OK, so I'm in the service department waiting room while I get LoJack installed, and I see a magazine titled "Mazda Fuel", talking all about various Mazda products (about 20 pages long), including the 8 on the front cover. I figure it's something designed for customers to read, so I start thumbing through. It turns out that this magazine is internal to Mazda, talking about their various products, how to compare a car to its competitors, why they should do the Mazda Personal Touch, etc.

So I'll give some highlights real quick...

In a discussion of tires and how offering them in the service department keeps customers coming back, they said that the average tire cost to the dealership is $65. Didn't know it was that cheap!

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Key advantages of the RX-8 over other cars:
Honda S2000
Longer wheelbase
Four-passenger capacity
Choice of six-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission
Optional DVD navigation system
Standard driver and passenger curtain and front side air bags

Infiniti G35 and G35 Coupe
Center-opening Freestyle door system
Compact, smooth-running RENESIS rotary engine
Optional DVD navigation system (only offered on leather-equipped G35)
Lower base price ($25,180 vs $27,100/$29,100)

Nissan 350Z
Four-passenger capacity
Compact, smooth-running RENESIS rotary engine
Optional DVD navigation system
Standard driver and passenger curtain and front side air bags
Lower base price ($25,180 vs $26,269)

Audi TT
Longer wheelbase
Four-passenger capacity
Lower base price ($25,180 vs $32,500)

BMW 330i
Unique styling compared to BMW "family resemblance"
Center-opening freestyle door system
Compact, smooth-running RENESIS rotary engine
Lower base price ($25,180 vs $34,600)

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Mazda has developed the world's first aluminum joining technology using friction heat - instead of resistance welding. The RX-8 is the first car to get this technology, this process is used in the rear doors and hood of the RX-8.

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Planned Rotary advertising:

OUTDOOR
In several key Mazda RX-8 markets, look for a unique, larger-than-life oiutdoor message board featuring a Velocity red RX-8 to dominate the work and play areas of the RX-8 target buyer. More traditionally sized outdoor boards will supplement the first message, along with backlit posters, which will appear in clubs and restaurants. These same key markets also will feature RX-8 advertising in their airports, subways, telephone booths, and on kiosks and taxi tops.

PRINT
A series of spread ads aimed at traditional and tuner enthusiasts will begin running this June in such publications as Motor Trend and Sport Compact Car. In July, four-page, inside-cover, gatefold spread ads will appear in consumer publications, such as Stuff, Maxim, ESPN the Magazine, WIRED, and Blender. All ads will feature a Velocity Red RX-8.

PROMOTIONS
In addition to appearing at the Los Angeles premier of the "X2" movie this month (it's an old magazine), Mazda will continue to greate buzz about the new RX-8 with its "RX-8 Live" events. These impromptu events feature roving teams that take the RX-8 to target-buyer-rich environments - coffee bars, restaurants, nightclubs, live music venues - where they show and talk about the car, hand out business cards directing people to the www.rx8live.com Web site, and take digital pictures, which are posted on the site. The RX-8 also is associated with several high-profile events taking place in these markets.

DIRECT MARKETING
Mazda will continue to communicate via direct mail and e-mail with all the RX-8 handraisers and enthusiasts collected during the pre-launch phase. All communications will feature and invitation to test drive the new RX-8 at a local Mazda dealership.

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Discussion of some of the technical training aspects going on, including:
RENESIS Rotary Engine Design & Technology (CD-ROM of data only)
Mazda RX-8 new-model technical training (classroom instruction and hands-on shop training)
Mazda RX-8 Technical Highlights in-dealership technical training (in-dealership CD-ROM for self-study)
RENESIS Rotary Engine Fundamentals (self-study workbook)

In total there will be a seven-volume Mazda Fundamentals Library about the RX-8.

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Profile of some of the original Mazda Engineers and cars involved with the rotary - Tsuneji Matsuda, Kenichi Yamamoto, Cosmo Sport, etc. Condensed repeat of the history section from the pre-sale book.

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Mazda CPO (Certified Pre-owned) warranty:
7-year, 100k mile for 2000, 2001, 2002 vehicles
8-year, 100k mile for 2003 vehicles

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That's about it, just thought it was interesting... Not sure if this will end up getting moved, I'll leave that up to JPS.

 

i saw the same magazine when i went to the Mazda dealership...on the back there's an RX-8 refrigerator magnet...i ganked the magazine to take home but the magnet was already gone...

 

Sat-Nav has always been an option on the 350Z so that was poor research by Mazda. A bit of a weak list I think.

 

great, thanks for the type-out.

 

has anybody checked to see if this magazine can be subscribed too or got any where out side the dealership? Lates matt22