The current US model Focus is based on the original 1st generation Focus.”

correct. but my point still stands. The Mazda is nothing more then a facelift.(new body on the same chassis) granted its more successful then they were with the Focus. But still.

Hold on…its built on the same chassis as the current car? Didnt we all rip Ford a new one when they did that to the Focus?

The current 2008 Mazda3 is based on the current european Focus, the second generation Focus.

The current US model Focus is based on the original 1st generation Focus.

I thought they had remedied that with the million airbags they added.

Hold on…its built on the same chassis as the current car? Didnt we all rip Ford a new one when they did that to the Focus?

All it does it move the 3 up a little in the model lineup, leaving more room for Mazda to bring in one of the smaller models they’re already selling elsewhere. The new model will “Fit” quite nicely, then.

Hallelujah and amen. That’s the one issue keeping me from buying a 3i sedan. Otherwise I’d have one already or buy one in the next hour or so. What would keep me from this one is price. I fear they won’t be had for less than 18000.

This is a damn good-looking car. It’ll be very interesting to see the fuel economy numbers. If they’re good, this’ll go on the list (along with the Malibu, Cruze, new Focus and Fit) of my potential 2010 new-car buys.

Can’t wait to see the wagon, but I’ll just keep running my 06 until another kiddo comes around. Do to it’s high sales, there is no reason for Mazda to not bring it back…it’s being tested and pictures can be found at http://www.autocar.co.uk . The 6 wagon didn’t return do to a new chassis but mainly because it was such a slow seller.

Cool. Are you guys going to cover the 2010 Mustang unveil?

As for the 2010 Mazda3, here’s hoping we get the hatchback, too…

What size would be the right size? Europe gets a 80hp 1.4 as the entry level engine and a 105hp as an option, als well as the 150hp 2.0. They also have a PSA-sourced 1.6 diesel and a Mazda-sourced 2.0 diesel. (which sucked and was the reason for me not to buy a 3)

Awesome! And only for the US market! Will the 2 liter be in the front or the Back? Didn’t C&D build a twin engined Honda years ago? Guess they were ahead of their time.

One goal of the C2 program was to create a slightly longer wheelbase chassis that actually weighed less than the current C1. For the engine, I assume it is essentially the same DI engine that Ford is planning on using in the next-gen Focus which is supposed to be rated around 40 mpg highway.

Sadly true. If the size increase is as much as the new Mazda 6, I’m not even interested.

No snarky comments from me. I’ve advocated several times that manufacturers just ignore what customers and market research says.

Consider what happens when things go terribly, horribly wrong in letting customers having too much of a say:Here

If people really wanted a fuel-miser car, then they would stop complaining about its diminutive size and poor acceleration when they buy it. Instead, they buy the car expecting it to be small and large at the same time. So the subsequent iterations have to accommodate those complaints. To do otherwise would draw snarky comments about how the carmaker is not listening to customer feedback.

And Mazda’s kept weight gain in mind — the non-US Mazda6 is lighter than the previous one. I can’t wait to hear the specs and see the hatch.

If they offered that, people would buy it, thrash it out of necessity, and whine about the poor gas mileage.

They’re better off including a trip computer with MPG readout than offering an underpowered engine. Less power doesn’t mean higher MPG, but using the throttle more judiciously (and having a properly geared transmission) does.

psarhjinian : From what I’ve read, the 2.0 is actually quite frugal. From looking at real world figures, a lot of people are cracking 40mpg easily. I haven’t had mine long enough to test it, and I’m waiting until it gets 1000 miles on it to do so. I will say that it has a very tall 5th gear; it keeps the revs nice and low while cruising on the interstate.