Three-door Mazda2 to debut at Geneva
Mazda aims to target youth market with a funky three-door version of its baby carMazda will use March's Geneva show to unveil a three-door version of its lauded 2 -- a somewhat surprising move as the baby car has never previously been offered in three-door guise.
The current-generation 2, which launched here last September (more here), debuted in five-door configuration, and its predecessor (2002-2006) was also offered solely in this format. Even the 121 Metro that preceded it (1996-2001) was a five-door-only proposition.
Mazda says the newcomer will feature all the attributes of the five-door sibling while delivering a sportier feel and a more affordable entry price.
The carmaker says the three-door hatchback is designed to attract new customers to the fold and boost Mazda's continued growth in the European market.
It'll be offered with the same powertrain line-up as its five-door brother, which in Europe comes with MZR 1.3-litre and 1.5-litre petrol engines and an MZ-CD 1.4-litre turbodiesel.
Despite having two less doors, the three-door Mazda2 shares the same overall dimensions as the five-door and Mazda says it "achieves a similarly modest kerb weight", model for model.
Mazda boasts that by completely redesigning the body and chassis and implementing its 'gram strategy', the company has managed to restrict the 2's kerb weight to just over 1000kg.
"This outstanding result reverses the industry trend towards bigger and heavier cars," Mazda says.
The second-generation 2 has already picked up its fair share of awards. It recently won the New Zealand Car of the Year gong, and it's also picked up Car of the Year awards in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Greece and New Zealand, along with the Japan RJC Car of the Year.
The three-door version will undoubtedly boost sales appreciably by snaring the youth market. Its styling is largely as per the five-door model, but its profile is clearly more wedge-like.
The three-door 2 won't be Mazda's only trump card at the Geneva show. Also making their Euro debuts will be the Taiki, upgraded RX-8 and Mazda5 Hydrogen RE Hybrid.
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