The next Mazda 3 arrives amid lofty expectations. At Car and Driver we’re big fans of the current model. The 3 took second place in a comparison test of sensible four-doors, and the Mazdaspeed 3 has had a position on our 10Best list for the past two years. In fact, the 3 is so popular that the automaker claims it accounts for almost a third of annual Mazda sales.

Mazda has released a handful of pictures in anticipation of the sedan’s debut at the 2008 Los Angeles auto show (the hatchback that will bow later). As we suspected from our latest set of spy shots the 3 has been radically redesigned with styling similar to the new Mazda 6.

Up front the nose is all-new with sharp headlights and large air intake ducts above the slim fog lights. In back, there are new LED taillamps and dual-exhaust outlets. The car’s profile hints that the dimensions have grown slightly although we’re waiting on full specifications.

Power will come from the 168-hp, 2.5-liter four pot from the 6 (replacing the 2.3), while the 2.0-liter carries over. Mazda promises a more refined ride, sporty handling, and top-of-class fuel economy.

No details have been released about the interior, but we expect to see some changes in the cockpit. Nor is there new information on the zoomy Mazdaspeed 3 yet.

Article key :  2010 Mazda 3 Car News, Mazda, Mazda 3, Car News, 2009, 2010