TORRANCE, California, Oct. 31, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/The Acura NSX has been named Road & Track‘s 2017 Performance Car of the Year, besting eight of the world’s finest sports cars by exhibiting a potent mix of performance, style and emotion.

The Acura NSX won this year’s competition largely thanks to its unique driving experience. According to the feature in Road & Track, “For the first time in a hybrid automobile of any price or capability, technology has been placed firmly in the service of emotional involvement rather than in place of it.” The magazine goes on to say, “Everything about the car—from the way in which the brake-by-wire pedal lengthens its travel when the brakes are hot to the manner in which the mid-mounted V-6 permits itself a bit of the ol’ barbaric yawp when it’s winding out in fourth gear—is intended to enhance the driver’s involvement.”

“Every aspect of the new NSX—acceleration, braking and cornering—is a precise, new experience,” said Jon Ikeda, vice president and general manager of Acura. “Having the NSX recognized by Road & Track‘s esteemed group of evaluators is not only a great honor for the car, but a testament to the skill, determination and challenging spirit of our team—we are immensely proud.”

Now in its fifth year, Road & Track‘s Performance Car of the Year award is chosen based on testing that takes place over the course of four days, two of which are dedicated to the back roads of Kentucky and Tennessee and two of which are spent on track at the National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

To be considered for the competition, cars need to be brand new or significantly revised for 2016. During the four-day testing process, the Road & Track editors and writers evaluate each car based on a combination of emotion, performance and value.

For the performance evaluation, editors take note of acceleration, braking, handling, shift points, sound level and weight, accounting for the weather conditions present during testing. They also evaluate the engine, transmission, drivetrain, steering, tires and brakes.

The 2017 NSX launched in the spring, challenging conventional supercar thinking with a three-motor, 573 horsepower, twin-turbocharged Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) powertrain[i]. Produced exclusively at the Performance Manufacturing Center in Marysville, Ohio, the Acura NSX is the only supercar manufactured in America[ii].

The 2017 Acura NSX that won the competition featured Valencia Red Pearl Exterior paint with Semi-Aniline Red Leather and Alcantara^® Power Seats, the Carbon Fiber Exterior and Interior Sport Package, Premium Audio, Signature Y-Spoke Wheels, Carbon Fiber Roof and Rear Decklid Spoiler, Carbon-Ceramic Rotors with Black Brake Calipers, Pirelli Pzero Trofeo R 245/35ZR 19XL front tires and Pirelli Pzero Trofeo R 305/30ZR 20XL rear tires. The MSRP of the tested 2017 Acura NSX was $201,160. The 2017 Acura NSX starts at $156,000.

The Acura NSX competed against eight other cars: Audi R8 V10 Plus, BMW M4 GTS, Corvette Grand Sport, Jaguar F-Type SVR, Lotus Evora 400, Mercedes-AMG C63 S, Nissan GT-R NISMO and Porsche 911 Turbo S.

Full coverage of Road & Track‘s Performance Car of the Year can be found in the December/January issue, on newsstands November 15, and online at RoadandTrack.com.

For More Information
Consumer information is available at http://www.acura.com. To join the Acura community on Facebook, visit http://www.facebook.com/acura. Additional media information including pricing, features and high-resolution photography is available at acuranews.com/channels/acura-automobiles.

About Acura
Acura is a leading automotive luxury nameplate that delivers Precision Crafted Performance, an original approach to technology and design that creates a new driving experience. On March 27, 2016, Acura celebrated the 30th anniversary of its launch as the first luxury nameplate from a Japanese automaker.

The Acura lineup features five distinctive core models – the RLX luxury flagship sedan, the TLX performance luxury sedan, the ILX sport sedan, the 5-passenger RDX luxury crossover SUV, and the seven-passenger Acura MDX, America’s all-time best-selling three-row luxury SUV. This spring, Acura launched its next-generation, electrified NSX supercar as a new and pinnacle expression of Acura Precision Crafted Performance.

