New Mazda2 revealed

The cloak has finally been lifted from the third-generation Mazda2, which is now in production at the company's Hofu plant in Japan and goes on sale in Australia in late October.

Like the camouflaged prototype we drove in Japan last month, the production Mazda2 is almost identical to the sleek Hazumi concept that previewed it at the Geneva motor show in March.

As we've reported, the new five-door hatchback grows in all dimensions except width, riding on a 2570mm wheelbase (up 80mm) and measuring 4060mm long (up 160mm), an unchanged 1695mm wide and 1500mm high (up 25mm).

The light-sized hatch's larger proportions liberate more leg and head room within the more upmarket interior, which has now been revealed for the first time, although cabin and cargo size statistics are yet to be announced.

Wrapped in Mazda's latest Kodo exterior design language, the all-new cockpit-style dashboard features a Mazda3-style central colour touch-screen that displays MZD Connect infotainment functions controlled by a rotary dial on the centre console.

The more upmarket new interior features three large circular air-vents, echoed by three instrument dials – including a large central tacho – and three air-conditioning control knobs.

Mazda has confirmed its smallest model will be available for the first time with a range of i-ACTIVSENSE driver aids seen in its larger models, which could include blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, radar cruise control, head-up display, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high-beam and automatic low-speed braking.

Also yet to be revealed until the global launch next month are the outputs of a more powerful 1.5-litre petrol engine that has been confirmed for Australia, where it could wear the Genki nameplate.

Australia's base Mazda2 will be powered by a 79kW/139Nm 1.5-litre engine offering more performance than the current Mazda2's 76kW/135Nm 1.5.

Offered across three specification grades, the two 1.5-litre engines will both be available with new six-speed manual and automatic transmissions (replacing the outgoing model's five-speed manual and four-speed auto), meaning up to 12 model variants could be available for the first time.

Weight and fuel consumption figures have not been revealed, but Mazda claims its fourth all-new SKYACTIV-based model after the CX-5, Mazda3 and Mazda6 will be up to 20 per cent more efficient than the outgoing 2, which consumes 6.4L/100km (manual) and 6.8L/100km (auto).

That means all new Mazda2s should sip well under 6.0L/100km, and the most efficient manual model could consume less than 5.5L/100km, aided by fuel-saving measures such as an idle-stop function.

Apart from new petrol engines, also contributing here is a lighter new body that could weigh up to 100kg less than the MkII Mazda2, which has a base kerb weight of 1010kg, meaning the new 2 should slip well under 1000kg.

This is despite being significantly larger and, claims Mazda, up to 30 per cent more rigid than before.

More efficient new 1.5-litre SKYACTIV-D turbo-diesel and 1.3-litre SKYACTIV-G petrol engines will be available in Europe and Japan respectively, and a plug-in rotary-hybrid version could also be produced.

Mazda has ruled out a three-door hatch version and Mazda Australia will not import a four-door derivative if the existing Mazda2 sedan is replaced.

However, Mazda's smallest SKYACTIV chassis will also form the basis of the car-maker's first compact SUV, which is expected to be a big seller when the so-called CX-3 arrives here.

Launched here in September 2007, the seven-year-old MkII Mazda2 outsold Toyota's Yaris in 2011 and 2013, but has proved less popular than the Hyundai i20 so far this year.

It will face stiff competition from this month's new Honda Jazz, a redesigned Yaris and heavily facelifted Polo in September, and an all-new i20 and Skoda Fabia next year.

Mazda has confirmed the new 2 will be built in Mexico, Japan and Thailand, which has a free-trade agreement with Australia and is where our version is most likely to be built.

That's unlikely to result in lower entry-level pricing, which currently stands at $15,790, but it should bring more value for money and a highly specified premium variant positioned well above the $18,580 plus ORCs price tag of the outgoing Maxx Sport auto flagship.

Read our Mazda2 launch review here