Mazda3 gets upgrade 01 | 11 | 2011
MAZDA HAS GIVEN its Mazda3 hatchback a midlife facelift. Though it won't enter Scottish showrooms until early next year, the upgraded Mazda3 has a redesigned front and rear end. It also benefits from interior changes, including new materials, colours and a quieter cabin. Oh, and there's new twist-spoke alloy wheel designs.
Mazda has also added two new Sport derivatives, a 1.6-litre Sport and Sport Nav diesel. Plus there's new equipment, including a gearshift indicator.
The new Mazda3 is also cleaner, with CO2 emissions reduced by up to 3.5%, depending on model. The 2012 line-up sees six diesel models rated at 115g Co2/km, while the seven petrol models are rated 147g/km. Only the automatic and MPS models exceed 175g/km.
“We anticipate the upgraded Mazda3 will enable us to increase sales of our C-segment contender during 2012," Peter Allibon, Mazda UK sales director, said.
“The outgoing Mazda3 is the second-best selling Mazda model in the UK and has been successfully competing in a crowded compact-car segment.
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"The 1.6 diesel has been hugely popular and the 2.2D with 183bhp remains one of the highest power C-segment diesel model of any brand available in the UK market place.”
The Japanese manufacturer will also introduce a limited-edition Mazda3 Tamura model from launch. Based on the TS model — and powered by either a 1.6 petrol or 1.6 diesel engine — the limited edition comes with a sports styling kit including; front fog lights, side skirts, sports grille and unique 17in black gloss diamond cut finish alloy wheels. Only 750 models will be built.
Fleet buyers will be the target of a new 1.6 Sport diesel model which has CO2 emissions of 115g/km, fuel economy of 65.7mpg, Bose audio system, heated sports seats, 17in alloy wheels and side skirts.
Though prices won't be revealed until closer to launch, the 1.6 Sport diesel CO2 figure means the new model drops in to the lowest company car benefit-in-kind tax bracket for diesels (13%) in 2011/12.
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Jim McGill