Mazda promises to introduce yet another brand-new vehicle – the CX-3 small crossover, which will be unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show next month.
The compact crossover comes after the recent debut of the fourth-generation Mazda2/Demio hatchback, as well as the unveiling of the next-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata. Mazda promises to reveal even more new additions in 2015.
The Mazda2, or Mazda Demio as it’s called in Japan where it is set to go on sale this December, will be coming to North American dealerships next year. It’s set to join the subcompact segment where it will compete against models like the Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris.
The all-new Mazda CX-3 will likely be based on the same platform as the aforementioned Mazda2, but will enter a completely different class. In fact, the CX-3 will take on some of the toughest competition in Canada. The small SUV segment is the second largest in the country – second only to compact car sales, but not by much. The compact car segment is up only 1.1 per cent this year, while the small SUV sales are up about 20 per cent.
The CX-3 will mark Mazda’s third entry in their expanding SUV category. It currently has the CX-5 and CX-9.
Like all of the new Mazdas, the Mazda2 and CX-3 will get the SkyActiv drivetrains and technologies. This treatment features high-compression, direct-injection engines; advanced transmissions; and lightweight materials.
The CX-3 is also expected to follow Mazda’s new design language known as Kodo, which stands for “soul of motion.”
The Los Angeles Auto Show opens to the press on November 18, with the CX-3 unveiling expected during the morning hours on November 19.