MAZDA 3
Mazda's latest compact family saloon has broken cover, although Thais would have to wait for the real metal in 2010
Design & Packaging
The second-generation 3 from Mazda will be seen for the first time at next month's Los Angeles Auto Show in saloon form, while hatchback and estate bodies follow later to primarily serve the European market.
As seen in these first official pictures, the new 3 embodies the same design language of its predecessor but with sleeker and more accentuated lines previewed in numerous past concept cars.
The 3 becomes the latest Mazda to get flared front wheelarches from the RX-8 and pronounced air vents up front from the Japan-only Biante MPV. The rest are mild, yet effective, evolutions from the current 3.
No picture of the 3's interior has been released, although the current sporty theme is surely set to continue.
Information on the new 3 is still scarce, although it is widely understood that the platform is basically the same as before and is the one also used in the Ford Focus, Land Rover Freelander and Volvo C30/S40/V50.
The sporty driving characteristics are also likely to be maintained, although a more quiet and refined ride than the current 3 could have been on the agenda of chassis engineers.
Engines & Transmissions
The only thing Mazda has mentioned about what's going under the bonnet of the new 3 is the American specification: 2.0-litre and 2.5-litre.
The current 145hp 2.0-litre still has room for improvement, especially to match the Honda Civic's 2.0 petrol unit that produces a class-leading 155hp.
The 2.5-litre, on the other hand, replaces the 2.3-litre and is not being considered for the Thai market due to the 2,000cc tax barrier, even though ethanol (at least E20) capability could cancel out the 5% tax increase.
Whether the sluggish 1.6-litre would be carried over remains to be seen, and Mazda could consider the 1.8 version as used in its Focus sister model if it wants to push the 3 upmarket to make way for the all-new 2 sub-compact range next year.
Europe is obviously getting diesel as the main option which could be the all-new 185hp/400Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel - first unveiled in Paris this month - succeeding the smaller 2.0.
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| New 2.2-litre turbo-diesel has 400Nm of grunt. |
Sources told Motoring diesel is not be considered for Thailand, even though the Focus is selling one and the only one in the C-segment class.
A weak point Mazda needs to rectify is the transmission units sold in Thailand. The four-speed automatic, for instance, is not competitive against the Civic's five-speed version. As well, there are rumours that next year's Optra could go one step ahead with six forward gears.
While Ford's Powershift twin-clutch automatic will come with the facelifted Focus at the end of this year, it also remains to be seen whether Mazda will be given access to this efficient gearbox for the new 3.
Market & Pricing
Although the new 3 will be introduced in the US next month, Motoring has learned that Thais would have to wait till 2010 to get hold of one.
This is because of the late arrival of the first-gen 3 (it came a year late to Thailand) and clearly leaves Honda as the only major player in the country to make Thai product (locally assembled) launches at the same time with those in major global markets.
Another possibility could be a change in assembly operations in Asean. There are rumours that the 3/Focus lines will be shifted from the Philippines to Thailand.
Should current tax rules remain in place in two years time, the new 3 should cost marginally more than today due to higher costs of parts, more value-added features and more breathing space between the 2 and 3 meaning a price range of B800,000 to B1.1m.
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