2021 Mazda Mx-5 Miata Sees Minor Pricing, Equipment Changes

2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata sees minor pricing, equipment changes

Mazda has announced changes for the 2021 MX-5 Miata, and while the model year is mostly a quiet one for the enthusiast-favorite sports car, there is one striking new addition: a White Nappa leather option.

Sure to be the bane of Miata restorers years hence, the White Nappa leather is exclusive to the Grand Touring trim level, where it carries a $300 upcharge. Sadly, where Mazda giveth, it also taketh away, as last year's Red Nappa leather option has been dropped, and Tan Leather also falls by the wayside. That leaves black as your only other leather color choice.

Toyota Sees Profit Slip But Beat Earlier Forecasts

Toyota sees profit slip but beat earlier forecasts

TOKYO — Toyota's July-September profit fell 11% from a year earlier as the coronavirus pandemic slammed global demand, but Japan's top automaker appeared to be holding up better than weaker rivals that have sunk into the red.

Toyota reported Friday a quarterly profit of 470.5 billion yen ($4.5 billion), down from 530 billion yen a year ago. Quarterly sales slipped to 6.77 trillion yen ($65 billion) from 7.64 trillion yen.

Pompeo Sees Talks With Japan On Us Bases Cost

Pompeo sees talks with Japan on US bases cost

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has expressed readiness for formal negotiations with Japan on its share of the cost of stationing US forces in the country.

Pompeo said on Wednesday that the United States and Japan held the first consultations last week for a new host nation agreement by which Japan will take on its share of the burden for their mutual security.

Japan Sees Worst Gdp Contraction In 40 Years

Japan sees worst GDP contraction in 40 years

Japan's Cabinet Office says the country's economy saw a historic downturn in the April-June quarter. GDP contracted by the most in 40 years as the pandemic upended the economy.

The Cabinet Office says GDP shrank at an annualized 27.8 percent from the previous quarter in real terms. It's the worst result since comparable data became available in 1980.

Abe Cabinet Sees Highest Disapproval Since 2012

Abe Cabinet sees highest disapproval since 2012

An NHK poll shows that the disapproval rate for Prime Minister Abe Shinzo's Cabinet is at its highest since the launch of his second administration in December 2012.

The survey was conducted over the weekend. More than 1,200 people responded.

Japan Sees More Fatal Car Crashes In Urban Areas

Japan sees more fatal car crashes in urban areas

Japanese police say the volume of traffic around the country has plunged amid the coronavirus outbreak, leading to a significant decline in accidents.

But there has been an increase in fatal car crashes in urban areas. Police suspect this is due to more aggressive driving on empty roads.

Japan Sees Quiet Holiday Week Due To Coronavirus

Japan sees quiet holiday week due to coronavirus

Japan's state of emergency due to coronavirus outbreak continues to bring an unusual quiet to roads, transportation and tourist spots in the holiday period that began in late April.

On Saturday, the first day of the five-day consecutive holiday, popular destinations in Tokyo are almost deserted as people respond to calls to stay home.

Japan Sees 29% Dip In New Vehicle Sales Due To Virus Shutdowns

Japan sees 29% dip in new vehicle sales due to virus shutdowns

TOKYO — Japan's monthly auto sales dropped to a nine-year low in April, industry data showed on Friday, after a state of emergency called by the government to contain the national outbreak of the novel coronavirus left showrooms deserted.

In the latest indicator of the widening impact of the virus on the world's third-largest economy, vehicles sales fell 29% in April from the same period a year ago to 270,393, according to data from the Japan Automobile Dealers Association and an association for dealers of Japan's "kei" minicars.

Japan Sees Increase In Virus Cases

Japan sees increase in virus cases

Japan has reported 309 more coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 4,768.

The figure reported on Wednesday includes people found to have the virus in airport quarantine checks, and those who returned to Japan on chartered planes from China.

Japan Sees 2nd Largest Daily Tally Of Infections

Japan sees 2nd largest daily tally of infections

Japan confirmed 169 additional coronavirus infections on Sunday, the second largest single-day count following the 200 recorded on the previous day.

The country has seen 1,893 cases, excluding 712 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was quarantined at Yokohama Port south of Tokyo.