[i] Total system output
[ii] Manufactured in America using domestic and globally sourced parts

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TORRANCE, California, Oct. 28, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Honda will showcase a large presence at the 2016 SEMA show, headlined by the North American debut of the radical new Civic Type R prototype, straight from its global introduction in Paris.  The Civic R Prototype offers a glimpse into the styling of the next-generation Civic Type R, which will top off the 10^th generation Civic lineup when it launches next year.

Joining the Type R will be a posse of custom-built, accessorized and tuned Civic variants.  This “Civicpalooza” will highlight the custom options available for the new Civic – from an all-new 2017 Civic Hatchback with Honda Genuine Accessories to the 600-horsepower Civic Red Bull Global Rallycross race car, fresh off its strong performance at the 2016 GRC season finale in Los Angeles.

Honda’s SEMA footprint also will include the innovative, all-new 2017 Honda Ridgeline pickup truck outfitted with Honda Genuine Accessories, along with three Honda Ridgeline project vehicles built in partnership with some of the most creative automotive tuning houses in the U.S.  

Further demonstrating the broad range of performance products and racing activities that only Honda can boast, Honda Powersports and Honda Performance Development (HPD), the racing arm of Honda, will showcase a number of products and tuner projects, including the Indianapolis 500 Winning Alexander Rossi Indycar, the 2017 Honda Grom, and a number of Honda Powersports SEMA projects, including expertly tuned versions of the CRF250R, CB500F, CB500S, CBR1000RR SP, CBR600RR Race Bike, and more.

2016 Honda SEMA Lineup¹:

2016 Civicpalooza

2017 Honda Civic Type R Prototype

The radical Honda Civic Type R Prototype builds on the low and wide proportion of the new Civic Hatchback and is enhanced by muscular body styling and modifications to aid aerodynamic performance. The exterior is wrapped in a highly reflective, finely-grained brushed aluminum-effect finish, which is unique to the prototype car. At the front, the aggressive fascia is accentuated with a winged carbon fiber splitter and sporty red accent line. Additional slatted ducts add width to the fascia, and diamond-mesh inserts fill the sculpted air intakes.

Honda’s iconic red “H” badge, which adorns all Type R models, sits prominently on the front grille at the nose of the car. There is a new intake on the hood, with an air scoop sited centrally in a trapezoidal recess. Smoked lenses for the LED headlights, indicators and side indicator repeater lights reflect the Type R Prototype’s more aggressive character. Carbon fiber side skirts run the length of the side sills, between 20-inch piano black alloy wheels with red accents and 245-section high-performance tires. A beefy carbon fiber diffuser runs below the wider rear fascia, which frames three fully-functional tailpipes flanked by a pair of directional strakes. The smaller diameter central tailpipe is highlighted in bright metallic red. Model-exclusive vortex generators at the rear edges of the roof point backward toward a visually striking rear wing.

2017 Honda Civic Hatchback/Honda Factory Performance (HFP) Concept

The 2017 Civic Hatchback joins the 2016 Civic Sedan and Coupe as the third body style in the 10^th-generation Civic lineup. Combining Euro-inspired styling and 5-door hatchback versatility with world-class driving dynamics and Honda direct-injected turbo engine technology, the Civic Hatchback is designed for buyers seeking an even more expressive, sporty and versatile Civic.  

The 2017 Civic Hatchback is outfitted with a Honda Factory Performance accessory concept package featuring custom HFP accessories including deck lid spoiler, brake rotors, carpet floor mats and emblems.  In addition, the vehicle sports red underbody spoilers, black wheel lock and wheel lugs and 19-inch HFP alloy wheels.

2016 Honda Civic Coupe GRC Competitive Race Car

Fresh off the heels of the 2016 Global Rallycross season finale, the 2016 GRC Civic Coupe Competitive Race car arrives on the SEMA floor, literally covered with track dust and dirt.  Developed from a production-model 2016 Civic Coupe chassis by renowned builders and racers Olsbergs MSE (OMSE) with technical assistance from Honda Performance Development (HPD), the Civic Red Bull GRC car is built to withstand the rigorous demands of racing in a series that emphasizes repeated aggressive acceleration and varied terrain. The car will boast more than 600 horsepower, turn in a 0-60 mph time of 1.9 seconds and is designed to handle the 70-foot table-top jumps featured on each racetrack.

