Rumors about a Mazda3 MPS / MazdaSpeed3 have been circulating for months but a new report is indicating the model will be launched in the second half of 2016.

According to Automotive News, the Mazda3 MPS will be based on the facelifted Mazda3 and feature an aggressive body kit and larger wheels with high-performance tires.

Power will reportedly be provided by a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine that produces more than 300 bhp (223 kW). There are also rumors about an all-wheel drive system but nothing is official as of yet.

In related news, the publication is reporting Mazda will launch an entry-level CX-3 crossover in the United States in June. An MX-5 Coupe is also slated to arrive approximately one year after the roadster is launched.

The well-rounded Mazda 3 compact is being freshened for 2017. The relatively mild updates to the U.S. model, which were previously announced for the global versionof the car, include tweaked exterior styling, some new interior bits, updated active-safety features, and the addition of Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control system for improved steering response.

That doesn’t sound like much, but the 3 didn’t need much improvement—in its current form, it has earned a spot on our 10Best Cars list for the past three years. Nonetheless, the changes for 2017 are welcome, especially the revised exterior that nicely sharpens the 3’s look. The reshaped grille and headlights present a slightly more aggressive face to the world, and LED headlights are newly available on higher-trim models. A new rear bumper appears a bit cleaner and crisper than before, at least on the pictured hatchback model (Mazda has yet to release photos of the U.S.-spec 2017 sedan).
The 18-inch wheels available on the 3’s s trim also are slightly different, although the 16-inch wheels and hubcaps on lower-spec i versions remain the same. Two new colors are available: Machine Gray Metallic joins the palette, while Eternal Blue Mica replaces the previous Blue Reflex Mica.

Interior revisions are a bit more noteworthy, with the 3 adopting a steering wheel similar to that in the new CX-9 crossover, an electric parking brake that frees up center-console storage space, and some nicer trim for the door panels. The optional head-up display is now full color rather than monochromatic, and the door pockets are said to be much larger than before. A heated steering wheel is a new option, while upholstery upgrades include nicer fabric for the standard cloth interior, new espresso-colored accents for the optional black leather interior, and parchment-colored leather replacing the previous almond shade. Mind you, this is in a car we’ve already adjudged to have the best interior available for under $30,000.

As for the 3’s mechanicals, the most significant addition is Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control, a new steering system that reduces torque when entering a corner to increase the responsiveness of the steering rack. We sampled this system on a Mazda 6 test mule and found the results to be subtle but effective. To combat relatively high levels of road noise—one of our few complaints about the 3—Mazda said it has revised the dampers and sound insulation for a quieter overall ride.

There are no engine changes. The 2017 Mazda 3’s two engine choices remain a 155-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder on 3 i models and a 184-hp 2.5-liter inline-four on 3 s models. As before, either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission is available regardless of engine choice, something that can’t be said about many of the 3’s competitors, which limit manual-transmission availability to the basement models.
A suite of active-safety features remains on the options list: forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. A new camera is now part of the package, which Mazda says expands the speed range at which pedestrians can be detected for the automated emergency-braking system. Cars equipped with the i-Activsense package can now also recognize road signs.

More nitty-gritty information on the 2017 Mazda 3, including pricing and official EPA mileage numbers, should be released soon. The 2017 model is scheduled to go on sale in September. We don’t expect much of an increase from the current 3’s starting prices of $18,680 for the sedan and $19,380 for the hatchback.

As it’s often the case with the British motoring media and vague-worded stories of cars that haven't been revealed yet, there’s no confirmation whatsoever from Mazda themselves about the premiere. What we do know, however, is that the newcomer will go on sale for the 2019 model year, featuring styling inspired by the Kai Concept and the SkyActiv-X engine.

The 3 five-door hatchback is all new from the ground up, featuring Mazda’s next-generation SkyActiv Vehicle Architecture. The 2.0-liter SkyActiv-X, meanwhile, features SCCI technology (Spark Controlled Compression Ignition) that combines the traits of a gasoline engine with those of a diesel. In addition to superior efficiency compared to the SkyActiv-G, the four-cylinder plant is estimated to develop 190 PS (187 hp) and 230 Nm (169 lb-ft).

Compression ignition for a gasoline engine might sound interesting as a concept, but there’s more to the long-anticipated SkyActiv-X than that. And the 16:1 compression ratio. Mazda's engineers claim the SkyActiv-X equals or exceeds the SkyActiv-D turbocharged diesel in regard to fuel economy, and it’s also 20 to 30 percent more efficient than the SkyActiv-G 2.0.

According to the business plan known as Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030, the year 2019 will see Mazda roll out the next version of Connect infotainment, Kodo Design 2, as well as a “battery EV with or without range extender.” Regarding mild hybridization, the technology will be adopted by all SkyActiv engine families according to R&D engineer Jay Chen, also starting from 2019.

The bottom line is, Mazda doesn’t expect the internal combustion engine to go away too soon. Although complete electrification is slowly becoming the norm, the Japanese automaker will develop ICE and EV technology in parallel for as long as suck-squeeze-bang-blow can give the middle finger to type-approval authorities. You know, those people who have become overly conscious about NOx and CO2 after Volkswagen’s Dieselgate scandal.

A new version of the Mazda 3 is just around the corner: Mazda has released a video showing a glimpse of the next-generation compact car and said that it will make its debut next month. That means it's probably going to bow at the Los Angeles auto show, which is happening at the end of November. (The image above is an artist's rendering from a previous story, showing what the next 3 could look like.)

We already know a fair amount about the new 3, which was previewed by last year's Kai concept. The teaser video (below) shows what looks like a rear view of the 3 hatchback, which seems to have a similar curvature as the swoopy, attractive concept.

The 3 will also offer a new high-tech engine as an option, which uses a compression-ignition system for better power and efficiency. Essentially a supercharged four-cylinder engine, this new tech is called Skyactiv-X and will be available alongside conventional Skyactiv gasoline engines similar to the 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter offerings in today's car. We drove a prototype of this new engine last year and have explained how it worksfrom an engineering perspective. Basically, the engine combines conventional spark ignition with compression ignition (as in a diesel engine). The benefits are improved efficiency and more power. Figure in the neighborhood of 190 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque from 2.0 liters, as compared to 155 horses and 150 lb-ft in the current Mazda 3's 2.0-liter four.

The impending arrival of the 3 likely means that the next-generation car will be a 2019 model in the U.S. Mazda isn't saying when it will go on sale, but figure an arrival date sometime in the middle of next year. When it reaches showrooms, the Mazda 3 will face off against competitors such as the Honda Civic, the Volkswagen Golf, and the Hyundai Elantra.