Focus group guy describes next gen Mazda 3
Slow news Friday always gets us to dig a little deeper to find interesting material on which to post, which led us today to the CarSpyShots.net forum where we found a detailed description of the next generation Mazda 3. Forum member xander80 is a focus group junkie, and he's attended two for the next generation Mazda 3 already. The first one included various competitors of the Mazda 3, the current model and two prototypes. The second focus group he just attended, however, only had one of the prototypes, which indicates that Mazda has likely narrowed down candidates for the next gen 3 to this model. xander80 describes what he saw in detail, highlights of which include a longer wheelbase and length, Lexus IS-shaped LED taillights, a pointed trunk lid, and a "baby" RX-8 front end with bulging wheel arches over the front wheels and no grille. Fellow forum member 6speed whipped up the above rendering based on the description. While nothing close to the car we're imagining in our heads right now, other CarSpyShot.net forum members have vowed to produce photochops based on the description, as well. Let us know when they're up guys and we'll host them here.
Read the full description in xander80's words after the jump...
[Source: CarSpyShots.net]
"The doors looked indentical to the current car, but upon closer insection were in fact different, incorporating all new sheetmetal. Overall size grew at least a couple inches in wheelbase and length. The silhouette and proportions were the same as the current car, with the rear trunk-lid coming to a point in the center and Lexus IS shaped taillights, using what appeared to be strips of LED's. The front of the car what the real head turner, looking like a baby RX-8, with bulging arches over the wheel wells and NO GRILLE, only a large air intake in the bumper with smaller corner ones that could be used to house fog lights. The headlights were a little larger than the ones on the current 3, same idea but were pulled/stretched up the hood. Overall, the car looked awesome, more sophisticated and a bit more grown up."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tiago do Vale 4:07PM (10/20/2006)
Looks good, for now! A but like an euro Ford Focus, but even so it's good.
What about the 5 point grille?
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Jason 4:10PM (10/20/2006)
I just hope it doesn't get the Model T fender flairs from the RX-8. The rear roof line looks just like any current Volvo sedan.
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Redline 5:22PM (10/20/2006)
Looks a lot like the upcoming Mitsubishi Lancer and Evolution X.
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Sean C 5:21PM (10/20/2006)
The pic you have looks like HUGE bite off Audi design.
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Phred 8:01PM (10/20/2006)
Thoroughly mix Nissan GT-R and Mitsubishi Evo X. Apply to front of generic sedan pretending to have "four-dour coupe" roofline, and voila!
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EL_RIEL 4:49AM (10/21/2006)
OMG!! stop it, im finally going to buy a new Mazda3 4-door. u_u if i wait for a new lancer, then i wont have a new car in a year, then a year after of the new lancer a new mazda 3, and i may want to wait for that, so no new car in what 5 years? lol.
I will stick to my plan of a mazda3 2007.
I wont read anymore all-new cars news! u_u
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Sean 7:28PM (10/20/2006)
Call me crazy, but that looks A LOT like the Evo X...
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JON 7:32PM (10/20/2006)
looks like the small Volvo with some minor changes
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D 8:08PM (10/20/2006)
Any info on the engines? I think Mazda should apply the DISI treatment to both the 2.0 and 2.3 engines to add that extra "oomph" without sacrificing fuel efficiency (ie: no larger displacement or turbo on the regular 3 - the MPS3/Mazdaspeed - now that's another story). VW apparently has a 1.4 that puts out about 170hp IIRC.
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Steve B. 12:00AM (10/21/2006)
Everyone sees something different. I see an Acura TSX with a stretch Scion tC facade.
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Peter 10:45PM (10/20/2006)
Someone refresh my memory: what does N.D.A. stand for?
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Cody 5:43PM (10/21/2006)
Hatch? any word on the hatchback? I could care less about the sedan.
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Ryan 12:12PM (10/21/2006)
"12. Hatch? any word on the hatchback? I could care less about the sedan."
-You mean wagon?! It's funny I drive a sedan, and everyone that is "mainstream" (not on autoblog, or don't really pay attention to cars), they all say "is your car also offered as a wagon" then I say no it's a hatchback, then they usually say, well it looked like a family hauler to me.
They really need to offer a 2dr hatchback, AND the front end of the sedan, the sedan front end is ALOT slicker looking.
Did you know the hatchback and sedan don't share a SINGLE panel with each other?
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tr 1:29PM (10/21/2006)
" with the rear trunk-lid coming to a point in the center "
what does that mean? i can't picture it.
the outline above reminds me of a S40 and Euro Focus, with a little EVO X thrown in...which is good.
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rv65 1:14PM (10/21/2006)
NDA means Non Disclosure Agreement
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Ebm14 9:37PM (10/21/2006)
Add AWD!!!!!
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Jimmy 3:21PM (10/30/2006)
I test drove the Mazda3 recently, and I noticed that the engine is very quiet when compared to some of the others in its class. And I guess there is some technology associated with its engine in particular that makes it so. I found some news articles through Cars News & Cool Facts about Mazda3 and it was explaining the whole idea about a quieter engine, and that soon enough all engines will be so quiet that we "can sleep on freeways."
Pretty cool, huh?
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Jimmy 3:22PM (10/30/2006)
I test drove the Mazda3 recently, and I noticed that the engine is very quiet when compared to some of the others in its class. And I guess there is some technology associated with its engine in particular that makes it so. I found some news articles through http://www.lammazing.com about Mazda3 and it was explaining the whole idea about a quieter engine, and that soon enough all engines will be so quiet that we "can sleep on freeways."
Pretty cool, huh?
Reply