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It’s official. An all-new version of the Mazda3, the world’s biggest-selling Mazda, will debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 28. In a recent teaser video, Mazda revealed selected close-ups of the all-new Mazda3 in the brand’s now well-known soul red color. And it looks as good as we had hoped.
Taking strong design hints from the Kai Concept, first unveiled at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show, the new model incorporates angled windows, narrow taillights, and a voluptuous rear end. So, it would seem, Mazda’s head of design, Ikuo Maeda, has stayed true to his word and delivered a production car that closely resembles his team’s drop-dead gorgeous Kai, a concept that generated intense industry buzz at its debut in Tokyo late last year and then again in New York City in April this year when it snuck onto Mazda’s stand in the Big Apple. The images you see here are not the new Mazda3 but the Kai Concept displayed in New York City.
Maeda is no stranger to buzz, or should we say receiving accolades for his design work. Over the last several years, under his mentorship, Mazda has captured some of the world’s most prestigious design awards, the only Japanese carmaker to do so.
Here it is, the all-new Mazda 3. Yes, we know you can’t see a whole lot of the saloon and hatchback versions of the car in this darkened teaser image, but there’s just about enough of the hatch’s rump shown to hint that the styling should closely follow that of the Kai concept, which was revealed in Tokyo last year. Just take a look at the image of the show car below, and you’ll see why that’s a very good thing.
It clearly won’t have such gigantic wheels and we can see that the uncovered rear light clusters have gone (they looked great on the concept, but just imagine cleaning them…), but we’re hopeful that the curvaceous shape will be retained.
As for what’s under the bonnet, we can’t be 100 per cent sure, but the 3 will at some point - whether from launch or slightly further down the road - have the option of the new, very efficient high-compression SkyActiv-X engine. The one clue Mazda has given in the press release is that: “The latest SkyActiv engines offer responsive control of vehicle speed in any driving situation.”
We’ll know for sure when the car makes its public debut, confirmed to be at the LA Auto Show in a few weeks.
Mazda just confirmed that the new Mazda 3, with its fancy Spark Controlled Compression Ignition Engine called Skyactiv-X, will debut at the LA Auto Show in about three weeks. And it will be a mild hybrid, according to Automotive News Europe.
The Skyactiv-X engine works by using a process that Mazda calls Spark Controlled Compression Ignition—essentially a spark plug lighting off a localized rich mixture of fuel and air to create a fireball that compresses the lean mixture throughout the rest of the cylinder, yielding spontaneous ignition. It’s a fascinating concept that promises the efficiency of a diesel engine, but with far lower emissions, and it’s finally making its way into a production car.
In Los Angeles on Nov. 28, Mazda’s showing off the all-new Mazda 3, which will get new styling based on Mazda’s KODO design language (see Mazda’s teaser above), and will ride on an all-new platform that promises improved driver comfort, among other changes over the outgoing car.
But the big difference is the engine, which will be the first mass-produced production gasoline compression engine on the market. I had a chance to drive a prototype Mazda 3 with this Skyactiv-X engine and found it to feel fairly normal in most conditions, though I did notice some knocking under some conditions.
But Mazda plans to refine the rough edges of the engine using a motor generator unit like the one shown above, with Automotive News Europe writing:
Mazda CEO Akira Marumoto, talking about the car here ahead of its unveiling, said the strategy is to mate the Skyactiv-X engine to a mild-hybrid system. Marshaling the electric motor’s power-assist ability will ensure linear acceleration and spirited driving, Marumoto said.
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“Skyactiv-X is a very efficient engine in the first place, so we don’t need a full hybrid. Mild hybrid is good enough,” Marumoto said. “And by using the mild-hybrid system, linear driving dynamics can be pursued as well.”
The news source cites Marumoto as stating that the new Mazda 3 will get the 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G found in the current lineup, as well as the Skyactiv-X engine, which will be a 2.0-liter mild hybrid, and will “be positioned as the higher grade.” Marumoto also allegedly told the site that the Skyactiv-X-equipped car will have the same driving dynamics of the 2.5-liter, but it will offer the fuel economy of a 1.5-liter diesel.
