Mazda Demio
The Demio (also sold as the Mazda 121, Mazda Metro, Mazda2 and Ford Festiva Mini Wagon) was originally a small minivan or tall station wagon which debuted in 1996. Introduced in 2007, the third generation Demio which is a supermini car, earned the 2008 World Car of the Year title.
Originating with the introduction of the Mazda 121 in 1987, this B-segment small car was based on the Mazda D-platform. Ford also used a version of the first-generation DA 121 known as the Ford Festiva. Mazda later released the Autozam Revue in 1990 with the next generation of the D-platform DB. It was redesigned for January 1993, still based on the same DB platform. Kia also built versions of the DA and DB, both for itself and for Ford's sale as Ford Aspire in the United States which Kia sold as the Pride and Avella. When it came to redesigning the Revue, Mazda came up with a tall hatchback, minivan-esque package (the Revue was already over 1,500 mm (59.1 in) tall). Introduced in a time full of negative press coverage, the Demio became a surprise hit for Mazda in Japan, and also foreshadows the current crop of B-segment minivans such as the Opel Meriva, Fiat Idea and the Renault Modus. The new 1996 Demio (sold as either the Demio or 121 outside Japan, or Metro in Australia) used the DW platform. Production started in July 1996. In 1998, the Mazda logo was changed from the previous logo to the current logo. The Demio was updated for 2000 with a revised exterior, cabin air filtration, retuned automatic transmission, and available DSC due to a 2002 redesign. The Demio was redesigned in 2002 on the DY platform. The Demio name continued in Japan, while the rest of the world dropped Demio and other names in favor of Mazda2. Since debut, 2 has been well received by the market pushing its Japanese domestic sale to as high as 7th place. The badge-engineered Ford version, the Ford Fusion, is no longer made, as Ford began importing the Ford Fiesta on the Global Ford B3 platform which is based on Mazda's DY platform. The car is produced for Europe at a Ford plant in Valencia, Spain. All Demios come with ABS and EBD, and stability control is optional. An innovative feature offered in Japan is e-4WD, a hybrid car-type system which uses an electric motor to power the rear wheels of this front wheel drive vehicle when needed. In the Demio, this system is used only as a traction aid, not for increased fuel economy as in most other vehicles. Three trim levels are available, each targeted by Mazda at a different demographic:
- Cozy for single women with special paint colors and an optional canvas sunroof
- SPORT is for young men
- Casual focuses on young families
