We can confirm that these are
official drawings of the 2019 Mazda3 but we don’t
know if it will be sold as a 2019MY or 2020MY in the U.S.A. and Canada. Back to
the images, they outline the front- and rear-end three-quarters of the sedan
together with the interior.
It’s an evolution of Mazda’s Kodo design language that we’ve seen
manifesting on the latest CX-5 and CX-9 crossovers with smoother sides that do
away with the current car’s creases and pinched panels. Other exterior elements
found on the drawings of the 2019 Mazda3 are the angrier-looking and slimmer
lights on both ends of the car, along with a wider, U-shaped grille that cuts
into the headlamps.
The design familiarities between the study and
production car continue inside with a simple and clean layout. As with the
concept, the instrument panel is encompassed by oval air vents that in some
ways, remind us of a (modern) interpretation of the Honda S2000’s upper dash.
However, unlike the study that incorporated a massive digital screen spanning
from the passenger side to the upper corner of the instrument cowl, the
production Mazda3 reverts back to the fixed (?) tablet-style screen.
The big news for the fourth-generation “3” is
the debut of Mazda’s new SkyActiv-X gasoline engine featuring Spark Controlled
Compression Ignition. This innovative four-cylinder unit combines
characteristics of diesel and regular gasoline engines, using spark plug
ignition to “control compression ignition”. In short, it ignites the fuel-air
mixture similar to a diesel engine promising to combine the fuel efficiency of
the former with all the benefits of a gasoline unit, without the emissions
penalty.
Mazda forecasts an output of around 190 horsepower
with 230 Nm of peak torque from the 2.0-liter version. That puts it
well above today’s 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G that delivers 155 hp and 203 Nm and on par with the bigger 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G with 184 hp and 250 Nm. The difference here is that Mazda is targeting at least a 20
percent improvement in fuel economy and up to 25 percent less carbon dioxide
emissions over the current Skyactive G engines.
The Mazda3 will drop in one of the most competitive
segments in the world, with rivals including the
Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Forte, Nissan
Sentra, Opel / Vauxhall Astra, Renault Megane, Peugeot 308, Subaru Impreza,
Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen Golf and Jetta sedan. The new “3” in both hatchback and
sedan body styles is slated to go on sale globally in the first half of 2019,
but we’ll likely have our first official look at the compact model(s) at this
year’s Los Angeles Auto Show at the end of November.
