Popular? Mazda3 launched Internationally, So….Yes.
Mazda’s giant killer, the Mazda3, was launched in its new model guise, in London, St Petersburg, New York and Instanbul, earlier this week. Australia didn’t miss out; hosting the launch was Melbourne, ahead of the other countries.
The company’s new design philosophy was clearly on show, with the 3 gaining the bluff and upright nose of bigger sibling, the Mazda6 and has been redesigned from the ground up, adopting Mazda’s award winning “Kodo- Soul of Motion” design theme plus has been granted the full suite of SKYACTIV Technologies. 
It’s said to evoke a sense of forward motion, with sharp edging leading from the front wings into the headlight cluster also sparking a sense of seeing a predatory animal. It’s a bigger car than its predecessor, being 60mm longer, 40mm wider yet sits 15mm lower. The interior has been revamped, with newly developed materials with a carbon fibre look and satin chrome finishes also. A fully integrated “Human Machine Interface”, allowing phone, sms and email access via a 7 inch touch screen is included along with a Heads Up Display.
Engine wise there’ll be two petrol engines initially, with 2.0 and 2.5 litres capacity, with 114kW and 200 Nm of torque or 138kW and 250Nm respectively. Transmissions are yet to be confirmed however, with four out of five Mazda3’s finding a private home, that hardly matters as an incentive but a price drop is sure to reignite its sales candle, with dollars expected to be sub 20K plus on roads.
Mazda3 is currently scheduled for a first quarter launch next year.
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