2017 Honda Civic Coupe Racing Concept

The same designers and engineers responsible for the development of the 10th-generation Civic Coupe have built the 2016 Coupe Racing Concept car. Built with an FIA specification safety cage, the 2016 Coupe Racing Concept is able to compete in domestic and international endurance sports car events, and will make its first official race debut at the USAF 25 Hour of Thunderhill on December 3-4, 2016.

2016 SEGA Sonic Civic Sedan

The SEGA Sonic Civic embodies the spirit of the Sonic the Hedgehog classic video game, whose main character Sonic, and Sonic’s world, is featured throughout the modified vehicle. Fox Marketing Cars, based in York, Pennsylvania, led the design and customization that includes: custom wheels and tires representing Sonic’s famous red shoes and gold rings, a custom exterior including a one-of-a-kind vinyl Sonic the Hedgehog design and bespoke paint scheme, a Sonic Black Grille and BASF R-M Candy Sonic Blue painted exterior with custom Sonic Yellow throughout including a Sonic Yellow Honda logo. Custom interior features include Sonic the Hedgehog front and rear seats with Katzkin Blue Leather and custom Sonic the Hedgehog 25th Anniversary embroidered logos.  A custom trunk design with Rockford Fosgate audio-visual system featuring two 500-watt T1S2 10-inch subwoofers, two 500-watt TM400 400-watt amplifiers, and a floor-mounted flip-up/down 32-inch television for video game fans to play Sonic the Hedgehog complete the build. 

2017 Honda Performance Development Civic Body-In-White/Performance Race Parts

The 2017 Civic Body-In-White was designed to allow amateur and pro race teams the ability to build new race cars without having to tear apart a production car, making it easier to go racing with the latest touring car chassis tech at an affordable price. Honda Performance Development (HPD) will also be supplying a full line of performance parts needed to turn it into a competitive race car including engine, transmission, suspension, brake components and more. With Civic racers competing in the Pirelli World Challenge, IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge events and numerous Club Racing programs, HPD’s Racing Line program not only offers the Body-In-White and accompanying performance parts, but includes direct engineering support from the HPD engineers that develop and evaluate these products.  More information can be found at: http://hpd.honda.com/racing-line.

2016 Honda Civic Coupe aLL STaR Performance / Tjin Edition

The aLL STaR Performance / Tjin Edition Honda Civic Coupe was designed to be the ultimate street cruiser and incorporates elements from various automotive genres to showcase the personalization potential of the restyled Civic. The exterior features an Apollo Top One Auto Part front lip spoiler, matched with a pair of HFP side skirts and rear valances, all sprayed in a custom Axalta Sunrise yellow paint finish, applied by LR Autobody. For rollers and stoppers, a set of forged Rotiform OZT wheels are wrapped in the all-new Falken FK450 tires, while a custom BC Racing BR Series coilover kit and Baer 6P brake upgrade finish the suspension and braking. The interior features a one-of-a-kind Katzkin perforated suede and leather combination complimenting the Civic’s exterior.

2016 Honda Civic Coupe / MAD Industries

The MAD Industries Civic showcases the versatility and fun factor behind the all-new Civic Coupe, with its aggressive stance and turbocharged power. Painted in BASF R-M Waterborn System in Aegean Blue and Jet Black, complete with Carbon 2 Carbon handcrafted Carbon fiber ground effects, single exhaust and Spec R wing, the MAD Industries Coupe catches the eye from every angle. The bold cockpit artfully blends the Aegean Blue and black exterior accents detailed by MAD Industries luxurious-but-sporty appointed custom interior, along with Roadwire leather seat covers with perforated suede inserts, contrasted by blue stitching in the seat, door panels and Steering wheel. The Eibach Pro Kit Performance Springs are on a set of stunning 19″ “rotiform” QLB Forged wheels wrapped with Toyo Proxes T1R High Performance tires.

