2010 Mazda3 Spy Photos
October 7, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
Yesterday our spies got the best look at the upcoming 2010 Mazda 3. This all‑new sport compact was originally due to go on sale sometime in the last half of 2009, but sources say it will now hit showrooms late 2009 as a 2010 model year car.
Riding on Ford’s global C1 platform, the new Mazda3 will measure in a bit longer and wider than the current model. The sportier-looking Mazda3 will also get a small bump in horsepower – as well as a boost in fuel efficiency.
Although this the American version spied here, our photographer reports seeing buttons for heated seats, satellite radio and an MP3 hard drive.
Under the hood Mazda is expected to increase the juice, with the current 2.3-litre motor rumoured to be bored out to a 2.5-litre. That should give the new 3 10-20kW more power compared to the current 108kW (115kW for the SP23).
Mazda insiders say the new Mazda3 will make its official debut at the LA Auto Show in November this year.
Print it: 
More power, more efficiency, and more gagets to play with. Sounds like mazda has another winner.
“More power, more efficiency, and more gagets to play with..” sounds like a similar motto for the FG falcon, and look how the falcon is faring, the Mazda needs to be wow better not just one notch up the belt. likewise from the 323 to the 3. So in hoping this car will deliver.
^Even so, this vehicle has proven popular, I’m sure that tread will continue when new model is released. Considering it is a Mazda, I’d say it is a safe bet that it is an improvment of the current model.
Mazda has finally come back into style over the last five years, thank god.
Remember the round shape Protage and Astina? Good looking cars with sex appeal. Then the square shape replaced it, ouch.
I remember customers coming into the showroom asking to see an Astina, and then walking out in disgust at the new square shape.
Good show Mazda, you brought sexy back.
The new 3 will deliver. It’s another matter altogether if the general public understands a capable when they see it.
The new car market has hit it’s peak under the current economic climate. You can’t expect a huge sales increase over the current model when sales are already very healthy.
Mazda would prefer to increase profit per sale i would imagine.
Mazda 3 doesn’t need the wow factor Joober, It already outsells the Falcon (September Vfacts).
The shape looks good and it looks like they’ve grafted the 6’s tail lights so i cant see why this wont be another winner from mazda. Arguably the best design language of any manufacturer at the moment.
I remember when the 3 first came out it was the easiest car ever to sell.. customer’s literally walked in and said ‘i have 27,28 thousand to spend, get me into a 3′ Unbelievable… you became an order taker on that car. Selling 7 or 8 in a day became common place… Titanium (titty grey) Neo auto sedan had a three month wait very quickly..
Of course most mazda dealers then became arrogant and cut commissions but thats nothing to do with the car…
All those Mazda concrete and glass palace’s you see are built on the back of this car…
Will sell every one, if the economy holds…
Mehh…
Another good looking car from Mazda.. but where is the mechnical advances ? more power doesn’t go well in this segment if it means that car is going to take extra fuel.
Look at VW, where they are taking Golf.? smaller engine sizes but still bucket loads of power!
I think mazda needs to work on efficient power plants for their small/medium cars and then have a winner!
Sunny,
99.99% of the buying decision is made by the person holding the purse strings, that’s right, the wife.
Can you see many women buying a car based on performance, or style?
Talk engine performance with the husband all you like, the wife is happy because it looks good.
I know everyone has different buying motives; I speak only of the majority.
sunny,
if you read properly, you would have seen they have told of greater fuel efficiency, not just morre power.
i say its about time more manufacturers realise that downsizing the engine size doesnt always equal better economy.
these are still fairly heavy vehicles running up to half the engine capacity of what a typical large car runs.
one must realise that if the donk is undersized and struggles, it will use more fuel than an engine with even say half a litre capacity more.
Jobber,
whats your point???
this mazda will sell. they are already running out the door.
and on the falcon….
well that just proves people will rather settle for the inferior product.
i took delivery of my new FG XR6 yesterday afternoon, and they are just a sweet car.
even the pov pac base models have an awesome interior and are a pleasure to drive. they simply spoof all over the opposition, and if the public dont see that, then how does that make the new falcon crap???
and before you ask, yes i did test the opposition just to make sure i wasnt being biased
umm Sunny, what “mechanical advances” would you be suggesting? Surely you’re not referring to the Golf TSi, strapping a turbo & a supercharger to a small engine is hardly a technological masterstroke.
