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Thursday, July 21, 2011

Mazda 3 (2012) [Reviews]



Mazda March 2012 made its American debut at the Salon of 2011 New York International Auto. Face lift with a more refined exterior and interior, Mazda 3 2012 is also the first North American application of innovative technologies SKYACTIV Mazda fuel economy and result oriented, achieving 40 mpg on the highway. The Mazda 3 is the best-selling model worldwide Mazda vehicles, accounting for almost half the sales of Mazda in the U.S., causing the vehicle of a candidate for the introduction of consumers seeking SKYACTIV dynamic performance together with high energy efficiency.

"SKYACTIV is not just a motor, the next generation of advanced vehicle performance and efficiency," said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO of Mazda North American Operations (MNAO). "It embodies the philosophy Mazda SKYACTIV only service vehicles are fun to drive, the satisfaction of owning and environmentally responsible, and what better vehicle to launch the Mazda 3, one of the most exciting sport compact on the road."

Redesigned for model year 2010, the updated 2012 Mazda 3 is the first use of technology SKYACTIV Mazda North America, receives a new gasoline engine SKYACTIV-G and brand SKYACTIV disc and six-speed automatic the newly-MT SKYACTIV six-speed manual transmission. It also strengthened the sporty driving dynamics, handling and a comfortable cabin space. The exterior design has been refined to express a more aggressive attitude, with new interior appointments provide additional functionality without compromising on the touch screen and feel of quality. Additional security features complete the package.

Exterior attractive, efficient

The development of mid-generation Mazda 3 also covers its exterior design. The current model expressions rich and bold attitude has been updated to provide a well-toned look that communicates an even higher quality and curb appeal. Stylized features improved aerodynamics and give the Mazda 3 2012 a more sophisticated look that blends perfectly with the functionality.

The exterior of the Mazda 3 2012, finally has a more tense atmosphere with a new front fascia and updated five-point grille opening, both sedan and hatchback styles. The new design features include delicately sculpted forms around openings in the outer edge of the front bumper and a rounded shape of the fog lamp (changed from the version of the horizontal scale of the current model).

Mazda 3 sedan and equipped with a gasoline engine SKYACTIV-G will still be distinguished with exclusive items such as an entirely new engine cover with a finish of deep metallic blue paint, with black areas along both sides; headlight units with a transparent blue ring around the center of the lens to emphasize the character of the car and a badge with a "SKYACTIV" logo on a bright blue background.

Aerodynamics plays strongly to the carbon footprint of the vehicle. Improved aerodynamics for better fuel economy and further reduce CO2 emissions while contributing to the stability of handling. In this spirit, the design was optimized front bumper, rocker panels and parts, to better streamline the movement of air under the floor. The shape of the lower front bumper has been redesigned for pages and fins protruding below has been enlarged. This adjustment effectively distribute air affects the engine compartment and spoiler front wheel, remove the turbulence in the engine cooling and along the sides of the body.

Other AIDS continues to optimize the aerodynamic air flow through and around the vehicle is expanding and deepening cap (on models with engine SKYACTIV-G), added under the floor, covering about 10 percent and eliminate the vertical grooves in the more compact design, increased stiffness of the front tire deflectors to prevent warping and to create a good balance between the cooling of the brakes, aerodynamic performance and handling, and added a clamshell-shaped muffler to sit in a corner of the road surface.

The devil is truly in the details, and Mazda engineers have not missed a single. The end result is a CD 0.27 for the sedan (SKYACTIV equipped model), an improvement of about seven percent compared to 0.29 Cd of the current models. The hatchback version has a CD 0.29 (SKYACTIV equipped model), also an increase of about seven percent compared to 0.31 Cd of the current models.

The exterior is complemented by renewed with new 16 - and 17-inch designs aluminum wheels. The 16-inch wheel (all models SKYACTIV) now has an area of ​​10 twisted spokes, rose seven-spoke design of the current model, and the wheel of 17 inches (about 2.5 liters of models s) is characterized by enlarged openings between each radio, creating a look that adds a slight feel even more dynamic. Models 16-inch wheels, aluminum wheels, 18-inch will remain unchanged.

