First look: Mazda hatches 323 replacement

MAZDA has released images of the five-door hatchback version of its Mazda3 replacement for the popular 323 small car.

But it has announced precious little detail or shown the sedan, which is said to be substantially different to the hatch. All that is to come at the Frankfurt motor show in September.

The range then goes on sale in Europe in October, Japan in November and arrives in Australia in January, with Mazda forecasting a price rise into the low $20K range from the run-out 323's $19,990 starting point.

"We are aiming this car basically at the (Holden) Astra," confirmed Mazda Australia managing director Malcolm Gough.

"That's where we see this vehicle, Astra is probably around the $22,000 mark as a base model and we see us being in that region.

"It will come standard with air-conditioning and dual airbags, but the rest of the specs we are literally at the moment going through."The Mazda3 hatch has already been substantially previewed in the MX Sportif concept that debuted at the Geneva motor show back in March, and even now what we are seeing is a dressed-up version with optional grille and alloy wheels.

The 3 continues Mazda's new mainstream model naming policy, following on from the medium 6 and 2 light car launched last year. Counting the RX-8 due out in August, the 3 will be Mazda Australia's fourth all-new model in 18 months.

The 3 also presents the latest iteration of the company's styling theme, with corporate grille, chiselled bonnet and a pronounced step running back through the side of the car.

The engineering underpinning the car will be shared with the next generation Ford Focus due in 2004 and the forthcoming Volvo S40 and V50 small cars. The platform is all-wheel drive capable, although initially Mazda will concentrate on front-wheel drive.

The next derivative to spin from it for Mazda is tipped to be a replacement for the Premacy compact people-mover, possibly called Mazda4.

Along with 323, the Protégé (sedan) and Astina (hatch) nomenclature will be abandoned. The models will be known as Mazda3 sedan and Mazda3 hatch.

Standard equipment for Australia is expected to be the MZR 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, which produces 104kW, with 1.8 and 1.4-litre engines also on offer around the globe.

A sporty version to replace the SP20 should also be on sale from launch, possibly fitted with the 2.3-litre MZR which produces 122kW, making it more competitive with the recently launched Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus and Holden Astra hot hatches.

Suspension is expectd to be by MacPherson struts up-front and a development of Ford's control blade rear-end.

The $19,990 323 has played a significant role in Mazda Australia's huge sales climb in 2003, but Mr Gough said an increase in price with the new model should not mean a drop in volume.

"The new car is a significantly better car, it is an upgrade. So we believe the market will sustain that," Mr Gough explained.

"The 323 is currently our largest selling model, we'll do probably in the region of 1500 average a month this year, so you are talking about 18,000 to 20,000. We would anticipate the Mazda3 will give us the same sales impetus in 2004 and 2005.

"So it will remain as basically our largest volume, so in that regard it's vitally important from a success point of view not only for us but also our dealers."* Continuing its unique naming policy for Japan, the 3 will be called Axela in its home market. That name combines the English letters accelerate and excellent. In Japan the 6 is Atenza while the 2 is the Demio.