Mazda 3 2012
Mazda3 design refinement
The Mazda3 recently received a number of enhancements that makes it an even more attractive proposition to customers. The Mazda3 comes in two body styles: four-door sedan, and five-door hatchback. For the sportier consumer, there is the Mazda3 MPS, which is one of the most powerful front wheel drive compacts.
“When designing the Mazda3, engineers sought to enhance comfort in a way that would enable the driver and passengers to enjoy the ride in various driving conditions. They also wanted the car to be fun to drive with precision handling,” explains Doreen Mashinini, Mazda Marketing Manager.
In addition to its strong emotional appeal and a long list of equipment the Mazda3 is frugal, fun-to-drive and easy to operate. It has a powertrain line-up that incorporates four engine options, with a choice of five or six-speed manual transmissions.
“The Mazda3 has already proven itself as a reliable offering, having recently received the Synovate 2011 Gold award for product quality. This facelift is an evolution of a tried and trusted package and is sure to make the Mazda3 even more appealing to South African buyers,” adds Mashinini.
Styling
The Mazda3 boasts a redesigned front end that not only adds to the overall styling of the car but ensures aerodynamic benefits too. The changes give the exterior a well-toned muscular appearance that underscores the car’s solid build quality. This focus was carried through to the inside, where new materials and colours enhance the quality feel, while the optimized ergonomics make the Mazda3 easier to use.
The Mazda3’s friendly yet sporty front face with large 5-point grille has been updated to create a richer and more stylish impression. The corners of the front bumper now have a larger fascia around the air-inlets, new round fog lights embedded in their lower sections, and a lower front lip that protrudes outwards more than before. These changes not only give the Mazda3 a more assertive and emotionally appealing look, they function to improve aerodynamic performance as well.
Changes were also made to the back of the five-door version. The rear bumper is slimmer than before (it protrudes 30 mm less than the outgoing hatchback) and the reflectors are placed closer to the side panels. As a result, the hatchback looks wider when seen from the back. The shortened rear bumper allows easier loading and unloading of the hatchback’s luggage compartment.
The sporty silhouette of the Mazda3 gets new 16 and 17-inch wheel designs. The 16-inch wheel (found on Active models) now has 10-spokes and features a twisted surface that emphasizes the sportiness of the vehicles. The 17-inch wheel design (found on Dynamic and Individual models) is characterized by enlarged openings between each spoke, creating a lighter, more dynamic look.
Customers can choose between eight exterior colours, with three exciting new colours: Sky Blue Mica, Dolphin Grey Mica and Indigo Lights Mica to go along with the existing colour selection of Velocity Red Mica, Chrystal White Pearl Mica, Aluminium Metallic, Graphite Mica and Black Mica.
The insightful combination of design and functionality continues through to the inside of the Mazda3, with updates intended to create a more stylish interior that is also functional and easier to use. The current Mazda3 already delivers superior cockpit ergonomics with a driver-orientated sporty dashboard, great all-round view of the road; telescopic and height adjustable steering wheel, height; forward and backward seat adjustment; and a high-mount shift level backed by a centre console that allows easy shifting with a flick of the wrist.
Designers focused on lowering the amount of eye-movement it takes to use the car’s onboard system from behind the wheel. To realize this, designers replaced the previous silver of the lower section of the dashboard middle console with black colour, and ringed dials and controls that are used most by the driver in brighter satin polish silver that’s easier to see.
The red graphics of the current model’s multi-information display and LCD (under the instrument panel hood) have been changed to a crisp white, which makes them easier to see. The twin-metre driver cluster is also optimized in the new model to enable easier reading, especially during the day. The previous blackout meters are replaced by continuously lit white graphics.
The seat upholstery for the Original and Active have been redesigned to give the vehicle a refreshed look. The centre fabric is featured in black with a three-dimensional pattern using wavy cross-threads for a strong sense of quality.
