Mazda unveils the new Mazda3 compact car

Equipped with Mazda's more efficient high-compression compression engine, technology that improves pedestrian safety and simplified infotainment controls, the Mazda3 will be available to dealerships early in 2019.

The Mazda3 is the second most popular vehicle of the American manufacturer, behind the CX-5 SUV. But sales fell 14.7% in the first 10 months of 2018, reflecting the challenges facing the compact car sector.

General Motors and Ford have announced plans to stop producing most of their pbadenger cars, unlike Fiat Chrysler.

And Mazda's decision to bet big on the Mazda 3 contrasts sharply with several other major revelations at this year's Auto Show: heavyweight models like the Jeep Gladiator pickup, the Honda Pbadport mid-size SUV and the BMW X7 crossover .

In this regard, the Mazda3 is driving against the flow of traffic.

But the manufacturer hopes to revitalize the loyal base of the Mazda3, consisting of young fans and car enthusiasts, by adopting advanced security features, a brand new high-tech engine and stylish design.

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The new Mazda3 is the first model in the range to incorporate the recently announced Skyactiv-X engine technology, which uses higher compression in the cylinders to generate power more efficiently than a typical gasoline engine.

In January, Mazda boasted that this technology was a breakthrough that could deliver 20% better fuel economy.

Although Mazda did not reveal the gas mileage of the new Mazda3 on Tuesday night, a 20% increase over the previous model would move the car from 31 to 37 km.

The new Mazda3 will be available in several options: 1.5, 2 and 2.5 liter gasoline engines and a 1.8 liter diesel engine. The latter could surprise industry observers, who followed the rapid contraction of diesel cars following the Volkswagen emissions scandal.

Other key features of the new Mazda3:

• A redesigned 8.8-inch infotainment display with simplified controls.

• A new system that uses an infrared camera and an infrared LED to track the driver's eyes, mouth and face to determine if the person is at risk of falling asleep. The system will trigger audio alerts to keep the driver awake when he is about to fall asleep.

• An alert system that detects other vehicles heading to the Mazda3 from blind spots to the left-front or front-right.

• Technology that helps steer, brake and accelerate congestion on highways.

• Mazda's very first driver-side knee airbag, which will be part of the standard equipment.

• Impact absorbing hood to mitigate the impact of pedestrian collisions – a technology that security advocates have called for.