2016 Honda Civic Sedan Meguiars Build – Civic X Concept

On display at the Meguiar’s booth, the recrafted Civic X Concept is meant to showcase the 10^th generation Civic sedan platform as a solid foundation for customization and personalization. Upgrades bring a sense of classic Honda tuning tradition but are recrafted with a modern day edge.  The goal was to give a nod to the clean aesthetic and design language of the builds at the height of the Honda movement from the mid- to late 1990s yet invoke a feeling of luxury and sport that feels progressive and current. The car has a sportier aesthetic due to the use of a carbon fiber hood and numerous Honda accessory enhancements. The exterior package is complemented with black accents in gloss and matte black textures. Performance fun is boosted by a number of upgrades from Greddy Performance Products while styling and handling is further enhanced with SSR wheels and Pirelli ultra-high performance tires. A more aggressive stance and firmer handling is delivered by a full coilover. The interior receives a major overhaul with a two-tone red and black alcantara combination and features contrast stitching while sound is amplified thanks to a custom system featuring additional subwoofers and amplifiers. The complete package embodies a reminiscent build execution of years past, but is executed in a classic and timeless style to appeal to the desire of today’s more luxury conscious customers.

Honda Ridgelines Featured at SEMA 2016

2017 Honda Ridgeline + Honda Genuine Accessories

The all-new Ridgeline builds on the unique and still industry-exclusive features that debuted in the award-winning first-generation Ridgeline in 2005. With superior on-road manners and a spacious, flexible interior — the 2017 Ridgeline adds the Truck Bed Audio System to the already industry-first In-Bed Trunk® and Dual-Action Tailgate. Ridgeline joins Honda’s expanded lineup of innovative light-truck models, including the HR-V crossover, the CR-V and Pilot SUVs and the Odyssey minivan.

The 2017 Ridgeline features a number of Honda Genuine Accessories including a bed extender, body side molding, cross bars and fender flares as well as a hard tonneau cover, roof rails, running boards, a sport grille and 18-inch Diamond Cut Alloy Wheels. The Ridgeline also features prototype accessories, including a custom light bar by Cibie, and LED fog lights by Valeo.

2017 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition / MAD Industries Sport Truck with MAD Industries CB500F

The MAD Industries Honda Ridgeline Black Edition has been paired with the Honda Powersports MAD Edition CB500F Naked Sport Bike for the weekend warrior who needs plenty of room for hauling gear. Both are painted in BASF R-M Waterborn System in Crystal Black Pearl and Candy Red, with exterior features including a lowered stance fitted with a set of 22×9.5 Niche Alpine wheels, custom painted in Gloss Black with Candy Red Details, while wrapped in Toyo Proxes ST / 11 Sport Truck all Season tires. The cockpit features Jet Black and Candy Red details along with a FOCAL Premium Flax Audio System Designed by the Source AV Design Group.

The CB500F, the smaller sibling of Honda’s flagship CB1000R naked sport bike, boasts excellent maneuverability, a comfortable riding position and a versatile engine with great performance across the rev range. PSR Custom CNC Billet Accessories are featured from front to rear, including Driven Carbon Fiber Meteor Bars and a Yoshimura R-77 Muffler in Carbon Fiber and Stainless Steel.  

2017 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition / TJIN Edition + TRX250

Debuting at this year’s SEMA Show in the Falken Tires Booth (#61003) is the Tjin Edition X Pennzoil Honda Ridgeline, which has been paired with the race-ready Honda TRX250X ATV. The Ridgeline’s off-road capabilities are enhanced by custom 20″ three-piece Rotiform wheels, 20″ Falken tires, Baer big brakes, and a custom Traxda suspension. The exterior features a custom Axalta paint job, MagnaFlow exhaust, custom front bumper and light bars by the crew at Unique Fabrication. The interior has been completely transformed with a custom Katzkin interior and Scosche sound system.

