Weeks before the big debut, a new Mazda3 was seen on the road [UPDATE]

It looks stylish enough to be a stylish option for vehicles such as the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic.

The Mazda Mazda3 will make its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in just a few weeks. But, here are spy photos of the new sleek hatchback to get you started until we see it. You can even get a peek inside. The Kai Concept is a significant influence on the new Mazda3. (see gallery below). Although they share a downward-sloping nose, the production Mazda3 seems to emphasize this more. The front has sharp corners and a large grille. The roof is shaped like a small arch and incorporates into the tail. These photos also show that the hatch opens to allow access to the cargo area. The vehicle looks very sleek in silhouette.

Mazda’s interior is minimalistic. The layout of the instrument clusters is simple with three pods. The infotainment screen is mounted on the top of dashboard. A photo here shows touchscreen controls. The designers have placed a few controls below the display but left the rest of the design unadorned.

The company’s first vehicle will feature the Skyactiv-X engine, the new Mazda3. This engine can use compression ignition, which is similar to a diesel, to ignite the fuel-air mixture. This allows for better fuel economy and emissions due to the extremely high compression ratios required. Although the company has not yet commented on the engine’s output the previous statements indicated that the 2.0-liter supercharged four cylinder produces approximately 187 horsepower (139kilowatts), and 169 poundfeet (230 Newton meters) of torque. The engine’s fuel economy is 36 mpg in the city and 48 mpg on the highway . This engine family will eventually be available in other Mazda models.