I have owned more Mazda motor vehicles than any other brand over the past forty years, and I can easily say it is my favourite marque of car. On 30th January 2020, Mazda Motor Corporation turned 100. Mazda has always designed great vehicles to drive, from their three-wheeler cars to the revolutionary rotary Cosmo Sport and RX-7 and the world-record-holding MX-5 Miata. They are still the only car manufacturer to win the prestigious Le Mans 24-hours with a rotary engine.

Mazda began as a manufacturer of corks, and it wasn't until the 1930's that they started to make vehicles. During the Second World War, they made weapons until they suffered the effects of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima. By the 1960s, they started to hit their straps in vehicle manufacture. The Cosmo Sport was the first rotary-powered coupe, inspiring the RX models that followed.

The past 30 years have seen Mazda grow in statue, introducing the legendary MX-5 in 1989 and the Kodo design in 2010. The Kodo refers to "Soul in Motion" and is characterised by the sharp headlights representing a beast's eyes, the bold flares on the guards defining character lines and a wide stance to convey a powerful animal who's waiting to pounce on its victim.

The future looks bright for Mazda. They will continue the trend towards more SUV style vehicles and introduce new engine technologies and electric cars. I am hoping one of the engine technologies will be the reintroduction of the rotary engine.