Of high quality, intuitive interior

The interior is no less re-imagined as outside the vehicle, and was developed with the ultimate goal of an attractive cabin and feel better. From the Board - the greatest scenery in the cabin - the black is currently used in the shift console and door to offer a more aggressive look. Furthermore, satin and polished silver details are added to areas commonly used by consumers, such as outer rings consist of three switches and temperature control audio control panel and vents in the center pane. In addition to creating a sense of sophistication, the pattern of silver on a black background accentuates the location of the common controls and switches, which increases readability and decreases the amount of time drivers take their eyes off the road so , reduce operational errors.

Multi Information Display (MID) and liquid crystal display (LCD), also received a color adjustment, changing the red text and graphics of the current model easier to read white. 2012 Mazdaspeed3 has a touch of silver to replace the existing Red and Silver accents is removed the graphics that adorn the top of the knob. The entire Mazdaspeed3 is now the gear knob Leather steering wheel. The parking brake lever is also wrapped in leather, to create a single coordination, which makes it look like even more sporty car, and to give more interior refinement Mazdaspeed3.

The sporty two meters from the design of the control panel itself remains unchanged, but stands by the new solid white illuminated graphic meters, which provide easy reading even in bright light. The color of the backlight also vary from the standard gray and trim levels and a high dynamic gradation of red MAZDASPEED3. SKYACTIV vehicles will have a blue backlight and graphic panels white gradient tube. Also available will be a shift knob decorated with elegant satin-polished veneer on the bottom and a silver ring, surrounded SKYACTIV-plate logo on the top.

Proof that even a mid-cycle refresh, engineers really sweat the details, the amount of head start button before the screening SKYACTIV drive models with increased almost 0.16 inches above the current model, resulting in better grip feel and smooth moves in both directions, forward-backward and left-right.

Improving the visual design has also found its way into the comfortable seats comfortable and create a strong impression of the dimensions of the fabric of new models in three dimensions. On the black seats with non-leather models, gray Cross son were added to enhance the contrast and create a sense of casual comfort. Dune color seats are two colors light and dark across threads to create a calm, mature interior ambience. Higher levels of trim (Touring and Grand Touring) receives another three-dimensional model upholstery to create a richer expression of the quality of the substantia nigra.

Additional security
All Mazda 3 and MAZDASPEED3 models continue to be equipped with a high level of standard safety features. An option for 2012 is a new Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) system. The BSM system drivers AIDS by avoiding accidents that often occur in situations close distance, such as brushing against another vehicle during lane changes and merging traffic. 24GHz radar sensors at the rear of the vehicle designed to detect vehicles approaching within 13 meters to the left or right, and within 26 feet from the rear. When a vehicle is detected in the blind spot, the lights housed in the side mirrors lights. If a turn signal is activated when the lights are on, they blink and a beep is an additional warning. Also available is an optional Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), auto leveling bi-xenon.
AFS is a wide field of view of curves, which increases the driver's eye point and the visible distance, taking into account both steering angle and vehicle speed of light in a corner head.

All Mazda 3s, regardless of trim level or choice of engine, Mazda will continue to own ultra-rigid safety body structure, which includes a deformable outer area that absorb impact forces, and the construction of Mazda's Triple H that applies to H-shaped reinforcement bar to the floor, the roof of the body and suppress the deformation of the passenger and minimize the likelihood of injury during impact. 2012 models, the B-pillar reinforcement has been extended for more than seven inches, and more high-strength steel has the added stiffness of the body even more.

Standard features include advanced security six airbags (dual front advanced, front seat-mounted side curtains and full length) with side airbags improved dual chamber, anti-lock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake force distribution (EBD) with Brake Assist, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Traction Control System (TCS), front and rear stabilizer bar, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), a "crush" brake and accelerator pedal assembly, and telescoping steering column, three anchor points for all seating positions, front seatbelts with pretensioners and force limiters and lower anchors and tethers for children (latch). The Mazda 3 is simply not an option.