“The arrival of all-new Mazda 3 marks the beginning of a whole new generation of Mazda cars,” Mazda says in its press release.
I’m excited to see how this thing turned out, and how the company improved the prototype I drove in August of last year. More importantly, I’m interested in seeing the official EPA fuel economy figures, which I assume won’t be out until well after the car’s debut.
While the looks and motor are likely to steal the show, the 2019 Mazda 3 also introduces a new architecture that, according to Mazda, weighs less, costs less to produce, and offers a quieter and more comfortable ride with superior dynamics thanks to enhanced rigidity. In other words, the total package.
That’s already a lot to promise, minus the revolutionary engine.
Although my 2014 base 5-door model was under-powered, I absolutely loved the driving dynamics ....
Mild hybrid technology will help the Skyactiv-X engine deliver diesel-like efficiency.
The next-generation Mazda3 will make its debut later this month at the 2018 Los Angeles auto show. It will stand out with an eye-catching design, Mazda's new Skyactiv-X engine and the first application of the company's fuel-saving mild hybrid technology.
Details about the system remain few and far between. Industry trade journal Automotive News learned the mild hybrid technology will store electricity in a lithium-ion battery pack and channel it to the drive wheels via an electric motor to deliver a smoother, quicker driving experience while keeping fuel economy in check.
"Skyactiv-X is a very efficient engine in the first place, so we don't need a full hybrid. Mild hybrid is good enough," company CEO Akira Marumoto told Automotive News.
The Skyactiv-X engine comes with a technology called spark-controlled compression ignition that packs the best attributes of a gasoline and diesel engine into one unit, according to Mazda. Equipped with mild hybrid technology, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder will deliver the same punch as the firm's 2.5-liter four-cylinder while returning fuel economy on par with the numbers posted by a 1.5-liter turbodiesel engine.
It doesn't sound like the Skyactiv-X engine will be offered without the mild hybrid boost; at least not when the Mazda3 goes on sale in early 2019. For buyers not interested in going hybrid, Mazda will offer the next-generation 3 with an evolution of the 2.5-liter four that powers the current version of the car.
Mazda's mild hybrid technology will spread to other models in the not-too-distant future.
"We may be able to introduce it to an SUV in the not too distant future," Marumoto said without revealing the model he has in mind.
^ not sure how the marketing will work when both engines put out about 190 HP. The average buyer may not care much about the increased gas mileage form the probably much more expensive X engine.
Ladies and gentlemen, these are the very first spy shots of the upcoming 2019 Mazda3 hatchback.
Scheduled to debut later this month at the LA Auto Show both in hatchback and sedan body styles, Mazda’s all-new compact model looks promising in these first spy shots.
Our photographers spotted a fully-camouflaged prototype in Europe during testing and even got a peek at its interior. Fortunately, Mazda didn’t bother disguising the cabin that much.
As you can see in our gallery, engineers tested the all-new Mazda3 alongside a VW Golf and Audi A3. Furthermore, a current Mazda3 was also part of the test group.
Both the bodywork and the cabin reveal clear influences from the Kai Concept, although the 2019 Mazda3 obviously looks a bit toned down in comparison.
The new Japanese compact hatchback displays harmonious proportions and striking details. Those include the sharp headlights and taillights, the gaping grille, as well as the dynamic treatment of the C-pillar. All of the above are influences from the Kai Concept.
Inside, the dashboard is also reminiscent of said study, adopting a similar layout with as few buttons as possible. As with the concept, the instrument panel features three round gauges and the steering wheel has three spokes. The big difference compared to the concept is the addition of a floating central touchscreen that breaks the continuity of the dashboard but is a “necessary evil.”
The prototype seems to be a well-equipped model that features red leather upholstery, leather-wrapped dashboard with contrast stitching, and polished-aluminum trim, among other materials.
The all-new Mazda3 will be the first production vehicle to use the automaker’s SkyActiv Vehicle Architecture. The new platform is expected to bring improved refinement, a lower seating position, and better handling.
