The beautiful new Mazda 3 has an awesome and smart engine

At last year's Tokyo Motor Show, we advised you to look carefully at Mazda's superb Kai concept, as its design probably would not be millions of kilometers away from the next Mazda 3. Eh Well, Mazda has just unveiled the new fourth, ready for production. Mazda 3 generation at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and you know what? We were not wrong.

Mazda's design team has succeeded in using skins and clever reflections to give the Ford Focus, Mercedes A-Class and VW Golf a determined and sporty look. Unfortunately, the deadly position and the smooth rubber wheels had to be turned into production, but the round rear lights remained. Is it just us, or is there a whiff of Alfa for them?

Now let's talk about Mazda's new engine. This is an interesting example: it is the first application of the SkyActiv-X intelligent engine from the Japanese company Spark Controlled Compression Ignition. In simple terms, it's a gasoline engine that thinks it's a diesel. By using spark plugs for conventional gasoline-type combustion, the engine can then switch to diesel-type compression ignition, if necessary. Which means that you should get the performance of a gasoline but the economy of a diesel.

This new engine is also complemented by a new mild hybrid 24-volt system. But if it seems too technical and you like your engines without worries, some options are available to you in the form of Skyactiv-G engines (gasoline 1.5 liter and 2.0 liters) and one Skyactiv-D 1.8 liter engine. diesel.

Skyactivness does not stop there. The new 3 also brings the Skyactiv vehicle architecture. It's a host of improvements to create more driver connections with a better seat position (one that respects your spine), a stiffer body and a revised suspension to improve feel and responsiveness. The cab has also been made quieter to deliver a superior feel. The Mazda i-Activ AWD system now offers "four-wheel vertical load" detection and allows you to manage the torque distribution between the front and rear wheels. But most importantly, "the speed control of the front wipers has been carefully designed to improve the performance of the windshield wipers". Whew, we can finally sleep peacefully.

Inside, a new red interior is available specifically for the sedan (a sedan has also been unveiled in Los Angeles and we should get a fastback in the UK) and all that can be has been modernized with a digital brooch and varnish. The widescreen infotainment has reached 8.8 inches, but it is still controlled by a rotating dial. It's a simplistic interior, clean and well thought out, but it will have a lot of work to do against the main competitors. Systems however have increased with the introduction of semi-autonomous features such as a bottling assistant and a driver monitoring system.

The price is not yet known, but it should be around £ 20,000 and should be on sale next spring. But is it enough to let you try a Focus or a Golf? Let us know below.