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"New 3 Breaks Free... But It's Really A Focus
It has the looks of a Mazda on the outside, but underneath the new 3 is a Ford Focus. The Japanese firm's engineers have been busy putting the finishing touches to the new hatch. Due on sale in Britain in the autumn, exclusive pictures of the car in the current issue of Auto Express magazine - in both four and five-door guise - show how it will appear in the showrooms.
Even at first glance, the newcomer is instantly recognisable as a Mazda. However, it's not as daring as some enthusiasts had expected, given the striking looks of the RX and the 6 - although it does make more of an impression than the 323 it replaces. The teardrop headlights are shared with the 6, while the five-corner corporate grille also makes an appearance. Note how its shape is re- flected in the styling of the rear window. And it's the back end that features the most interesting part of the design, with the angular C-pillar and high waistline.
Based on the next-generation Focus, hatchback and saloon models will be available. Set to rival the likes of VW's Golf and Bora, bosses have high expectations for both. Power will come from a diverse range of engines, although most of the petrol variants will be carried over from the 323. The diesel is likely to be the pick of the bunch. Entry-level cars will come with a 72bhp 1.3-litre engine, while 98bhp 1.6 and 131bhp 2.0-litre versions will also be available. The oil-burner will come from Ford in the form of the punchy TDCi unit found in the Focus.
The two cars join the rejuvenated Mazda line-up, but there's more to come. The firm is currently developing a replacement for the MX-5 roadster, the last of the previous-generation models remaining in the stable. In line with the firm's 'zoom- zoom' design
philosophy, the new 3 has been developed with driver involvement in mind. Insiders say the car will be taken to another level, and with under-pinnings coming from the excellent-handling Focus, that's entirely possible.
A revamped version of the blue oval car - the UK's monthly best-seller for nearly three years straight - is due next year, and it's not a project Ford is taking lightly. The styling will be a development of the current model's looks, but more conservative lines are expected. Unlike Mazda, Ford will offer a three-door, estate and mini-MPV, along with the four and five-door. The same platform will also underpin Volvo's four-wheel-drive V50, indicating there's potential to feed power to all wheels on the Mazda 3. This could be of use in a high-performance MPS version, which would become a flagship model.
Prices for the 3 are expected to remain in line with those of the 323, and Mazda hopes that a higher quality interior and improved driver enjoyment will bring sales up to the levels of its major competitors."
-Neal
"New 3 Breaks Free... But It's Really A Focus
It has the looks of a Mazda on the outside, but underneath the new 3 is a Ford Focus. The Japanese firm's engineers have been busy putting the finishing touches to the new hatch. Due on sale in Britain in the autumn, exclusive pictures of the car in the current issue of Auto Express magazine - in both four and five-door guise - show how it will appear in the showrooms.
Even at first glance, the newcomer is instantly recognisable as a Mazda. However, it's not as daring as some enthusiasts had expected, given the striking looks of the RX and the 6 - although it does make more of an impression than the 323 it replaces. The teardrop headlights are shared with the 6, while the five-corner corporate grille also makes an appearance. Note how its shape is re- flected in the styling of the rear window. And it's the back end that features the most interesting part of the design, with the angular C-pillar and high waistline.
Based on the next-generation Focus, hatchback and saloon models will be available. Set to rival the likes of VW's Golf and Bora, bosses have high expectations for both. Power will come from a diverse range of engines, although most of the petrol variants will be carried over from the 323. The diesel is likely to be the pick of the bunch. Entry-level cars will come with a 72bhp 1.3-litre engine, while 98bhp 1.6 and 131bhp 2.0-litre versions will also be available. The oil-burner will come from Ford in the form of the punchy TDCi unit found in the Focus.
The two cars join the rejuvenated Mazda line-up, but there's more to come. The firm is currently developing a replacement for the MX-5 roadster, the last of the previous-generation models remaining in the stable. In line with the firm's 'zoom- zoom' design
philosophy, the new 3 has been developed with driver involvement in mind. Insiders say the car will be taken to another level, and with under-pinnings coming from the excellent-handling Focus, that's entirely possible.
A revamped version of the blue oval car - the UK's monthly best-seller for nearly three years straight - is due next year, and it's not a project Ford is taking lightly. The styling will be a development of the current model's looks, but more conservative lines are expected. Unlike Mazda, Ford will offer a three-door, estate and mini-MPV, along with the four and five-door. The same platform will also underpin Volvo's four-wheel-drive V50, indicating there's potential to feed power to all wheels on the Mazda 3. This could be of use in a high-performance MPS version, which would become a flagship model.
Prices for the 3 are expected to remain in line with those of the 323, and Mazda hopes that a higher quality interior and improved driver enjoyment will bring sales up to the levels of its major competitors."
-Neal
