The first Australian-spec, right-hand drive all-new Mazda3 has arrived in the country and is undergoing final local testing before production for the Australian market starts in the coming months.
Keen-eyed motorists around Melbourne may have seen the 2.5 litre SKYACTIV-G petrol engine equipped, high-grade Mazda3 sedan in ‘soul red’ being put through its paces over the past week.
The early arrival of the prototype sedan, ahead of its early 2014 launch, has been warmly welcomed by Mazda Australia and it will be involved in a number of pre-launch activities in the coming months – including ongoing test drives and accessories planning.
It will also feature in a range of marketing and promotional initiatives ahead of its official domestic release and star in a new television commercial.
The Mazda3’s sales success here in Australia has not gone unnoticed by Mazda’s engineering team in Japan with Kenichiro Saruwatari, the Mazda3 program manager, previously spending time here in order to experience local road conditions.
Mazda Australia has worked closely with Mazda head office in Hiroshima throughout the development of Mazda3 to deliver a vehicle that is expected to remain one of the country’s most popular.
Launched globally in late-June, Australia was one of the first countries to unveil the new Mazda3, revealing a prototype American-spec left-hand drive hatch at a stylish media event held in Melbourne’s Docklands precinct.
The range incorporates blind spot monitoring (BSM) and smart city brake support (SCBS).
Other features include an updated interface with Mazda’s first ever heads-up active driving display, a new connectivity system that offers improved phone, navigation, audio and social navigation and access to thousands of digital radio stations via Pandora and Aha.
The safety features available on Mazda3 make it one of the safest small cars on the market, claims Mazda, but it is also one of the most technologically advanced Mazdas ever produced.
Mazda3 will be available in early 2014.
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