A new generation of the Mazda3 (Mazda Atenza in Japan) has been announced. The car is said to weigh some 90kg less than the old model.
The company’s US importer is the first to have released dimensions, with length said to be 175.6 inches, width 70.7 inches and height 57.3 inches, with a 106.3 inch wheelbase (identical to that of the CX-5) – an increase of 2.4 inches.
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The interior is claimed to have higher quality materials, satin chrome trim, piano black accents and more comfortable seats which can be upholstered in cloth, leatherette or leather. A new infotainment system with Bluetooth/USB/AUX connectivity as well as the ability to access the internet via a smartphone also features. A so-called ‘Active Driving Display’ shows important driving information, such as navigation directions, on a clear panel behind the instrument cluster surround.
In the US, which should be the car’s main market, the 2014 Mazda3 will be offered with two different petrol engines. The 2.0-litre SKYACTIV-G produces 155hp (115kW) and 150 lb-ft (203Nm) of torque, while the 2.5-litre SKYACTIV-G develops 184hp (137kW) and 185 lb-ft (250Nm) of torque. They can be paired to a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic.
A 1.5-litre petrol engine will feature in some markets outside the US, while in Japan, the Axela Hybrid sedan will be Mazda’s first petrol-electric model. Images of the four-door bodystyle are yet to be released. Mazda stated in March 2010 that it would be licensing Toyota’s hybrid technology “by 2013” for a new, Japan-built model. Until now, the identity of that car had not been known.
For Europe and elsewhere, there will be a 2.2-litre SKYACTIV turbo diesel. Cars equipped with that engine are claimed to be 90kg lighter than the current Mazda3 diesel.
The new model will be offered with a variety of safety systems including High Beam Control, Blind Spot Monitoring, Forward Obstruction Warning, Smart City Brake Support and Radar Cruise Control.
Like the existing Mazda6/Atenza and CX-5, the new car will have the company’s i-ELOOP brake energy regeneration system. This employs a capacitor rather than a battery to store electricity generated when the vehicle decelerates.
Mazda says the new model’s body includes a large amount of high tensile-strength steel, while weight has also been reduced by a complete reevaluation of more than 300 separate components.
Apart from at a forthcoming plant in Mexico, the company is yet to announce which global production sites will build the new model. The current car is made at Hofu 1, Hofu 2 and Ujina 2 in Japan; Nanjing in China; and Chung Li in Taiwan. The Mexican factory will be at Salamanca in Guanajuato.
Author: Glenn Brooks