The Pennzoil x Tjin Edition Honda TRX250X was designed and built by Collin and Kylie Tjin to go hand and hand with the Pennzoil x Tjin Edition Honda Ridgeline, which will be showcased in the Falken Tire booth at the SEMA Show. The Pennzoil x Tjin Edition Honda TRX250X is miniature replica of the Ridgeline and features a custom Axalta paint job, Fox suspension, powder coated gold wheels by Rotiform, custom CT seat, Scosche boom bottles, MagnaFlow exhaust, Pennzoil products and custom logos by Daley Visual.

2017 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E / Fox Marketing
with 2016 Honda FourTrax Foreman Rubicon 4×4 Automatic DCT EPS Deluxe 

On display at the Toyo Tires booth, the 2017 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E customized by Fox Marketing focuses on the outdoor sportsman and features Honda Factory Accessories, including side step, wind visors and fender flares that allows the Ridgeline to spread its wings. An Avery Diamond White Pearl wrap is featured over a BASF R-M Black paint job, with red accents. The 18″ KMC Wheels are wrapped in 265/65/18 Toyo ATII tires, with a 1.5″ leveling kit providing added stability for off-road adventures. The bed of the truck features a 2017 Honda Rubicon 500 with added Nitrous Express 50-shot system, and 15″ KMC Wheels with 235/50/18 Toyo t1r Tires for the performance enthusiast.

The FourTrax® Foreman® Rubicon™ 4×4 is an aggressively styled ATV with a legendary 475cc fuel-injected engine and Independent Rear Suspension (IRS). Excellent ride comfort, high payload and towing capacity, high ground clearance and suspension travel, plus the option of Electric Power Steering (EPS) all add up to big fun with impressive capability.  Honda’s Automatic DCT with Drive/Low, which delivers smooth, seamless power with an added benefit of the ability to switch between full automatic mode and actively selecting gears via Honda’s Electric Shift Program. Both transmission choices are gear-driven, with no belts to slip when wet, or to burn up or break.

Honda Performance Development at SEMA 2016

Alexander Rossi’s Indianapolis 500 Champion IndyCar

In May 2016, Honda-powered race car driver, Indy rookie Alexander Rossi, stretched his final tank of fuel for 36 laps to the checkers – four more laps than any other competitor – to win the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500.  The IndyCar features a twin turbocharged, fuel-injected, aluminum-alloy V-6 with a dual overhead camshaft, four valves per cylinder valve train, direct fuel injection, two Borg-Warner turbochargers, “Drive-by-Wire” throttle technology and a series-spec McLaren Electronics Engine Control Unit (ECU).

Honda Performance Development Inc., Honda’s North American racing company, entered the Indy Racing League’s IndyCar® Series in 2003, and was the sole engine supplier from 2006 through 2011. For those six seasons, Honda powered the entire 33-car starting field at the Indy 500 without a single driver dropping out with an engine-related problem—a testament to the durability found in Honda’s products. After the return of other manufacturers in 2012, Honda continued its unparalleled achievement in durability and innovation, powering teams to Indy 500 wins in 2012, 2014 and now in 2016.

Honda Powersports at SEMA 2016

Factory Connection GEICO Honda CRF250R

This CRF250R GEICO Honda is the bike Malcolm Stewart took the 2016 East Championship aboard. The championship is Honda’s seventh SX Lites East championship in 11 years. Managed by past Supercross and Motocross champion Mike LaRocco, the Factory Connection racing squad is the home of multiple Honda champions and features a team deep with talent, including 2014 AMA SX Lites East champion, Justin Bogle.

2017 Honda Grom

The 2017 Honda Grom features new, aggressive bodywork, bold new colors and new LED headlight design. With a new two-tier seat, a more defined tail section, and a new low-mount muffler design, the Grom still features a 125cc engine, with a fun factor that continues to be off the charts. The Grom is a blast to ride, offering all the excitement and freedom of a motorcycle, and is user friendly and approachable so it eliminates nearly the entire intimidation factor.

2017 Honda CBR1000RR SP

The all-new Honda CBR1000RR SP has been completely redesigned and given some serious performance upgrades. This limited-edition machine is fully street legal, but it’s really at home on a track day. Compact, slim, and light, it’s also the first CBR Honda has offered with throttle-by-wire technology, and that makes a whole realm of engine performance choices available.

