Bologna show: Mazda's MkII Three hatched

MORE pieces of the latest Mazda3 puzzle were presented at last week’s Bolognia motor show in Italy, with the unveiling of the long-awaited five-door hatch version and the release of further details on the upcoming petrol and diesel powerplants.

Due in June or earlier if Mazda Australia’s wishes are granted, the BL-series ‘3’ hatch will be released at the same time as the four-door sedan version that was one of the stars of last month’s Los Angeles Auto Show in North America.

A high-performance MPS turbo-petrol version is the next variant believed to be in the pipeline, and is expected to make its world premiere at the Geneva motor show in March.

Like the latest Mazda3 sedan, the hatch weighs less than current car, with some models tipping the scales at up to 15kg under their corresponding predecessors, despite growing in some dimensions.

Yet, as a whole, the BL is a careful evolution of the two-million-plus-selling BJ-series Three introduced in Australia in January 2004 after its debut at the Frankfurt motor show four months earlier.

According to chief designer Kunihiko Kurisu, the aim was to give Mazda’s seventh-generation front-wheel drive small car since 1980 (and the second to wear the Mazda3 moniker) a bolder presence while maintaining the current car’s crowd-pleasing design theme.

“Remaining faithful to an inherited identity while evolving the design to make it more expressive” was his stated mantra.

To this end, the hatch gains the sedan’s Peugeot-esque nose and RX-8-style bloated wheel-arch treatment, wider stance and more muscular body surfacing, which then “…flow into the centre to express power and dynamism.”

However, it retains the outgoing hatch’s basic six-light profile, reverse-sloping D-pillar, vertical tail-lights, V-shaped rear window and bumper-level number-plate valance.

The hatch appears to be marginally less aerodynamic than the sedan, with a drag co-efficiency (Cd) of 0.30 compared to 0.28 Cd.

Nevertheless, Mazda says it worked hard to minimise panel gaps, which in turn helps bolster perceived (as well as actual) quality, especially in the area of noise suppression – arguably the current model’s biggest downfall. Drops of between six and 11 per cent are claimed.

A boost in body strength and rigidity, as well as smarter placement of sound-deadening materials, also cut noise paths significantly.

All of the new models again adopt the C1 small car architecture that also underpins the Ford Focus and Volvo C30/S40/V50, using a MacPherson strut front and multi-link independent rear suspension set-up, as well as an electro-hydraulic powered rack-and-pinion steering arrangement.

The wheelbase and width continue at 2640 and 1755mm respectively, but there are differences to the length and height of the new hatch, at 4460 and 1470mm respectively. While the latter corresponds with the new sedan, the hatch is 5mm taller than its predecessor.

Sportier hatches receive body-kitted bumpers that add a further 30mm to the overall length.

On the powerplant front, Mazda has also released more details of the engines on offer.

With still no automatic transmission slated for the diesel unit, the overwhelming number of Mazda3s sold in Australia will use a modified version of the current 2.0-litre DOHC four-cylinder petrol engine.

Dubbed the MZR 2.0, it delivers 110kW of power at 6500rpm and 187Nm of torque at 4000rpm, via a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic gearbox with a manual-shift mode.

This compares with the outgoing Mazda3’s 2.0-litre 108kW and 182Nm outputs, which are channelled to the front wheels via a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual gearbox.

Mazda is still keeping Australian-spec details of the new SP25 model under its belt, but the US sedan version employs a variation of the 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine found in the latest Mazda6, pumping out 124kW at 6000rpm and 227Nm at 4000rpm. The current SP23 uses a 115kW/203Nm 2.3-litre unit.

Meanwhile, the diesel – powered by the same 2.2-litre MZR-CD turbo unit with diesel particulate filter (DPF) as fitted to the new Mazda6 diesel – provides 110kW of power at 3500rpm and 360Nm of torque from 1800 and 2600rpm.

This six-speed manual-only powertrain returns a combined fuel consumption average of 5.4 litres per 100 kilometres and carbon dioxide emissions rating of 144 grams per kilometre.

For the record, the current Mazda3 diesel produces 105kW and 360Nm.

The new hatch mirrors its sedan counterpart with a cabin described as “sporty and sophisticated… with a dashboard turned to the driver for oneness feel with the car.” Soft-feel trim, a concerted effort at improving ergonomics and the introduction of new features are said to up the hatch’s interior appeal considerably.

All models have a higher safety specification, with an anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), brake assis (BA), electronic traction and stability control (DSC) and six airbags (front, side, and curtain) present.

Options that are fresh to the range high-intensity discharge bi-Xenon headlights with cornering lights, a reversing camera and tyre pressure monitors.

Read more:

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