Yes, you may be right Steve, all the power of a diesel and the flexibility of petrol - what's not to like? Not altogether sure about the auto though. My car is the 2.0 manual Tourer. I have just spent two weeks driving 1800 miles around Nova Scotia in a Buick Versano auto which apparently has a 2.4l engine under the bonnet (hood?). It certainly went well enough but I found it a bit lazy to drive compared with a stick car and the car was not so responsive as my manual. You put your foot down to overtake and wondered what the car would do. If Mazda did do a high power auto then I think it ought to incorporate a paddle override.
American cars (which is what they have in Canada) do seem to be rather bland exterior designs and the interiors seem to be a generation or so behind what we expect over here. However most of the population seem to drive enormous pickups which fill your rear mirror! I did spot a lot of Mazda 3s though.
Yes I aggree Colin, I lived in the US for ten years in the 80's bought a manual Nissan 200 SX myself but did drive the wifes's Buick V6 3.8lt and it was a case of stamp on the accellerator and hope for the best and 5 minutes later it has wound up the spring and decided to move. Her later Nissan Stanza auto was a little better, but then modern Japanese technology.
No control of the cars speed with an auto particularly when slowing down, just felt as if you was coasting.
I liked to go through the gears on my wifes Stanza and use the handbrake at lights not sit with your fot on the brake.
The handling of US cars was non existant , you would bounce and squel around corners.