2017 CBR600RR Race Bike

This bike was piloted by five-time national champion, Benny Solis, who competed in the 2016 MotoAmerica Supersport class, finishing 5th in the Championship and taking a podium at Utah Motorsports Campus. This modified race bike was consistently competitive against factory teams.

Honda CB500S ‘Scrambler Concept’

The Honda twin-cylinder sport bikes revolutionized the world of motorcycling when they first appeared, and this latest generation—Honda’s 500 twins—are the best ever.  Starting with a 2016 Honda CB500F, MAD Industries and Lossa Engineering created this CB500S to replicate the very popular “Scrambler” style of motorbikes on a modern sport bike frame. This CB500S’s frame has been modified with fabrication work featuring Hand Made Panels, Seat Base and Exhaust system combining current modern parts that are available that tie in with the hand-made items. The front end was upgraded to an inverted 41mm Showa Big Piston Fork and radial-mounted calipers from the CBR600RR. The wheels are custom built by Ridewright Wheels with 40 Spoke Cross Laced Wheels and were custom finished to match the bike Black and Gold theme and are wrapped in Continental Trail Attack 2 Tires.

About Honda

Honda offers a full line of reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive vehicles with advanced safety technologies sold through over 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The Honda lineup includes the Fit, Civic and Accord passenger cars, along with the HR-V, CR-V and Pilot sport/utility vehicles, the Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan. Honda has been producing automobiles in America for 33 years and currently operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2015, more than 99 percent of all Honda vehicles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.

¹Aftermarket project vehicles. All modification information listed was provided by the vehicle builders and has not been confirmed by American Honda Motor Co., Inc. The modifications to these vehicles may void the manufacturer’s warranty, may not be legal for street driving in all 50 states and have not been specifically suggested, recommended or approved by American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

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IRVINE, California, Oct. 28, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Mazda Motorsports and Andersen Promotions announced today that the parties have reached an agreement for INDYCAR to sanction the Mazda MX-5 Cup series beginning with the 2017 season. The Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires is the signature spec series for the Mazda Road to 24 (#MRT24), the sports car counterpart to the Mazda Road to Indy presented by Cooper Tires (#MRTI).

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In both programs, series champions earn a Mazda Motorsports scholarship to advance their racing careers. The MX-5 Cup season champion earns a $200,000 scholarship. New for 2017, the MX-5 Cup Rookie-of-the-Year will earn a $50,000 scholarship. In total, MX-5 Cup pays more than half-a-million dollars in prize money and scholarships.

“This sanctioning agreement with INDYCAR for the Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires is based upon our long and productive relationship with Dan Andersen, Andersen Promotions and INDYCAR,” said John Doonan, director of motorsports at Mazda North American Operations. “We have worked closely with them to grow the Mazda Road to Indy into the finest open-wheel ladder in the world. Now, we are striving to grow this series, which is the first step of our sports car ladder known as the Mazda Road to 24. In only one year, we have sold more than 120 of the newest generation of MX-5 Cup cars and have seen starting fields of up to 40 cars. By teaming with INDYCAR, we believe the series will thrive. Mazda strives to provide value to our customers, and to present our race teams with this race schedule today is a big step forward. They will have the opportunity to race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, plus other iconic circuits in the U.S. and Canada.”

In 2017 the MX-5 Cup will consist of a 12-race schedule held on a total of six event weekends, plus the second annual Global MX-5 Cup Invitational, a non-points-paying event for Mazda racers from around the world.  Four of those event weekends will be held during Verizon IndyCar Series events – Barber Motorsports Park (April 20-23), Road America (June 23-25), Toronto (July 14-16) and Watkins Glen International (September 1-3). The series will also compete on the road course of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the SVRA event (June 15-17) and twice at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (Sept. 22-24 and the Global Invitational, Oct. 13-15).