But its main contribution will be the radical new engine technology called SkyActiv-X that features Spark Controlled Compression Ignition (SCCI). The 2019 Mazda3 will feature a 2.0-liter SkyActiv-X gasoline engine that promises to combine diesel-like fuel economy with the performance typical of a petrol unit.
The SkyActiv-X engine will deliver 190 PS (187 hp) and 230 Nm (170 lb-ft) of torque, but Mazda will also offer two cheaper and smaller gasoline and diesel units carried over from the outgoing model.
The new 4th gen Mz3 was revealed last night at the LA Auto Show.
Looks fantastic. However, I do wonder how the huge C-pillar on the hatch will affect visibility and imagine that will be addressed via blind spot warning devices and cams?
Another worrying detail: they’ve replaced the indep multilink setup in the rear end with a semi-independent torsion beam .... yikes.
The mission of the new Mazda3 sedan and hatchback is no less lofty than “…to amaze and delight customers all over the world.” Not a particularly easy thing to do. Especially with a VW Golf out there on the market with which to compete. But with an entirely new model debuting at the Los Angeles auto show, Mazda feels its new compact sedan and hatchback are up to the task.
Mazda started with an all-new steel chassis it calls “continuous ring structure concept.” The new architecture incorporates more high-strength steel yet weighs less, costs less, and offers a quieter ride, better handling and better rigidity than the already-pretty-solid vehicle it replaces. To that new structure is bolted a MacPherson strut front suspension and a “newly developed” torsion beam rear.
The sedan and hatchback bodies you see wrapped around that more rigid structure are inspired by the Kai Concept revealed at last year’s Tokyo motor show. Smooth, rounded shapes take over where sharper, creased lines were before.
Under the hood you will find a variety of powertrain options. There will be three Skyactiv-G gasoline engines: 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 liter-fours; one Skyactiv-D 1.8-liter diesel with multi-hole piezo injectors for high-pressure, multi-stage diesel injection; and the fairly revolutionary 2.0-liter Skyactiv-X spark-controlled compression ignition (SPCCI) gasoline engine that is said to combine the best attributes of gasoline, diesel and hybrid technology.
Mazda promises “superior initial response, powerful torque, faithful linear response and free-revving performance. The (Skyactiv-X) engine is assisted by Mazda’s intelligent new M Hybrid system, which supports greater gains in fuel economy and achieves higher levels of driving pleasure and environmental friendliness.”
Mazda had earlier claimed that Skyactiv-X will increase fuel efficiency by 30 percent compared to a gasoline engine of the same displacement. It now says the 2.0-liter Skyactiv-X offers the power of a 2.5-liter gasoline engine and the fuel efficiency of a 1.5-liter diesel.
Those engines come mated to your choice of six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions. From there power can be routed to either the front wheels alone or to all four wheels via i-Activ AWD. Mazda says the latter offers something it calls “four-wheel vertical load detection” and “works in harmony with G-Vectoring Control Plus to control torque distribution between the front and rear wheels.” The i-Activ AWD reduces parasitic losses by 60 percent compared to the previous awd system.
And while Kai Concept cues wrap the outside, the interior is slathered with KODO design, which Mazda says uses a “less is more” approach.
Look for more details to come but for now expect to see 2019 Mazda3 sedans and hatchbacks in showrooms early next year.
They fucked up the hatchback starting from the rear passenger window and rearward.
Under the hood you will find a variety of powertrain options. There will be three Skyactiv-G gasoline engines: 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 liter-fours; one Skyactiv-D 1.8-liter diesel with multi-hole piezo injectors for high-pressure, multi-stage diesel injection; and the fairly revolutionary 2.0-liter Skyactiv-X spark-controlled compression ignition (SPCCI) gasoline engine that is said to combine the best attributes of gasoline, diesel and hybrid technology.
So these engines are just NA four cylinder, not turbocharged, right?
Wow! Unlike many other car makers that just phones it in, Mazda works very hard to improve each generation. They view "car as art" and the attention to detail shows. I had to look closer at the hatchback to notice a blacked-out spoiler (it gets lost in the dark background) which is really a nice touch.
