Mazda 3 2019 News

Mazda UK has announced performance and fuel economy data for its upcoming SkyActiv-X engine, which will be launched into the Australian Mazda3 towards the end of 2019. Going on sale in the UK in July, the 2.0-litre supercharged SkyActiv-X engine with the company’s new compression ignition tech will reportedly produce 133kW of power and 223Nm of torque, which is slightly less than the current 2.5-litre SkyActiv four-cylinder petrol engine used in the G25 variants locally. The SkyActiv-X engine has a high 16.3:1 compression ratio, and thanks to the supercharger, its peak torque is produced 1000rpm lower than the current G25 engine, at 3000rpm. As for fuel economy, Mazda UK claims that the SkyActiv-X engine will use as little as 5.4L/100km on a combined cycle - 1.2L/100km less than the Australian G25. Although Australian figures are yet to be announced, we expect the combined figure to be comfortably below 6.0L/100km despite possible weight differences, larger wheels and different fuel quality. Emissions are similarly improved - the SkyActiv-X engine emits as little as 96g/km of CO2, which compares well with the current 2.0-litre (143g/km) and 2.5-litre (153g/km) variants of the Mazda3.The UK-spec SkyActiv-X engine is also combined with a mild-hybrid system that allows the car to have its engine switched off for “extended periods of time”, according to the brand. Whether or not the SkyActiv-X engine will be paired with the same mild-hybrid system locally is unknown.When it goes on sale in the UK, Mazda will offer the SkyActiv-X engine in both the sedan and hatchback bodystyles, and with either a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox - and possibly with either front- or all-wheel drive. Mazda Australia is yet to comment on when the SkyActiv-X engine will be sold locally, but we expect it to be offered only in higher-spec versions of the Mazda3 range, possibly as an option.Mazda has confirmed that the 2.0-litre SkyActiv-X engine will be offered in the CX-30 small SUV when it goes on sale locally in 2020. It’s also announced that larger six-cylinder versions of the SkyActiv-X engine concept will be produced in the future, though smaller iterations for cars such as a future Mazda2 are yet to be confirmed.

The forthcoming SkyActiv-X engine in the new generation Mazda3 is to command a significant premium over regular models if just-released Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) pricing is to follow through to Australia. Arriving in Japanese dealerships in the third quarter of 2019 - a few months before the car is expected to land in Australia - the SkyActiv-X engine will be positioned right at the top of the Japanese Mazda3 range for now. While the current top-spec Mazda3 L-package with the 2.0-litre petrol engine (the most powerful Mazda3 offered to Japan) is priced at ¥2.65 million (AUD$35,000), the equivalent SkyActiv-X engined model is priced at ¥3.30 million (AUD$43,500) or 25 per cent more.Despite confirming an on-sale date and placing orders for the car, Mazda is still yet to announce power, torque and fuel economy figures for the engine that’s being described as ‘the holy grail' thanks to its strong performance, yet diesel-like fuel economy.Said to be 2.0 litres in capacity with a supercharger, European-spec models will reportedly produce 133kW of power and 222Nm of torque - both less than the current 2.5-litre engine that’s used in G25 models.But considering Europeans don’t get that engine, the Australian X engine could be offered with more power and torque. However, thanks to new technology called 'Spark Controlled Compression Ignition' by Mazda, the SkyActiv-X engine will reportedly consume more than 30 per cent less than other petrol Mazda3s. This means the SkyActiv-X engine will consume around 4.5L/100km on a combined cycle, and the company claims the savings are greater in the real world.Reports from Japan also indicate the SkyActiv-X engine has been engineered to work with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, which could result in even more efficient driving. Mazda Australia is yet to release local details including timing for the engine's local arrival.

Mazda has announced available wireless phone charging in both the UK and US for the new-generation Mazda3. Available as an accessory kit through Mazda dealerships, the wireless charger sits in the centre box of the new Mazda3 and allows passengers to charge multiple devices at once. Priced from US$275 (AUD $391) in the US and £122 (AUD $230) in the UK, the wireless phone charging system matches the Qi standard of other automotive wireless chargers. Despite being made available in both the UK and US, Mazda Australia has no current plans to add it to the its range - even as an accessory. Local spokesperson Amy O’Brien told CarsGuide that the company “won’t be offering a wireless phone charger for now.”The Mazda3's main competitors - Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus, Kia Cerato and Hyundai i30 - all offer wireless charging on higher grades.

Australia’s declining new-vehicle market continued its slide in April, with Kia the only top-10 brand to record positive sales growth for the month, according to the latest VFACTS sales data.

Mazda is reportedly mulling adding a go-fast version of its new Mazda3 to its line-up, with approval for a new hot hatch packing a turbocharged 2.5-litre engine that feeds power to all four wheels now just "a formality".

Your new Mazda wants to watch you sleeping...

Mazda Australia has confirmed local pricing and specification for the much-anticipated, all-new fourth-generation Mazda3, with the hatch scheduled to arrive in April, and the sedan version following mid-year.