“The Mazda MX-5 Cup race car is such a terrific package and the MX-5 Cup championship already has shown what great racing this car and its drivers can provide,” said Dan Andersen, CEO of Andersen Promotions, which will oversee operational aspects of the series. “Andersen Promotions is very excited to expand its Mazda involvement and move into the Mazda Road to 24 sports car ladder to complement what the Mazda Road to Indy open-wheel ladder has already accomplished. We are all about developing drivers for careers in racing, and we expect to bring our experience to MX-5 Cup and enhance the training that drivers receive to better enable them to climb the sports car ladder. INDYCAR is the best sanctioning body and has such exciting events on its calendar, and I can’t wait to add MX-5 Cup to some of these weekends and wave the Mazda flag even more.”

The MX-5 Cup series is considered the best value in sports car racing. The cars are sold as a ready-to-race, turnkey package for $58,900. Because of the parity of the cars, the racing is always close, hard-fought and great fun for fans. The series is entering its twelfth season of action.

“When Mazda approached us regarding MX-5 Cup, we felt it would be a great opportunity for INDYCAR to expand upon what we’re already doing with our involvement in the Mazda Road to Indy,” said Jay Frye, INDYCAR president of competition and operations. “This agreement also allows us to enhance our overall platform with Mazda Motorsports and Andersen Promotions, who have been great partners of INDYCAR.”

About MX-5 Cup:
The MX-5 Cup race cars start as complete MX-5 road cars from the Mazda Hiroshima, Japan factory before being transported to engineering development partner Long Road Racing in Statesville, North Carolina where they are produced into a race car. The process includes disassembly of the production car, welding and paint of a full roll cage and interior, and assembly of the race car, adding more than 250 motorsports-specific parts. Other components of the car, including the Mazda SKYACTIV 2.0 liter engine are sealed to ensure even competition and a cost-effective platform.

The Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires is the signature spec series for the Mazda Road to 24 (#MRT24), the sports car counterpart to the Mazda Road to Indy (#MRTI). On both paths, Mazda-powered champions earn a Mazda scholarship to advance their career. The MX-5 Cup champion earns a $200,000 scholarship.

Information on the car is online at www.mazdamotorsports.com.

About Mazda Motorsports: 
Mazda Motorsports boasts the most comprehensive auto racing development ladder system of any auto manufacturer in the world. The Mazda Road to 24 program offers a number of scholarships to advance drivers up the sports car racing ladder, beginning with the Global MX-5 Cup series and culminating with the Mazda Prototype team. The Mazda Road to Indy is a similar program that includes Mazda-powered categories of USF2000, Pro Mazda and Indy Lights. In grassroots road racing, more Mazdas race on any given weekend in North America than any other manufacturer. Mazda is also the title sponsor of the renowned Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. Follow all of the latest news at MazdaMotorsports.com, @MazdaRacing on Twitter, and MazdaMotorsports on Instagram and Facebook.

About Andersen Promotions:
Andersen Promotions has a long and successful background in promoting open-wheel championships and has also owned multiple race teams, including an Indy Lights team, in the past. The company relaunched the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda in 2010, which it operated from 1992 through 2001. In December of 2012, Andersen Promotions founded the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires to replace the void left by the Star Mazda Series which ceased operations after 22 years. On July 12, 2013, it was announced that Andersen Promotions would take over the licensing and operation of the Indy Lights Series from INDYCAR and now operates all three levels of the Mazda Road to Indy. For additional information, please visit www.indylights.com, www.promazdachampionship.com and www.usf2000.com.

About INDYCAR:
INDYCAR is the governing body of the Verizon IndyCar Series, the premier open-wheel racing series in North America, and the Mazda Road to Indy presented by Cooper Tires development ladder, which includes: Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires, the Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires and the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda. INDYCAR events are available to a worldwide audience through a variety of multimedia platforms, highlighted by long-term and broad-reaching partnerships with ABC and NBCSN. INDYCAR is continually at the forefront of motorsports innovation with drivers, teams and tracks benefiting from safety and technological improvements such as the SAFER Barrier, SWEMS wheel and chassis component tethers, chassis enhancements, advanced aerodynamic bodywork kits, high-definition in-car cameras and E85 ethanol fuel.

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