2014 Mazda 3 rendering: Car and Driver

[Seabird]

Am I crazy?

Interesting. I didn't realize that the new grill is a throwback.

[bbk]

Much better!

[90hp '86camry]

Wow, that looks fantastic! Mazda, don't change a thing.

[aladis]

[LordBass]

Kind of want. Probably better than smiley face at least. Hatch looks quite cut down though.

[SSLByron]

Interesting...

[2.0T_Convert]

Looks curvy enough to be a new compact Infiniti.

[Brimjolt]

meh

[2.0_Mazda]

Front looks big and rear window looks small.

[SSLByron]

This was a Kodo 3 rendering that came from Mazda, supposedly. Lots of similarities. Some differences.

[Elite_Deforce]

*runs to bank to buy Mazda shares*

[uncleho]

That grille design and specifically the bright trim running from left to right is brilliant. The floating emblem in the sea of dark mesh background is so cohesive with all of it. It looks good in their entire range. Furthermore... it looks better than most luxury car fascias.

I'm sorry, but that is pure genius in its combination of simplicity, aggression, elegance, and flair.

[kraut_pauer79]

Looks curvy enough to be a new compact Infiniti.

Infiniti is exactly what I thought as well looking at the camo'd car.

[NoXenons]

Dat nose..

[SSLByron]

That grille design and specifically the bright trim running from left to right is brilliant. The floating emblem in the sea of dark mesh background is so cohesive with all of it. It looks good in their entire range. Furthermore... it looks better than most luxury car fascias.

I'm sorry, but that is pure genius in its combination of simplicity, aggression, elegance, and flair.

I just hope the sides and rear are closer to the current 3 than that concept. The C&D rendering is very attractive. Just lose the ribs in the grille.

[baljet]

T'was leaked a while ago:

[Jamez]

Dat nose..

Pretty much what I expected when I saw the rendering. No way in hell is a fwd compact going to have such a short front overhang. Even the new 6 has a terribly long nose. Not helping are the small wheels on the camo'ed version. I really hope the rear somehow manages to balance out the front.

[Meatstick62]

T'was leaked a while ago:

The first picture looks waaaay too wide for a 3. Maybe that was an early 6 render/design sketch. The second picture looks almost exactly like the rear of a CX-5, though I don't think it'd be too much of a stretch to say that the rear of the new 3 will look like a shrunken version of it:

[Mike!]

I hope that body is still a mule, because that front overhang is way too huge.

[BRealistic]

Dat nose..

I think the camera and angle and movement is making the car look longer than it is.

I just don't see Mazda changing the new 3's proportions that much.

On the flip side- is it on an new platform now... right?

[jepva]

I really like it. Can't wait to see what the new Mazdaspeed 3 looks like.

[2.0_Mazda]

I think the camera and angle and movement is making the car look longer than it is.

I just don't see Mazda changing the new 3's proportions that much.

On the flip side- is it on an new platform now... right?

Yeap

[uncleho]

I think the camera and angle and movement is making the car look longer than it is.

It's the camera angle PLUS the fact that the camo is obscurring what we would normally clearly see as the Left Front Corner edge/boundary, which is what you truly judge the overhang from. This angle and lack of clear view of the boundary corner is tricking the untrained/lazy eye to assuming the overhang is overly long.

FWD is never going to have RWD overhangs, but usually companies like Mazda do a good job minimizing it in their proportions/designs.

[uncleho]

I just hope the sides and rear are closer to the current 3 than that concept. The C&D rendering is very attractive. Just lose the ribs in the grille.

What do you mean by "ribs"?

If you mean the bright trim edge that runs the bottom boundary of the grille opening then I'd say NFW! That is the beautiful part of the grille IMHO. I'm no profound lover of brightwork, but it imparts a real elegance to this fascia design. It is quite necessary to me.

Personally I think Chevrolet, Honda, BMW, Toyota, Nissan, and Hyundai should be stealing away Mazda designers right about now.

[SSLByron]

What do you mean by "ribs"?

If you mean the bright trim edge that runs the bottom boundary of the grille opening then I'd say NFW! That is the beautiful part of the grille IMHO.

No, I agree with you there.

I'm talking about the horizontal ribbing in the C&D rendering:



I think it would look better with a black mesh (even if it's mostly/completely fake). Like on this model doohickey, only in black, of course (or like the RX-3 pictured up there a few posts):

[matty_peppers]

I really like it. Can't wait to see what the new Mazdaspeed 3 looks like.

Take it with a grain of salt- but the popular opinion seems to be that this generation is it for Mazdaspeed vehicles. Which would be too bad.

[uncleho]

No, I agree with you there.

I'm talking about the horizontal ribbing in the C&D rendering:



I think it would look better with a black mesh (even if it's mostly/completely fake). Like on this model doohickey, only in black, of course (or like the RX-3 pictured up there a few posts):

I gotcha. Like the French would say, "I am agree."

[Meatstick62]

I think it would look better with a black mesh (even if it's mostly/completely fake). Like on this model doohickey, only in black, of course (or like the RX-3 pictured up there a few posts):

I agree. The CX-5 gets the mesh grille but the 2014 Mazda6 gets those horizontal slats. I'm pretty sure their render utilized a 6's front end but maybe the 3 will get a mesh front:

[partario]

Reminds me quite a bit of the Alfa Giulietta.

[SSLByron]

Reminds me quite a bit of the Alfa Giulietta.

Wouldn't be the first time the 3 has been compared to an Alfa.

[scrubinadub]

I own a 2011 mazdaspeed3 and I love the car although I am not a fan of the smiley face. I actually like the way this looks.

[kevin FaKiN spLits]

That looks absolutely terrible. I hope that's the Mazda6 wagon.

[kevin FaKiN spLits]

This was a Kodo 3 rendering that came from Mazda, supposedly. Lots of similarities. Some differences.

This is how the next Mazda 3 should look

[2.0_Mazda]

That looks absolutely terrible. I hope that's the Mazda6 wagon.

The 6 wagon is already available in other countries. You can look it up on Google.

The 3 is such an important car for Mazda that they can't screw it up. I am sure the end's results proportions will be fine even though I find this front to be a little too long.

[Short Bus]

I would buy that.

If that was available in 2010 I wouldn't be driving a VW.