Less, it's more: the new "Car as Art" Mazda3 debuts in Los Angeles

Less will prove to be more for a new fourth-generation Mazda3 that is expected to be launched in New Zealand in the middle of next year.

The car, which will be available as a hatch and sedan, has just been unveiled at the Los Angeles auto show.

The new Mazda3 is distinguished by the minimalist approach adopted by its designers with regard to the appearance of the car. There are simply no hard edges. Instead – and this is especially the case with the hatch – the bodies are smooth and unadorned.

And under the bodies, special things will happen.

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While the lower-end models will be powered by upgraded versions of the existing 2.0 and 2.5-liter conventional gasoline engines, the flagship models will feature Mazda's new SkyActiv-X gasoline engine, which through a process called controlled compression controlled ignition combines the advantages of a gasoline engine with the efficiency and torque of a diesel.

SkyActiv-X being the first mass-produced gas-powered compression ignition engine, it also promises to be very economical. Although no official figure is yet available, it is understood that it will offer a power of 133 kilowatts and a torque of 222 Newton, while lowering average fuel consumption up to 5 liters to 100 kilometers or less.

If this is the case, carbon dioxide emissions are expected to fall to less than 100 g / km, which will add credibility to Mazda's claim last year that SkyActiv-X will assist brand to reduce its average "wheel well" CO2 emissions to 50% of 2010 levels by 2030.

It's very exciting. And that caused frustrations for the Los Angeles grand salon journalists – because Mazda officials did not want to talk about SkyActiv-X, they focused only on a theory of "car as an art" in relation to with the design of the new Mazda3.

In an interview, Mazda's chief designer, Yasutake Tsuchida, said this theory concerned the whole look of a moving vehicle. For this reason, the designers of the Mazda3 have removed all the hard character lines and bends of the bodywork, and have focused on the development of body-side ripples that present various reflections when moving the vehicle .

"With the current Mazda3, we use lines to create a feeling of movement, but with the new model, we will achieve this through reflections on the body surface," he said.

This is especially the case with the hatchback, which has instantly become one of the standout cars at this year's LA show. Its soft lines are very reflective and emotional, especially along the doors and around a large C-pillar. With the sedan, the effect is not so much, but still remains an elegant vehicle.

When asked if this reflective design philosophy was risky, Mr. Tsuchida responded in the affirmative.

"The hatchback champion is the Volkswagen Golf, which sells in large numbers mainly because of its rational design.The Mazda3 is a small player with less than 2% of the global market.

"If the Mazda3 was sold in the same volumes as the Golf, our latest design move could be risky, but we're small enough to introduce unique design elements, so it's not a risk of all."

Remember, in the automotive sector, "small" is a relative term. Since the launch of the first generation Mazda3 in 2003, more than 6 million units have been sold in 130 countries.

This popularity includes New Zealand. Since its launch, the Mazda3 has been an immediate success. His best years were the years 2010 and 2011, with a sale of 3500 units a year, making it the most popular Mazda.

Nowadays, this popularity has declined somewhat in the face of competition from SUVs, especially the smaller CX-5s and CX-3s, but still sells around 2,500 a year.

The general manager of sales and marketing of Mazda New Zealand, Glenn Harris, said that because of the growing popularity of SUVs, he did not expect that the arrival the new model results in a substantial increase in Mazda3 sales.

"The train has already left this station with the arrival of SUVs," he said.

"That said, this new car remains a very important model, and is the first to offer Mazda's next-generation body design, and the first to use SkyActiv-X's powertrain." will receive a very good reception upon arrival in New Zealand ".

Harris is likely to be right. The Mazda3 already has a solid base of Kiwi fans, and these will probably recognize the car for what it is: an excellent new offer from a niche manufacturer who has a tradition of pushing the boundaries of design. and vehicle technology.