful bread-and-butter of Mazda, they need to keep the 3 fresh. A lot of people will be rolling out of their ’04s and ’05s by then and Mazda will want to put them into another Mazda3 if they can (if not upsell them to a 6 or elsewhere).

I doubt we’ll see a 2010 MazdaSpeed6. Frankly, as dissapointing of a seller as the first one was, I wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t make one period. If they do it’s only because they CAN not because they need to (something Mazda does often). But, if they do, it’d be a 2012MY car. Mazda pulls out the ‘Speeds as a mid-cycle boost. With the new one hitting as 2009MY car, my money’s on a 2012MY MazdaSpeed.

I love Mazda and love rotaries, but I see a REAL tough business case for having 2 rotary “sports cars” (plus the Miata) on the lot. With an RX-7 out there, there’s not a lot of compelling reasons for keeping the RX-8 on the lots anymore. I can think of a lot of little things (seats 4, Automatic, nice GT cruiser, etc) but I doubt those really translate into a viable market of sufficient size in and of themselves what with the all the sales that would be going to the RX-7. I think I could make a better case for a MazdaSpeed6 to cover those segments of the market than the RX-8.

You also didn’t mention the Mazda5. An easy one to forget. And I think that’s its’ biggest problem. I think the Mazda5 needs to be marketed a HELL of a lot better than it has been. Particularly as gas prices pass $4/gallon and if they approach $5/gallon I think Mazda could be sitting on something really nice in the Mazda5, and I think the market is realizing that now. Sales are up over 50% this year, the thing is selling great, it’s really close to being Mazda’s #3 best-selling vehicle. It will of course get the same redesign that its’ sister-car the Mazda3 gets.

Mazda 1- Offer it in North America to compete against Yaris,
Fit, Versa, etc…
B series- Revamp it (or kill it off until Ford brings back
or re-designs a new Ranger)
CX7- just give it a re-fresh for 2010.
CX9- just give it a re-fresh for 2010.
Mazda 3- Just give it a re-fresh and continue Mazdaspeed 3
production
Mazda 6- Was just re-designed… Offer for 2010 a Mazdaspeed 6
and keep production of it low.
MX-5 Miata- Give it a re-fresh, boost the 2.0L 4CYL engine’s
output to around 180hp, possibly offer a fixed
hardtop (like they did in late 90′s for the
Japanese spec Miata) and offer it exclusively with
a Mazdaspeed MX-5. Throw in the 2.3L turbo from
speed 3, price it in high 20′s and keep production
of it low.
RX-8- Was just refreshed. Keep it around. Hopefully the latest
version of the Renesis improves fuel efficiency, HP and
crappy low end torque.
RX-7- Bring it back. Keep it with the same design short wheel
base 2dr. Offer a Turbo or Twin Turbo 1.3 Rotary and
give it around 300hp. Keep it lightweight and perfectly
balanced like the Miata and RX8. Use for Mazda’s
flagship vehicle

Oh and lastly offer a Mazdaspeed package (like Ford did
with the Bullit Package) for RX7 and RX8
from the factory and keep it limited, sell only
1000-3000 packages.

While Ford will be bringing the Ranger back within 2 years as the F-100. My money is it being based off the new Ranger they’ve released in Asia. Importing seems to be the way Mulally wants to go, so I imagine they’ll turn to Asia if they can make that model meet our DOT regulations.

I doubt however we’ll see a new B-Series. Sales are, literally, only DOZENS a month (not kidding). Mazda did the whole B-Series thing originally because it’s Texas dealers said it was necessary to draw people into the showroom, and it probably was 20 years ago when it debuted. Today, as evidenced by sales, that’s no longer the case. Few Mazda dealers even carry the B-Series anymore. They can justify keeping it around because the costs for developing it have been paid off for almost 20 years, it costs them almost nothing to make one and it gives the St. Paul plant something to make. But Mazda is going to have a hell of a time justifying putting ANY money into making an all-new model. For as few as they sell, even just putting up the money to design and produce a new grill for their version wouldn’t be worthwhile.

Mazda1- Offer it in North America to compete against Yaris,
Completely revamp the B series (or kill it off until Ford brings back or re-designs a new Ranger)

If they’re serious about bringing this back and looking for inspiration, the choice is easy.

To me Mazda seems to be the only Japanese automaker with excitement left.

BTW, pretty much all the Ferraris and the clones would have to be considered door stops