Marton Pettendy•1 Jul 2014
NEWS
Mazda2 to go upmarket
New Mazda2 to come with two engine variants for the first timeMazda's new 2 will be available with two different petrol engines when the third-generation model goes on sale in Australia in October.
The expanded, two-engine line-up, combined with up to three equipment grades, is expected to push Mazda's smallest model further upmarket, driving more sales from a wider range of customers.
Mazda's outgoing 2 defeated Toyota's Yaris to become Australia's top-selling light-car last year, but so far this year has been out-sold by the Hyundai i20, which will be replaced by an all-new model next year.
Toyota will release a facelifted Yaris with unchanged powertrains – meaning carryover 1.3- and 1.5-litre petrol engines matched with five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmissions – in September.
The redesigned Mazda2, however, will be available from launch here with two all-new 1.5-litre SKYACTIV four-cylinder petrol engines, consuming as little as 5.5L/100km and matched with six-speed manual and automatic gearboxes.
Opening the range will be a 79kW/139Nm petrol four, while a higher-output version that's yet to be revealed will also be offered from launch.
The new Mazda2, first images and full details of which will be revealed when production begins in July, will also be available overseas with a new 1.5-litre diesel engine and, possibly, a plug-in rotary-hybrid powertrain, neither of which will come here.
In the absence of a new four-door sedan, the Mazda2 will continue to be offered only in five-door hatchback form, which will look almost identical to the striking Hazumi concept (pictured).
Nevertheless, Mazda Australia Managing Director Martin Benders said the larger Mazda2 model range would have broader appeal, in line with Mazda's wider plan to sell more high-spec versions of all models.
"We think the 2 has room to grow in terms of volume," he told motoring.com.au.
"SKYACTIV engine variations now give us the chance to tell the story. A premium version will bring more emotional buyers.
"It's not a premium product but gives us more reasons to attract different buyers. We can upsell with the right sort of offer. It's a better tech story."
Benders hinted the new Mazda2 could reintroduce the Genki nameplate, which was previously used for a flagship version of the outgoing Mazda2 range, rather than a new moniker such as SP15.
With the current Mazda2 available in two specs (Neo Sport and Maxx Sport), that would bring the number of model variants to three, not counting both engines.
"We've always separated Genki with spec, now we have another way," he said. "Look at the leather version of the 3 ... we're looking at different ways to attract more people."
But while the new 2 will employ a more powerful and efficient engine and a host of luxury and safety features to move further upmarket, don't expect it to be more expensive at base level.
The new model has been confirmed for production in Mexico, at Hofu – one of Mazda's domestic 'mother plants' and Thailand, which has a free-trade agreement with Australia and is where our versions are likely to come from.
The outgoing Mazda2 is priced from $15,790 plus on-road costs – slightly higher than its key rivals – and was shipped to Australia from Thailand before production reverted back to Hiroshima in 2011.
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Written byMarton Pettendy
Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalists
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