With the 2014 Mazda 6 on sale and the 2014 CX-5 starting to roll into dealerships, the spunky automaker from Hiroshima is now turning its attention to its best seller, the Mazda 3. According to a new report, the third-generation 3 is due in dealerships as soon as this fall. The 2015 Mazda 3 is a key part of the company’s plan to double its U.S. sales to some 400,000 units. Given that the 3 accounted for 123,361 of the 277,046 vehicles Mazda sold last year, the compact sedan and hatch is critical to help the brand expand. Not much is known about the next 3, but it’s assumed that the 155-hp Skyactiv 2.0-liter four-cylinder and six-speed transmissions introduced for 2012 will carry over to the 2015 model. Automotive News also reports that the 3 could also see the addition of the 184-hp 2.5-liter I-4 from the 6 sedan and CX-5 crossover; although, AN doesn’t state what would power the 2015 Mazdaspeed3, assuming the hot hatch lives on. No word on whether or not the 3 will get the turbodiesel slated for the 6, either. We spied the 2015 Mazda 3 out testing earlier this year, and –unsurprisingly – the compact car will adopt the Kodo design language worn by the 6, CX-5, and CX-9. It’s pretty clear that the new 3 will have a long hood, aggressive fender budges, and a pert rump. The overall design looks less busy than the current car, but still a clear evolution of the 3′s design. Expect to see an all-black interior similar to the ones found in the 6 and CX-5, with simple shapes and good ergonomics.
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