Our spy photographers snagged the next-generation 2015 Mazda 3 hatchback during testing, with a much cleaner, more refined design under the black-and-white camouflage. The Kodo design language has thankfully removed many of the current model’s design excesses. For example, the next-generation Mazda3 prototype gets rid of the current model’s defining “smiling” grin, and replaces it with a more aggressive grille treatment taken from the latest Mazda6.
There has been speculation that with Mazda’s split from Ford, the new Mazda3 will get an all-new Mazda-derived architecture. The Ford-sourced underpinnings of the current model, however, may very well be used further for the time being. The new Mazda6, for example, had an extensive and thorough update on its prior architecture, mainly due to the cost and platform-sharing options. It seems very possible that the Mazda3 will follow the same path, but there have been no details on the Mazda3′s platform status. Also unknown are engine options, although it’s a safe bet that four-cylinders, front-wheel drive, and Mazda’s new Skyactiv fuel-saving technologies will feature prominently in the next-generation Mazda3.
Most Active