Autocar - First for car news and reviews

Mazda is putting the finishing touches to a comprehensively reworked version of the company’s Golf-sized 3, ahead of an expected launch next spring.
The heavily disguised prototype, pictured testing in Iceland, was described by Mazda engineers as “90 per cent finished”.
The 3 is a vital model for the company, having sold well in all the major world markets since its launch.

Current Mazda 3 is a bit of a forgotten gem.  If the new one can save weight in the same way as its smaller 2 brother, and improve the efficiency of the engines, you may actually have a new and worthy class leader.

I agree.  A lighter, more powerful, better looking version of the present model would be most agreeable.  Have always liked the 3, but never quite enough to buy one.  Even though this is, by all accounts, only a stop gap until an all new model, it may still get my vote.

Better looking? With the sides of the 1 series and the front of an RX8, 2 of the ugliest cars on the road, I doubt it will be a looker.

To be quite honest, I'm surprised anyone really cares about Mazdas.