MAZDA has unveiled a new, dramatically-styled replacement for the Focus-sized Mazda3.
Out goes the neat but bland look of the previous model in favour of swoopy curves, the hallmark of the company’s KODO design language.
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Under the skin, the new Mazda3 majors on Mazda’s SKYACTIV suite of efficiency measures offered under the “Sustainable ZOOM-ZOOM” banner. That means features such as the i-stop stop/start system, and i-ELOOP brake energy regeneration system.
Performance will be helped by an all-new engine and transmission line-up. There’s also an in-vehicle connectivity system which Mazda3 company car users will be able to use to go online.
According to Mazda Motor Europe President and CEO Jeff Guyton “Everything about the all-new Mazda3 is exciting, from the way it looks and feels to its dynamic performance, nimble responsiveness, reliability and operating costs.
“We already have big expectations for this model’s success in terms of sales, but I suspect it may even surprise us.”
Mazda will also be looking to the new Mazda3 to help it build on a recent upturn in UK sales, still down on previous highs, and also to help grab some attention after splitting from former parent Ford.
LIke other Japanese manufacturers, though, Mazda continues to struggle in European markets with the disadvantage of a strong Yen which makes it difficult to prices cars competitively in a business car comparison.
