AT A GLANCE

TECHNOLOGY: Mazda has distinguished itself for years by including innovative and efficiently-designed engines, like the Wankel and the Miller cycle engine, in its vehicles.

HISTORY: Began as a machine tool manufacturer in Hiroshima during the 1920s; first entered the car manufacturing world in the 1960s.

FAMOUS MODELS: Miata, Protege, 323, 626

KNOWN FOR: Cars with exciting designs and fun-to-drive performance.

Budget-minded excitement

From machine tools to three-wheeled vehicles, all the way through to the sleek, slick — and wildly popular — cars that it produces today, there is no question that Mazda has long been an innovative and adventurous automobile manufacturer.

Indeed, this Japanese automaker has proved its mettle in more ways than one, and enjoys a reputation for manufacturing exciting cars for the general public these days.

Mazda’s first four-wheeled car was produced in 1960. The R360 took off like wildfire, and set the stage for the brand’s later popularity in North America. The following decade marked the beginning of Mazda’s presence in the United States; the RX-2 was its first American offering and it fared very well. Wankel engines and other innovative perks enhanced the brand’s reputation considerably throughout the 1970s.

Following a series of financial troubles, Ford purchased a 25 percent stake in Mazda in 1979. Since then, the two have been linked and the merger has been a fruitful one. With it, the Mazda brand was reborn and enjoyed a major boost throughout the 1980s.

In 1990, the Mazda’s MX-5 Miata — with its exceptional handling and overall aesthetic appeal — made a huge splash. Today, the Miata is the best-selling roadster in the world. Shortly thereafter, Mazda won the Le Mans race with its 787B model, cementing its reputation for producing fast, zippy cars.

2013 VEHICLES TO WATCH

CX-5

The all-new CX-5 is among the sportiest crossover vehicles on the market. You can even get it with a manual transmission.

Mazda6

This car offers the rare combination of elegance, power and a muscular stance, making it an enjoyable mid-size choice.

Mazda2

The Mazda2 brings a huge amount of fun to the subcompact segment, with good driving dynamics to go with its excellent gas mileage.