Back in June, when the all-new Mazda3 was unveiled to the world at events held simultaneously in five cities – London, Istanbul, St. Petersburg, Melbourne and New York – the consensus was loud and clear: Mazda has done it again. The model launch, which coincided with the 10th anniversary of the very first Mazda3 rolling off the production line in Japan, also acknowledged that defying convention works.
Taking centre stage at the 65th Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA), the all-new Mazda3 follows in the tracks of the Mazda CX-5 and all-new Mazda6, two hugely successful models. And it is undeniably a worthy third member of Mazda’s newest generation of car, with its award-winning ‘KODO – Soul of Motion’ design and cutting-edge SKYACTIV technology.
The all-new Mazda3 features MZD Connect, the company’s brand new in-vehicle connectivity concept – fitting for this year’s IAA, where the central themes include the networked car of the future. Designed for straightforward and above all safe operation, the system makes the latest generation of Mazda’s all-time global bestseller one of the first in its class to take occupants online. Users can access Facebook and Twitter, explore the world of Aha™ with tens of thousands of stations of cloud-based content, or reap the benefits of personalised location-based services and Mazda’s own car-related apps.
Accessing these services is done from the comfort and convenience of Mazda’s freshly coherent and unobtrusively tasteful next-generation interior, making its debut on the all-new Mazda3. The cabin, which boasts best or near best-in-class dimensions in many respects, is split into separate driver and passenger zones designed for fun, non-stressful driving and a secure, relaxing passenger atmosphere. Complementing this inspired layout concept is a human-machine interface (HMI) that is remarkably ergonomic and safe to use. Highlights of the HMI include the Active Driving Display, Mazda’s new head-up display, and a rotary commander redesigned to enable the driver to effortlessly control the car’s infotainment features without taking his or her eyes off the road.
On the outside, the all-new Mazda3 inherits the powerful stance, dynamic flowing lines and general beauty of KODO as interpreted on the all-new Mazda6. Taking on the Mazda3’s smaller, leaner proportions, the car’s shapes work like a magnet, building anticipation of what this vehicle can do. And with its unconventional SKYACTIV technologies – ultra-efficient lightweight body, chassis, engine and transmissions – the car is immensely capable, offering a level of performance and driving dynamics fully as good as it looks.
