Updated: 24/08/08
The new Mazda3 has been spied undergoing hot-weather testing in Death Valley, CA. To date, only the sedan variant has been spied but European engineers have let the hatchback variant out in the wild, in the Austrian Alps.
Despite being on the market for a long time, the Mazda3 is still looking fresh after 6 years. The newcomer is based on the next generation Ford Focus and blends these proven underpinnings with chassis expertise from the MX-5.
Refinement and cabin quality are high on the agenda for Mazda, so expect plenty of soft-touch cabin plastics and a layout inspired by the bigger Mazda6. Launch engines will come from the Ford stable, with petrol units ranging from 1.4 to 2.0 litres and diesels from 1.6 to 2.2 litres.
As engineers made the latest 2 lighter than its predecessor, the new 3 is set to weigh less, too. Add in the liberal use of biodegradable materials, and it will be one of the greenest hatchbacks around.
The MPS performance model will feature the 2.5 litre five-cylinder turbo from the Ford Focus ST. In the Mazda, which is due in 2010, this will offer around 250bhp. And the discreet look of the current 3 MPS is set to be axed in favour of a more menacing design.
The Mazda3 variants are due in 2009. Like the current model, it'll be better equipped and cheaper than the Focus. The sedan should be at the Los Angeles motorshow in November, while the five-door hatchback will be launched at the Bologna Show in Italy in December.
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