As for the C pillar being a massive blind spot... maybe. I had the same criticism looking at the profile of the TSX Wagon, but after driving and buying one, it's not there. I'll reserve judgement until I sit in one. As for the sedan, it is stunning.
2019 Mazda3 gets only two engines in U.S.; here are details on suspension, AWD
First off, of the five engines announced for the Mazda3, just two of them are slated for the United States. At launch, the Mazda3 will be offered only with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder. It's mechanically pretty much the same as what you'll find in the Mazda CX-5 and Mazda6. It even features cylinder deactivation. The only real difference between this engine, its predecessor, and the one in other Mazdas is some minor engine tuning tweaks. Power is almost the same with 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, gains of 2 horsepower and 1 pound-foot. Fuel economy is rated at 27 mpg in the city, 36 on the highway, and 30 overall for front-wheel-drive models. We would expect the all-wheel-drive model to have slightly worse fuel economy simply due to extra weight and having to power two extra wheels.
The Skyactiv-X engine will become available later in 2019. It will be rolled out in Europe first, with America coming after. When it does come here, it will be offered in states with stricter emissions regulations before coming to other states.
While we're on the topic of engines, we also probed a bit about the possibility of the turbocharged 2.5-liter engine coming to the Mazda3. We did get the typical response of not being able to comment on future product. However, they did confirm that the turbocharged engine does in fact fit in the new Mazda3, since it and the naturally aspirated engine are very similar, and the naturally aspirated engine still uses an enormous header, meaning turbo plumbing wouldn't be an issue. Everyone we spoke with at Mazda did emphasize that they are listening closely to buyers, which is what led to the turbo engine being offered on the Mazda6 and CX-5, as well as the introduction of all-wheel-drive to the Mazda3. So, if you, like us, want to see the turbo engine added to the Mazda3, let the company know. They might just do it.
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Finally, we come to the rear suspension. We were surprised to see the Mazda3 abandon a multi-link rear suspension in favor of a torsion-beam rear end. Torsion beam suspensions are generally considered less capable and refined since it ties both wheels together. Sometimes it's used because it's cheap to develop, or because it's easy to package. Everyone we spoke to at Mazda said that this design wasn't chosen for those reasons, but rather because they were able to make the car ride and handle better. The company found that the design offered more natural reactions to bumps for the passengers inside, and the company was able to really dial in every single part since it was a simpler suspension with fewer variables to worry about. For example, one of Mazda's engineers mentioned that each side of the multi-link suspension had 10 bushings to mess with, and the torsion-beam setup has just one on each side for the trailing arms.
We'll be able to let you know whether all of this fancy engineering makes the Mazda3 a better car when we get to drive it in person. That won't be very long either, as we'll have an opportunity early next year. So stay tuned for a full review in a few months. And in the meantime, keep telling Mazda to give us the turbo engine!
Torsion beam suspensions are generally considered less capable and refined since it ties both wheels together. Sometimes it's used because it's cheap to develop, or because it's easy to package. Everyone we spoke to at Mazda said that this design wasn't chosen for those reasons, but rather because they were able to make the car ride and handle better.
That's marketing of course cost savings was the major reason.
Also, the more I look at that C-pillar, the more I'm turned off. Looks less like a (hot?) hatch and more like a CUV (CX-3?), esp. with the ride-height and wheel-gap being what they are ....
I have heard that modern torsion beam suspensions are actually not bad and can provide an improved ride. Provided that this is a traditional appliance type of ownership experience, I can see why they did it. It will be interesting to see if it’s as bad as VW or better and meets what Mazda claims.
On sports like car Camera or S2000 (s2000 probably has the worst blind spots with top up) i guess it is OK to have blind spots... but for cars like Mazda 3 or Civic, considering the audience, i dont think it is a good idea.
Let's be real, most of the people that drive these are staring at their phones and relying on blind spot monitoring to let them know if they're about to hit someone, so the blindspots won't matter.
10-30-2018, 07:04 AM
of course cost savings was the major reason.
Oh well, thanks for the link. It appears I will have to drive it with the hatch open 
