The new Madza 3, which is geared towards improving economy and reducing fuel emissions, goes on sale later this year, although there is no certainty yet about when it will be available in South Africa.
Speaking to MotorMania this week, Mazda South Africa's Maja Rode said what variants would be available in the country was also still not known.
What is known at this stage is that the car, which was revealed in London, Istanbul, St Petersburg, New York and Melbourne, features Kodo design language and SkyActiv technology, following the CX-5 crossover and 6 family car. Buyers will, according to reports have the choice of a 74kW 1.5-litre petrol, two 2.0-litre petrol engines (with either 88kW or 122kW) and a 110kW 2.2-litre diesel.
Fuel economy and emissions figures have yet to be confirmed but, given the efficiency of the drive-trains in other recent Mazdas, expect the 3 to be one of the most fuel-efficient small hatchbacks on sale. The wheelbase has been increased by 60mm, and Mazda promises the cabin will be roomier than before. Boot space increases from 340l to 350l.
Advanced technology includes a heads-up display, a seven-inch infotainment screen and mobile internet connectivity, including Aha, a cloud-based service with more than 30000 stations, including radio, podcasts, audio books, personalised location-based services, with Facebook and Twitter audio feeds.
The steering wheel is lower for a sportier driving position, while the windscreen pillars are set further back for better visibility. The previous-generation 3 made up a third of Mazda's global sales.
The on-sale date has not been confirmed, but the car should be shown to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The existing Mazda 3 starts at R211700. There are no prices yet for the new model.
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