PRICING, GRADES AND SPECS REVEALED

NEXT-GEN MAZDA3

PRICING, GRADES AND SPECS REVEALED

DEFINING THE FUTURE OF VEHICLE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT, A NEW ERA BECKONS FOR MAZDA AND THE SMALL CAR SEGMENT, WITH THE RELEASE OF PRICING, GRADES AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE HOTLY ANTICIPATED AND WHOLLY REINVENTED NEXT-GEN MAZDA3.

With all facets of vehicle design deeply honed and dramatically improved, Next-Gen Mazda3 becomes the most refined Mazda yet and the precedent for those to follow.

Managing Director of Mazda Australia, Vinesh Bhindi, said Next-Gen Mazda3 sets a new benchmark for its class. "Next-Gen Mazda3 firmly establishes a new era for Mazda and raises the bar for quality and equipment within the small car segment."

Led by Mazda’s human-centric design philosophy and with the Mazda3 driver’s specific needs in mind, Next-Gen Mazda3 delivers new levels of quality in design, driving performance, dynamics, safety, and NVH.

Beauty by subtraction

Invoking the principles of classic Japanese aesthetics, where beauty is achieved by subtraction, Mazda has realised a mature expression of its Kodo: Soul of Motion design language for Next-Gen Mazda3.

The hatchback presents a powerful, sporty and seductive look, further distinguished by a unique body colour offering called Polymetal Grey Metallic, which fuses the hard appearance of metal with glossy smoothness.

In contrast, the clean, sleek and sophisticated beauty of the sedan speaks of maturity and refinement. All elements at the front and rear adopt a horizontal orientation that accentuates the look of a wide and low stance.

Harmony through clutter-free, human-centric design

The interior also embraces the ‘less is more’ mantra, achieving a simple and beautiful cabin that puts the driver at the centre, further strengthening the harmonious connection between car and driver that Mazda calls Jinba-Ittai.

Information pertinent to driving is now more clearly displayed, thanks to a redesign of Mazda’s Human Machine Interface (HMI). Now standard equipment, the newly added TFT LCD meter, windscreen projected Active Driving Display and the larger 8.8-inch infotainment display are streamlined in their presentation of information.

Mazda’s infotainment system, Mazda Connect, has also been reworked from the ground up. Enhanced system performance, connectivity and navigation functions make for smoother, easier operation; Mazda Connect boots up faster, basic operation is more intuitive and has a display quality befitting the advanced Next-Gen Mazda3. It also now adds Apple® CarPlay™ and Android® Auto™ as standard.

The centre console has been revised for easier operation and improved driver and passenger comfort. An eight-speaker system is now standard while higher spec models get a premium 12-speaker Bose sound system.

Craftsmanship draws out the beauty of every surface

To achieve a deeper sense of quality, Mazda invoked the skills of Japanese craftsmen to give the interior a finer and more distinguished appeal.

The glossy black lacquer-look finish of Next-Gen Mazda3’s shift panel uses a technology called “two-layer moulding,” that gives complexity to the surface and elevates the quality feeling within the cabin.

Interior trim options have evolved too, with a new vivid Burgundy leather option available for the hatch and sophisticated Pure white leather available for sedan.

Advanced and evolved active and passive safety for a more assured ride

With these significant design changes comes the addition of new, advanced i-Activsense safety technology, an unprecedented list of standard equipment and passive safety improvements to support the driver further and enhance accident mitigation.

Next-Gen Mazda3 introduces the newly developed Driver Monitoring system that uses an infrared camera to observe the driver’s condition, Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCTA) to monitor blind spots at the front left and right of the vehicle and Cruising & Traffic Support (CTS), which helps reduce driver fatigue by assisting with accelerator, brake pedal and steering operations when stuck in traffic jams on the highway.

Standard equipment on the top spec model, these advanced i-Activsense technologies are also available as part of a Vision Technology option that can be added to any grade.

All Next-Gen Mazda3s come standard with Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) with Stop & Go, Smart Brake Support, Lane-keep Assist System (LAS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Forward Obstruction Warning (FOW) to name a few.

Next-Gen Mazda3 is also the first Mazda vehicle to add a driver’s seat knee airbag as standard.

Moving to the driver’s rhythm to achieve a deeper sense of Jinba-ittai

Mazda’s Jinba-ittai philosophy demands that the car works in perfect harmony with the driver’s intentions to create a feeling of oneness and to provide greater safety and confidence.

This human-centric focus has led to the development of Skyactiv-Vehicle Architecture, which address the whole picture to ultimately create a framework that fits with human sensibilities in terms of stability and comfort, dramatically improving ride and handling.

Suspension has been extensively revised, designed based on the concept of smoothing the transmission of force to the sprung mass over time, ultimately improving vehicle stability, linear response and handling characteristics.

Comfortable quietness

NVH has been dramatically improved for Next-Gen Mazda3, with engineers striking a balance between achieving high-quality cabin quietness and harnessing the feedback that is important to driving safely.

Improving the basic insulation qualities key to reducing NVH, Next-Gen Mazda3 has applied a “two-wall” structure that leaves space between the floor carpeting and body panel beneath it.

Further to this, tyres with optimised vertical spring action absorb vibrations to help prevent this noise from being transmitted directly to the ears of cabin occupants. Mazda also optimised the engine control system and engine mounts to supress any unpleasant vibration on start-up, at the same time ensuring a pleasing restart that is clear to cabin occupants.

Powertrains deliver a key to human-centric performance

Next-Gen Mazda3 offers three advanced Skyactiv petrol powertrain options, developed to deliver a performance feel that provides all drivers with the reassuring confidence of being in full control, along with a comfortable driving experience for all cabin occupants that is free of any unpleasant sensations.

Next-Gen Mazda3 will first be available with Skyactiv-G 2.0 and Skyactiv-G 2.5 petrol engines, with Mazda’s innovative and revolutionary Skyactiv-X available before the end of 2019.

Both the 2.0L and 2.5L adopt optimised intake ports and piston shape, split fuel injection, a coolant control valve and the 2.5L employs cylinder deactivation to deliver higher levels of dynamic performance, fuel economy and environmental friendliness.

The 2.0L engine offers 114kW at 6,000rpm and 200Nm of torque at 4,000rpm. The 2.5L has performance boosted from the previous generation to give a maximum power output of 139kW at 6,000rpm and 252Nm of torque at 4,000rpm.

Skyactiv-X will feature the world’s first implementation of a new combustion method, called Spark Controlled Compression Ignition (SPCCI), which gives the superior initial response and powerful torque of a diesel engine, combined with the faithful linear response to rapid accelerator pedal action and free-revving performance of a petrol engine.

New era for Next-Gen Mazda3 names

With Next-Gen Mazda3 evolving to set new standards for design, quality and performance, model grading has similarly evolved to mark a new era for Mazda.

These new standards no longer align with the previous model’s entry point at Neo Sport and Maxx Sport, so these grades have been dropped, and engine information is now included in variant names with a letter and number denoting fuel type and engine capacity respectively.

Next-Gen Mazda3 is offered in six grades, starting with the G20 Pure, which employs Mazda’s Skyactiv-G 2.0 petrol engine, and is packed with an unprecedented level of equipment and advanced safety technology, reorienting the level of quality for a typical entry grade vehicle in its class.