Mazda Australia has released details and ‘teaser’ photographs of its new Mazda2, which replaces the Demio/121 model currently on sale around the globe.
Go deeper with GlobalData
The Australian website drive.com.au said the new model was due ‘down under’ in November priced around $A18,000.
The new model, which shares its platform with Ford’s Focus, will become the first European-built Mazda, coming off a line at Ford’s Valencia plant in Spain.
Alongside pictures of Japanese-specification examples on an advertising shoot in the USA, the UK magazine Auto Express said the European cars would have different head and tail lamps and bumpers from the Japanese-built cars shipped to Asia-Pacific markets.
Drive.com said the newcomer has new front and rear suspension, bigger brakes and, for Australia, a new Mazda-designed 82kW 1.5-litre engine with sequential valve timing.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataThe five-seater would feature a sliding fore/aft and split/fold rear seat for versatile load carrying and come standard with new, dual-stage front airbags, front seat belt pretensioners with load limiters, anti-whiplash front seats and an intrusion-minimising brake pedal designed to reduce the chance of foot, ankle and lower leg injuries, the website said.
Drive.com said the new MZR 16-valve 1.5-litre engine developing 82kW at 6000rpm and 141Nm at 4000rpm on Australia’s 91-octane unleaded petrol was 28% more powerful with 10% more torque than the existing 1.5-litre engine.
Transmission choice would be a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic, the website added.
Drive.com said the Australian models would have MacPherson strut front suspension, a torsion beam rear axle, power-assisted rack and pinion steering, air conditioning, a CD player, 14-inch tyres, central locking, power steering, driver’s seat height adjustment and an engine immobiliser with metallic paint a no cost option.
Auto Express said sales of the European-built Mazda2 would not start in the UK until next spring.
