[Charlie Hughes, Executive Officer in charge of North American Operations]

(The sound of rotary engine carries at the press briefing site.)
I love the sound of a rotary engine, particularly when I'm behind the wheel! Good morning. At this time in the morning, the most appropriate thing I can say to you is "thank you."

Thank you for joining us... for those of you who are still a bit groggy, we're Mazda - the company who brought you zoom-zoom.

When zoom-zoom first appeared in commercials a little more than two years ago, I think it's safe to say many of you were skeptical.

We heard comments like, "it's just more marketing speak," "who needs another slogan" and "do they really have the products to back it up?" Many people have tried to define zoom-zoom. That's impossible - it's emotion. It's a feeling, a sense, and a state of mind.

It's what makes Mazdas slightly seductive...

The perfect balance, the oneness between car and driver. It's an experience that just leaves you with a smile. It's building vehicles that instill pride. It's having a retail experience that's centered on the test drive. Clearly, Miata and RX-7 and other Mazdas have shouted Zoom-Zoom.

Have we been consistent?

Well, starting with the launch of Tribute, the current Protege and Protege5, and even MPV... all exude the soul of a sports car.

And the Mazda6? You've resoundingly said it's pure zoom-zoom... pure emotion of motion. The Mazda6 is foot-to-the-floor proof that we can take on the world's best... and win. And our MAZDASPEED products crank it up to a whole new level.

Stay tuned!

The future of Mazda is going to be even more high-tech.

Filled with products lit with our passion for driving dynamics. Products that demonstrate how we can deliver innovative answers to very traditional automotive questions.

And even how we question traditional automotive segments... How we approach packaging, design and drivetrains... like this terrific RX-8...

Talk about a sports car like no other!

But when I talk about rethinking the traditional, what I really mean... is this.

[Norihito Iwao, Chief Designer of Concept Model "Washu"]

(Speech brought in Japanese)
We call this new six-seat concept 'Washu' because the graceful opening of its doors reminds us of an eagle flexing his wings - and because it expresses a new spirit of practical creativity in our design process. Free from rigid segmentation, our imaginations soar in response to a real-world challenge from our customers: "Give us visual excitement and Zoom-Zoom driving dynamics we expect from Mazda - but please don't compromise the practical living space we need."

[Moray Callum, General Director of Design Division]

At Mazda, as you have seen in the RX-8, we encourage the design team to think outside the box and avoid obvious product segmentation.

That's the road to "me-too" products... and that is not Mazda.

One of our goals is to arrive at cars, which satisfy the functional needs of customers without diluting the visual and dynamic excitement that is Mazda.

The Washu is one example of this, where the new RX-8 will deliver that passion with four seats, this concept goes even further infusing that dynamic feeling while still being able to carry six adults comfortably and in style.

Low, sleek well proportioned... this six-seater transcends the barriers separating sports car from family cars from minivans. It combines functionality and refined passenger comfort with modern design to present a level of visual excitement that defines Mazda.

With 6 captains chairs, Washu offers the flexibility of transforming from an honest six-seat touring car to a stylish limousine to a one-seat utility vehicle. The proportions of the vehicle long wheelbase, low roofline, led us to look for a new approach to facilitate ingress and egress.

For example, for rear passengers what we call the "airplane doors" force no one to bow or contort. Instead, they open wide ... and as high as you need.

For front passengers, thanks to steer by wire technology, the instrument panel and steering wheel deploy... revealing the configurable instrumentation and rearview monitors.

When you park the vehicle everything neatly folds away. Getting out of the car is as cool in the front as it is in the back.

On the rear we're also showing an innovative approach. This system combines the best attributes of a hatch and drop down tailgate. This combination makes it easy to load in tight and confined spaces, while still maintaining a large and useful load opening.

The Washu is only a concept today but Mazda is not a company that indulges in idle dreams. Our in-house creative imagination follows strong guiding lights, innovative products, addressing real customer needs and addressing their dreams.

Above all, it is common sense... the ability to find fresh answers to fundamental questions... that will assure our future. A future that is coming round the corner, and fast.

[Lewis Booth, President and CEO]

Thanks...it's great to arrive in style.

Good morning everyone.

Every automaker in the world is here this week, each trying to outdo the other... telling you how different they are.

Well, you couldn't arrive in a car like the Mazda RX-8 and conceal the uniqueness of our approach. This car speaks for itself... with the unique Zoom-Zoom sound of the world's only rotary -- our new Renesis engine.

Mazda has conquered this technology where all others failed.

Why?

Because we really do see the world in a different light. And because we are uniquely stubborn in pursuit of technology that makes sense.

The RX-8 offers even more proof that Mazda refuses to think inside rigid boxes -- that, instead, our imagination is driven by customers' needs and dreams. "I want a sports car," customers tell us. "But what earthly good is a sports car to me if I can't fit in it? If I can't take my wife and kids for a spin?"

Without giving an inch on performance, the RX-8 delivers innovative answers to that fundamental challenge.


And decisively, from this spring the RX-8 will put a unique sports-car dream within reach... with a U.S. base price of twenty-five thousand, one hundred and eighty dollars. Fully loaded, an RX-8 will still be under thirty-two thousand. And American customers, beginning tomorrow, can configure and order an RX-8 online.

The RX-8 is our third major product launch in less than a year -- and it gives powerful form to Mazda's refocused brand values...the essential joy of motion we call Zoom-Zoom.

The Mazda6, Mazda2 and the RX-8 are successfully delivering the product-led growth envisioned in our five-year Millennium Plan. Mazda is right on track.

Last fiscal year, we delivered the strongest profit turnaround in our history. This year, we are keeping up the pace: revenues up 12 percent; operating profit up 30 percent; and net income more than quadrupled in our first half.

Mazda has momentum. And that momentum is driven by superior product that is winning new attention... and sales... around the world. We are moving ahead at full speed... with confidence.

But we take nothing for granted. Others talk of being lean and nimble. Well... through hard-fought experience, those habits have been bred into Mazda's bones. In a savagely competitive world we know we must run hard... but with new enthusiasm powering Mazda's legendary spirit... we have that ability. Mazda's spirit is Japan at its best: dedicated, practical, ingeniously creative... and when pointed in the right direction, capable of lightning-fast evolution.

Today, we've shown you where we are now... the award-winning Mazda6, which in October was flawlessly launched, right on schedule, at our Flat Rock Assembly Plant.
We've shown you excitement just around the corner... the production version of our RX-8; plus a glimpse of the future coming on fast... our Washu concept.

That is just the beginning. Our product-development process retooled and refocused along with our brand values... is in high gear.

We're now setting our sights a decade ahead. And this year we're going to demonstrate the power of our products... showcasing new concept cars, and new production models, at every major auto show. In Geneva, we will unveil a fourth all-new Mazda, rounding out the core product lines that will carry Mazda through this decade. And we will quickly proliferate these core lines with a succession of new models that fully and consistently express the scope of Mazda's brand vision.

This morning you've heard the authentic sounds of a resurgent Mazda: the unique power of our new Renesis engine; and the voice... in Japanese... of our design team.

Now I want to show you the product close up. As always, thank you for joining us this morning.

We will be here throughout the day to answer your questions.