New CX-5 should add zoom-zoom to Mazda sales

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SKYACTIV technology is Mazda's new strategy for automotive environmental sustainability.

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Larry and Tova Vickar and 10 other members of the Transcona Rotary Club travelled to the Philippines for the dedication of the Vickar Transcona Rotary Port View Village, a new community that the club built for people living on Camiguin Island.

Mazda's new SKYACTIV technology should power sales of the new Mazda CX-5 compact crossover, says Rick Petroff, lease and finance manager at Gerry Gordon Mazda.

"We hit a home run with the Mazda 3 when Mazda introduced the model, and we're expecting the all-new 2013 Mazda CX-5 (which arrived at Mazda dealerships across the country last Tuesday) to put us back on top."

SKYACTIV technology is Mazda's new strategy for automotive environmental sustainability. Petroff said it boosts the CX-5 horsepower by up to 15 per cent with a similar reduction in fuel consumption. With the CX-5, you get 4.0 L/100 km (58 mpg) on the highway, he added.

The model is made out of lighter materials that increase body rigidity by 30 per cent. At the same time, the lighter chassis makes for better handling and performance.

"In the Mazda 3, SKYACTIV technology was incorporated into the engine and transmission," Petroff said. "The CX-5 however is built entirely around fuel efficient SKYACTIV technology."

Inside the new model, Petroff points to the luxury features such as top-quality leather and ergonomically designed driver's seat. The instrument panel is modeled after that of the MX-5. The trunk has a capacity of up to 1,852 litres with the rear seats folded forward. There's also an extra-wide lift gate at a low height for easier loading.

"We're looking forward to the diesel model, with the twin turbo engine, that we're expecting within the next year," Petroff said. Interested customers have been calling the dealership for the past few weeks to find out when the CX-5 was coming, he said. "We sold one the first day the models were on the floor."

Price for the base CX-5 GX model is $24,790 (including freight, pdi, a 6-speed manual transmission and FWD). The fully equipped GT version sells for $35,685.

"The best model for the Winnipeg market is the GX model with automatic transmission, AWD and the Convenience Package (including 17" alloy wheels, colour display screen, steering wheel-mounted Bluetooth controls with audio profile and HD radio)" which stickers at $29,485, Petroff said.

"Being able to buy a vehicle with AWD for under $30,000 is a real deal."

The CX-5 also has best-in-class residual value -- after four years, you can still get about 50 per cent of what you paid for the vehicle originally, he said.

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For the ninth year in a row, Vickar Community Chevrolet sales star Dave Enns has "struck gold" with a Gold ranking in the General Motors Sales and Marketing Guild for his sales performance last year. Enns has earned Gold every year that he's been selling vehicles at the dealership.

Joining Enns are fellow Vickar Chev sales reps Courtney Guest (for the eighth time), Devin Cuscito (for the fourth year) and Andrew Cuddy (first year) in the Silver category and Nick Allen (second year), Gunter Kuklik (sixth year), Noel Cadelina (sixth year) and Steve Lipischak (fifth year) in the Bronze category.

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In late January, Larry and Tova Vickar and 10 other members of the Transcona Rotary Club travelled to the southern Philippines for the dedication of the Vickar Transcona Rotary Port View Village, a new community that the club built -- in partnership with ANCOP (Answering the Cries of the Poor) and Couple for Christ (an organization similar in intent to Habitat for Humanity) -- for people living on Camiguin Island.

"Tova and I were part of a provincial trade mission to the Philippines four years ago," said Vickar, president of Vickar Community Chevrolet on Regent. "We visited this Port View village and met with rotary members on the island.

"There were just three or four houses in the village, while many other people were living in shacks on the beach. I got the idea of challenging my fellow Transcona Rotary members to come up with funding to build housing for those people in the shacks."

Vickar pledged to match whatever his rotary club raised. "With our partners, we were able to build 30 new homes for about 200 more people," he said.

"We're working on a new wish-list for the village. We want to raise another $50,000 for furnishings."

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 2, 2012 E2