Mazda Research And Development Of America

In August, 1988, designers at Mazda Research and Development of America affixed a futuristic sculpture onto the two-story rear lobby wall in the company headquarters in Irvine. The casting showed the front and rear of a car, a motif not unusual for an automotive design studio. But what was depicted was not a discarded or never-to-be design. Rather, it was pieces of Mazda's hot new Miata two-seat convertible, a car that was not publicly unveiled until February, 1989.

The streets of Irvine are likely to be thronged with two-seat roadsters this Father's Day as Mazda hosts a gathering of Miata owners at Mazda Research and Development, North America. The Irvine design facility--housed in a bland concrete industrial building at Red Hill and Reynolds avenues--is the birthplace of the Miata, which reintroduced the open roadster to the United States in July, 1989.

The streets of Irvine are likely to be thronged with two-seat roadsters this Father's Day as Mazda hosts a gathering of Miata owners at Mazda Research and Development, North America. The Irvine design facility--housed in a bland concrete industrial building at Red Hill and Reynolds avenues--is the birthplace of the Miata, which reintroduced the open roadster to the United States in July, 1989.

In August, 1988, designers at Mazda Research and Development of America affixed a futuristic sculpture onto the two-story rear lobby wall in the company headquarters in Irvine. The casting showed the front and rear of a car, a motif not unusual for an automotive design studio. But what was depicted was not a discarded or never-to-be design. Rather, it was pieces of Mazda's hot new Miata two-seat convertible, a car that was not publicly unveiled until February, 1989.

Dan Brown has been appointed corporate vice president of product development for MTI Technology Corp. in Anaheim. Prior to joining MTI, Brown was senior vice president of engineering at Storage Concepts in Irvine, and vice president and managing director for the I/O product division at Western Digital in Irvine. Lee Bridges has been appointed to the newly created position of vice president of key accounts for Superior Business Network in Newport Beach.

Mazda Motors of America, stung by slowed sales in the United States and by its Japanese parent's decision to cancel the Amati luxury-car line planned for the North American market, has begun a payroll-slashing program that sources say could ultimately affect 200 of its 1,250 employees. The first round of layoff notices--reportedly 21 in the Amati division and 52 at Mazda Motors of America--were handed out Tuesday.

The top U.S. executive at Mazda of America was among the 175 workers who lost their jobs Tuesday as the surging value of the yen and sagging sales continued to plague the Japanese auto maker. Several other top executives also lost their jobs at Mazda's Irvine based-sales arm. It was the second cutback in less than a year. Clark Vitulli, executive vice president of operations and Mazda's top American executive, lost his job Tuesday.

They gather each morning at a makeshift command post on Mt. Baldy, swapping stories, repeating prayers and gamely holding on to hope just five miles below the ski slopes where their loved ones disappeared. Ten frosty days have passed since Tim Pines and Charlie Prior vanished in a blizzard. There is little chance, the authorities warn, of finding them alive. But friends and relatives of the two Orange County men do not surrender easily.

What would a car look like if it had been designed by a woman? Seat belts would not wrinkle clothes or smash breasts. Shoe heels wouldn't be worn out by pedal-pushing. And there definitely would be a place to put a purse. Today's cars reflect their makers: men. For the most part, they are designed by men, for men. They have been customized for men's comfort, men's fascination with technology, men's need to speed.