Mazda Australia has confirmed the Japanese brand’s breakthrough ‘Skyactiv-X’ engine technology will be available locally before the end of 2019 in the soon-to-be-launched, fourth-generation Mazda3.Long thought to be the unachievable holy grail of combustion engine design, combining the best attributes of diesel and petrol engine technology, Mazda says Skyactiv-X will be, “the world’s first commercial gasoline engine to run on compression ignition.”Announced at the 2017 Tokyo motor show, Skyactiv-X uses a combustion method Mazda calls ‘Spark Controlled Compression Ignition’ (SPCCI) designed to marry the strong low-end torque of a diesel, with the linear response and free-revving nature of a petrol engine.Still generating an initial fireball with a spark plug Mazda says the technology, “realises a seamless transition between compression ignition and spark ignition, maximising the zone in which compression ignition is possible.”Mazda also claims the SPCCI process “improves engine efficiency by up to 20-30 per cent over current Skyactiv-G engines.”When asked about the local sales potential of a Skyactiv-X-equipped Mazda3, Mazda Australia marketing director, Alastair Doak said, “We’ve haven’t made a volume call yet, I guess we’ll save that until closer to the time. But we think it will appeal to people who love tech for a start. There is a bunch of those higher involvement people who want the latest and greatest.”“But beyond that, the actual performance of the car is great. It feels very lively. It’s a 2.0-litre engine but you can gear the whole car down. It has much shorter gear ratios than those we have today and it feels incredibly fast,” he said.Mr Doak confirmed the Skyactive-X engine won’t replace the new Mazda3’s ‘conventional’ 2.0- or 2.5-litre Skyactiv-G engines and that it would likely be offered on higher grades with a cost premium reflecting the complexity of the new technology’s development.

Mazda Australia says the safety technology incorporated in its soon-to-arrive, fourth generation Mazda3, “establishes a new norm for Mazda and a new safety norm for the small car segment.”The all-new Mazda3 is scheduled to arrive in hatch form in April, with the sedan version following mid-year, and Mazda says safety is a key purchase motivator for its customers.Standard active safety tech across the six model range includes ABS, EBA and EBD, front and rear ‘Smart Brake Support’ (Mazda-speak for AEB), blind spot monitoring, ‘Driver Attention Alert’ (DAA), ‘Forward Obstruction Warning’ (FOW), lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, radar cruise control (with ‘Stop & Go’ function), rear parking sensors, rear-cross traffic alert, reverse camera, traffic sign recognition, a tyre pressure monitoring system.On the passive side the airbag count has increased from six (driver and front passenger, side front, and curtain) to seven with the addition of a driver’s knee bag.The top-spec Astina also picks up the ‘Vision Technology’ safety pack, optionally available for $1500 on all other models.The package includes, a 360-degree view monitor, adaptive LED headlights, ‘Cruising & Traffic Support’ (semi-autonomous accelerator, brake and steering support up to 60km/h), driver monitoring (using in-cabin cameras), front cross-traffic alert, front parking sensors and Smart Brake Support (Rear Crossing).Several safety features are firsts for Mazda, including ‘Driver Monitoring’ which uses an infrared camera and infrared LED mounted in the instrument bezel to analyse the driver’s condition.The system measures how wide open the driver’s eyes are, the number of times they blink, as well as the angle of the mouth and face to determine levels of drowsiness or fatigue, day or night.Mazda says the set-up isn’t affected by hand movements or operation of the steering wheel, checking the driver’s line of sight and eye movement only to determine inattentiveness.If it senses a dangerous situation the system sounds an alert, working with the AEB (Mazda calls it ‘Smart Brake Support’), to shorten the time required for the brake warning to sound.‘Cruising & Traffic Support’ assists accelerator, brake and steering functions up to 60km/h, setting a proper trailing distance when following a vehicle ahead in heavy traffic, and supplementing steering torque to help maintain lane position.‘Front cross-traffic alert’ uses front-side radars to detect other vehicles approaching from blind spots to the front left or right of the vehicle when pulling away from a standing start.‘Intelligent speed assist’ recognises road signs (via traffic sign recognition) to adjust speed, flashing a graphic alert display if the vehicle exceeds the speed limit, for example down a steep hill.‘Adaptive LED headlights’ use an LED array divided into 20 blocks that can be turned on and off individually to adjust their illumination pattern depending on the car’s speed, and adjust for optimum visibility in cornering.Use of ultra-high-tensile steel has risen from three to 30 per cent, to now include the framework, bumper beam, B-pillars and side sills. And although the new Mazda3 is yet to be assessed by ANCAP or Euro NCAP, Mazda is confident its new small car will do well.Mazda Australia marketing director, Alastair Doak told CarsGuide, “I assume it will be done in Europe, given we have the same car here that Europe has. Obviously, the way it’s specced we believe it will get five stars, and Mazda Corporation believes it will get five.”“But I think you can see how much standard safety is in the car. And we haven’t just done the ANCAP menu and ticked the box like some others have. We’ve gone beyond that. It’s about doing the best thing for our customers,” he said.

The Australian new-vehicle market declined yet again in January, with sales decreasing by 7.4 per cent over the same month last year, according to VFACTS sales data released today.