We’ve already seen the new Mazda 3 in
design drawings and spy pictures, but now a Japanese magazine appears to have
leaked the first pictures of the VW Golf rival. The low-quality images are a
bit difficult to make out, but our exclusive main image gives a clearer idea of
the new 3’s design.
The
newcomer is set to get all of the fuel-efficient SkyActiv innovations seen in
models like the CX-5 SUV and 6
The swept-back headlights, flowing into
Mazda’s chromed shield grille, help create a face similar to that of the latest
6 saloon. There’s a sweeping bulge over the front wheel arch and a set of
narrow tail-lights at the rear – all trademarks of Mazda’s latest design
language.
There’s
a sweeping bulge over the front wheel arch and a set of narrow tail-lights at the
rear
In the cabin we’re expecting a step up in
quality and design to help the 3 stay competitive with the new Golf MkVII. The
driving experience will be tuned to fit with Mazda’s ‘jinba ittai’ philosophy-a
Japanese phrase meaning ‘rider and horse at one’. That will mean tuning a
sporty feel into all the major controls using lessons learned from the MX-5
sports car, to make the 3 feel responsive and natural.
New
Mazda 3 interior
The newcomer is set to get all of the
fuel-efficient SkyActiv innovations seen in models like the CX-5 SUV and 6.
Greater use of high-tensile steel will help cut weight, while economical new
engines fitted with stop-start technology will be offered, too. Expect to see a
1.6-liter diesel with fuel economy of around 80mpg and CO2 emissions
below 95g/km.
The
newcomer is set to get all of the fuel-efficient SkyActiv innovations seen in
models like the CX-5 SUV and 6
No details on a release date or pricing
have been revealed, but we’re expecting official information to be released during
the next few months. A staring price of around $24,000 is likely, with the car
on sale in the UK by the end of the year.
New
Mazda 3 back
