Mazda announces price rises

MAZDA has followed in Toyota's footsteps by announcing price increases of between 1.4 and 4.0 per cent for selected models in its passenger car and commercial range effective from May 1.

The 121 Metro 1.3-litre models go up by $235, which means the manual will cost $15,885 while the auto will rise to $17,390.

The 1.5-litre models rise by $280, resulting in a new price of $18,770 for the manual and $20,275 for the auto.

The cost of Mazda's seven-seat MPV increases by $1720 and the MX-5 by $1060. From May the MX-5 will cost $43,485 in soft-top form and $46,485 for the hard-top.

There will also be a $1600 increase in the price of the Mazda Millenia, taking it up to $72,850.

In the company's commercial vehicle ranges there will be 3 per cent increases to the B Series 4 x 2 models as well as the E Series vans and T Series trucks.

Mazda models to escape the price hikes are the 323 and 626 line-ups, as well as the recently introduced Premacy and Tribute.

Mazda Australia spokesman Mike Quist said the proposed price increases were largely driven by the strength of the Japanese yen against the Aussie dollar.

But while Toyota Australia recently forecast price increases of up to 10 per cent over the course of the year, Mr Quist said there was "no indication of further rises" following the May 1 price increment.

Mazda Australia has no further new model activity scheduled this year, apart from a few value additions to the 121 and 626 ranges.

An all-new 626 is due in the first half of 2002 and a revamped 121 - which shares much of its componentry with the imminent new Ford Fiesta - will debut either late next year or in early 2003.