The 3 is said to get a major hike in power whilst using less fuel, what more could one possibly want?
Ha thats funny Salesman but pretty true. How many macho blokes do you see saying “I’m buying the wife one of those” but in reality its the good ole wife making the decision.
Anyway the 3 – looks more evolution than progression. Why do manufacturers believe they have to make vehicles bigger each time a new model comes out. VW excepted (the golf aint got much bigger over the years). Soon due to economy legislation they’ll shrink is my guess.
So the Mazda 3 is getting bigger and more powerful?
There is going to be a big gap in size between the Mazda 2 and 3.
They need a Mazda 4 now.
cupid,
ill fire one back at you…….
why do consumers think they have to subject themselves to driving a smaller car every time a new one comes out??
if they are either bigger or no smaller yet make gains in fuel economy, then whats wrong??
ill even cop a couple of extra litres/100K (if that) to have some space around the elbows.
I have been told the car will be in showrooms in April ‘09. Whose correct?
“Jobber,
whats your point???
this mazda will sell. they are already running out the door.”
No doubt it will, what I was pointing to was on Frenchies statement which is cliched to most manufacturers releasing a new model car, and power and efficiency doesn’t always mean a winner. In Mazda’s case they should be fine given the thumbs up (wow) on the current 3, so no doubt Mazda will be happy to ride on this given recognition and continue the impressive trend.
and secondly, nowhere did I say the Falcon was crap infact its a great car, unfortunately if lacks the wow factor to draw buyers off the street into the ford Dealer. Ive seen a few nice Xr6’s at the local gym and nobody seems interested, its only unfortunate that people with good sense of car knowledge (excluding brand fanboys who buy a brand regardless) can actually contemplate on a purchase by judging it side by side with its competitors.
Mazda has turned around their fortunes but that is only due to their design team.
All Mazda cars are still cheap to live with.. If you look at the exterior of the car it looks like million dollors, but interior is definitly designed in a dodgy sweat shop!
I am glad that I walked away from buying CX-7 few months ago.. their published stats on fuel economy are all wrong. It is not only for CX-7 but across the range.. mazda have been keeping people in dark about it.
Adding more power and facelift are going to get people excited again.. bundle it with premium quality gadget and hyper is just out of control – excellent marketing strategy!
Simply put Mazda survive on their good designers and clever marketing department..
Yeah Sunny i guess just like Apple.
Sunny, its a lot more than just the design team. Sure most Mazda vehicles look stunning. But its also because of the way they, drive – the suspension tune, engine and transmission calibration. Mazda’s do have a lot more merit than what your making them out to be.
But i do agree with you. Fuel economy could be a LOT better.
Well, I don’t think i’ll wait for the new one to come out. My wife needs a new car this year so it looks like the current model SP23 hatch will be the one.
Sunny, people who worry about fuel consumption in quality SUV’s like the CX-7 usually cant afford them in the first place. Are you sure this isn’t the real reason why you “walked away from one”…?
And your comments regarding Mazda’s interiors clearly demonstrate you have the intellect of a goat. Go smoke some more grass loser.
People talk about fuel economy so much on here. I begin to wonder if half you guys even have driven one.
My brother has a Mazda 3 and I have a Corolla and we took our cars on a trip to the coast one day, my car chewed on more fuel than his car by a fair bit.
You make a Mazda 3 sound like a Commodore. They are good cars and trust me they dont just sell because of their looks. If you think that, you seriously are deluded.
OK time for some industry perspective..
wonder if this will be one of the last indusry tie ups with ford? this must also be the next focus chassis as well.
with ford having a brand ‘fire sale’ will mazda be next..
yes Mazda’s design languague is fluent (thanks callum) but Mazda is a ‘boom and bust’ company. They could be bust again in 2012.
Agree on the cx7 fuel comments.. They use about 20lt per hundred urban cycle..