Mazda is UK's Best-Selling Sports Car Brand

The Co-operative Motor Group Mazda is enjoying a rush of customers to its dealership as sales of Mazda's sports cars soar ever higher and confirm that the Japanese car maker is indeed 'Britain's favourite sports car brand'.

The latest official new car sales figures show that one in every three cars sold in the UK's non-premium sports car market is a Mazda.  The Mazda MX-5 soft-top and the revolutionary Mazda RX-8 four-door sports coupé attracted more than 11,300 buyers in the first nine months of 2006 to claim a 39.4 per cent share of the non-premium S segment.  This represents a 41 per cent sales rise over 2005 and also sees Mazda out performing products from prestigious rivals such as Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes and Porsche.

Currently, The Co-operative Motor Group Mazda is offering its customers a choice of three Mazda MX-5 models and four versions of the Mazda RX-8 in showrooms, with more performance vehicles set to arrive this month - the Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe, complete with power retractable hardtop, and early next year - the Mazda3 MPS super-hatch.

The Mazda RX-8, which comes with a choice of two power outputs from its unique rotary engine, the standard 192ps version and a high-power 231ps engine, has received awards from several automotive publications, including 'Best Coupé' from What Car? Magazine in 2006, for the third consecutive year.  This year, the range, priced from £21,400, has been complemented by two special edition models - Mazda RX-8 PZ and Mazda RX-8 Nemesis.

The 231ps Mazda RX-8 PZ, priced at £25,995, is the ultimate 'driver focused' sports coupé, jointly created by Mazda with motorsport specialists Prodrive.  With a tuned suspension set-up, aerodynamic modifications and unique 18-inch OZ Racing alloy wheels, this model also has a touch of exclusivity, as just 800 examples will be made available.

Three hundred and fifty examples of the 192ps Nemesis are being built, featuring a choice of unique mica paint colours and exclusive stone leather trim, plus a bespoke accessory package - all at the extremely attractive price of £22,995. 

Buyers of all Mazda RX-8 models are offered a complementary Prodrive drive experience day and a range of finance deals, including 0% APR hire-purchase up to two years (minimum 50% deposit), or 4.9% PCP or 4.9% APR hire-purchase up to three years (minimum 20% deposit on Hire purchase) - each starting with a three month payment holiday - or a 0% APR Cashplan over 12 months.  In addition, all finance arrangements made through Mazda Credit for RX-8 PZ will attract a £1,000 contribution towards the deposit if registered before 31 December 2006.

Hugely popular at The Co-operative Motor Group Mazda, the MX-5 soft-top has been described as 'one of the most desirable cars on the planet,' by Autocar and has received class-topping awards from other key automotive magazines such as Top Gear, Test Drive and What Car?, being named the number one car in its class. 

Priced from £15,650 on-the-road, the third-generation Mazda MX-5 can be ordered with a 1.8i 126ps or 2.0i 160ps engine.  Since the original model's launch 17 years ago, total UK sales of the MX-5 have powered past the 71,000 mark, proving the continuing popularity of the iconic convertible roadster.

To find out more about Mazda's sports car range, or to arrange a test drive, why not visit one of the The Co-operative Motor Group Mazda showrooms at Guiseley, Derby or Loughborough.