New Mazda hot hatch

In Europe, Mazda's most important model is the five-door Mazda3 and with the restyled hatchback about to go on sale it's a good time to announce what's coming further down the line.

First up is a 2.0-litre petrol version that utilises direct injection and an innovative new stop-start system to significantly reduce fuel consumption and emissions. The stop-start feature, tagged 'i-stop', utilises in-cylinder combustion to restart the engine, resulting in a quicker and quieter restart than when using a starting motor.

The 2.0-litre petrol variant is not, however, a big seller in Europe, where buyers prefer turbodiesel power for its combination of low-rev torque and efficiency. The i-stop equipped car is better suited to the Japanese and American markets, where petrol engines are still favoured.

Those markets will also appreciate the all-new MPS hot hatch variant of the Mazda3. As before, the sporty range-topper will be powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine of 2.3-litre capacity. Power is expected to top 260bhp, though Mazda also claims that the new model is more fuel efficient than before.

Full specifications of both models will be revealed on March 3rd, when the doors to the Geneva Show open to the world's media.

Shane O' Donoghue