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Yoshiyuki Meada had a tough job
on his hands. How do you fix something that is not broken? Like the
Mazda 3 for example. The car is the best selling Mazda ever and critics
and customers universally like the car.
Did you know that one of every three Mazda vehicles sold around the
world is a Mazda3 ? But things can’t stand still in the world of
automobiles.
 Meada,
program manager for the 2010 Mazda 3, has risen to the challenge with a
radical new design inside and out, while improving dynamics.
And he has kept some things as they are. Mazda hasn’t forgotten the
environment either - the car has lesser emissions and at end of life, 80
per cent of it can be recycled easily.
He insisted on designers and engineers from Mazda’s styling centres
visiting each other’s countries to talk about the car and learn what
consumers in different parts of the world wanted. His idea was to
instill what Mazda calls “the emotion of motion”. Zoom, zoom, in
Mazda-speak.
For a start, 2010 and the current Mazda 3 have virtually the same
dimensions, but aerodynamics have been improved with things like panels
under the body to smooth air flow. The car’s overall coefficient of drag
has gone down from 0.31 to 0.29.
The biggest visual change is the much-enlarged grille. The wide mouth
paves the way for improved cooling and aerodynamics. Furthermore, the
nose is also shaped to route air not directed at the radiator around and
down the sides of the car. Even the taillights are shaped to aid
airflow. Suspension remains coil springs over MacPherson struts at the
front and a multi-link independent system at the rear.
Power steering is of the electro-hydraulic type.
 The
cabin area has undergone a major change. We are talking soft-touch
materials, in what Mazda calls a ‘Zone Layout’.
Instruments/meters are placed in zones of importance based on eye
movement, the primary ones being the large tachometer on the left and
speedometer on the right in pods directly in the line of sight of the
driver.
In a second zone is a Multi Information Display (MID) on the centre
of the dash. It is raised higher, to the right of main gauges. But it is
still in the line of sight. It shows fuel consumption, distance and has
a small color navigation/TV screen.
The interior lighting, including footwell lamps, fades theatre style.
When the door is opened, lights in the handle grips welcome the driver
and passenger(s).
 Another
first is Action Illumination. When the driver operates the air or audio
controls with headlights on, they respond to touch and light up as well.
Sixteen or 17 inch alloy wheels, xenon headlights, rain sensing
auto-wipers and dusk sensing auto-lights, rear combination lamps with
LED lights and a premium Bose audio system with seven speakers are
available in addition to climate control air conditioning and integrated
steering wheel audio controls.
There will be two body models: The four-door sedan and a five-door
Sportback hatch in three levels of trim - GX, GS and GT.
There will be a range of engines up to a 2.5 liter and both 5 and 6
six speed manual and auto transmissions are on offer. A two liter diesel
version will also be offered. Mazda is onto a winner with the 3 again.
- Pramod
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