Both the sedan and hatchback will be arriving in Los Angeles, according to reports.
Zoom-Zoom has released a new image to confirm the arrival of the all-new Mazda3. The world premiere of the new Mazda3 is set to take place during the Los Angeles Auto Show at the end this month. Although the event will open its doors for media on November 28, the first press day will take place. However, don’t be surprised if the car is revealed online a few days earlier.
Mazda will also unveil the four-door sedan. Although details are not available at this time, we know that the new 3 will be using a mature version of the Kodo design language. It is safe to say that the Kai concept , which was shown below, shows what we can expect from the road-going car.
Today’s press release reiterates that the new compact Mazda models will use the next generation SkyActiv engines. The platform is designed to deliver “new dimensions of driving pleasure for customers around the globe.”
The SkyActiv-X engine, which is pronounced “ex” and not “ten”) will be one of the key assets of the next-gen 3. At the start of the year, we drove a Mazda3-bodied prototype with the new mill. It was a supercharged four-cylinder inline-four with cooled exhaust gas recirculation. The engine also featured an electrically controlled variable timing and an electronic control valve timing. Mazda is not giving details but claims that the new gasoline engine will reduce fuel consumption by 20-30% and boost torque by up to 20%, delivering diesel-like performance.
The engine of the prototype has been designed to accept both a manual six-speed gearbox and an automatic with the same number. Mazda engineers used special foam to silence the four-cylinder engine in the prototypes. This is similar to the efforts of premium European automakers to make quiet diesel engines.
Mazda’s manager for vehicle dynamics engineering Dave Coleman admitted that noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), are “very difficult” due to the engine’s explosive nature of combustion ignition and higher-pressure fuel system. He said that the SkyActivX engine is not the same as the 2.0-liter SkyActivG. Additionally, engineers had to strengthen the unit because the explosions are putting greater strain on internal components.
We are eager to find out more about the next generation Mazda3, so it is a good thing that the wait is almost over.