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The redesigned 2019 Mazda3 moves way upscale

Mazda didn't lie — the 2019 Mazda3 is a gently reworked production version of the Kai concept shown at last year's Tokyo Auto Show. In hatchback and sedan forms, you'll still quickly peg this a Mazda3. The dimensions barely change: The wheelbase grows by an inch, but the hatchback width and length carry over, while height decreases by an inch; the sedan is the same width but 3.2 inches longer and 0.7 inches lower. Nevertheless, the look and details have evolved throughout, yielding a much more potent and piercing hatchback, and a more sophisticated, accomplished sedan. Instead of using hard shoulder and swage lines to "draw" contour onto a flat profile, Mazda designed a car with contours that create real shoulders and hips. Shedding the illusion of surface depth for reality redefines the look and presence of the Mazda3. The new model erases the hash of lines and embossed panels in back of the current car so that the S-curved hatch has only its shutline for framing. After that, the highlights enhance the theme. On either side of the larger grille, single-lens headlamps get new accents; instead of a just plain silver bar, streaks of amber turn signals decorate the more dimensional units. The contoured taillamp housing holds highly structured, highly embellished twin circles that probably look even more sinister at night. On the sedan, those naughty taillights are surrounded by a refined rear valance with a more angled, muscular lip along the trailing edge. It's the same inside, a design based on results of Mazda's in-depth studies of human mechanics. The flatter instrument panel stresses clean lines along the horizontal. Trimmer steering wheel spokes with silver buttons line up with the central span across the dash housing the climate control buttons and vents. The new shift panel sits higher and more forward, making it easier for the driver to move a hand from the steering wheel to the lever. To raise perceived luxury, the center tunnel trim is a clear layer laid over a laser-engraved black layer, said to produce a "look of deep transparency," and similar to the effect found on the new BMW X5 and X7. The cupholders are now in front of the shifters, and the armrest is longer. There's no mention of that digital gauge cluster that leaked earlier this year, though. Buyers who opt for fabric will get a new "Greige" hue, a mix of gray and beige. Mazda designed a new leather grain with creases of varying depths and shapes depending on where it's placed.

Mazda teases electric car again with peek at interior

Mazda is again touting the new electric vehicle it plans to reveal at the Tokyo Motor Show, this time teasing it from the inside. A 15-second video homes in on features found on the center console, namely, the blocky shifter for the automatic transmission, a large, knurled rotary dial for infotainment control, and a smaller dial we'll assume is for volume control. As for what else we can make out, if we were to guess, we'd say the slick surface to the right of the shifter is a screen. It'll be interesting to see how Mazda designers filled the space between the seats, but we're surprised Mazda went with such a substantial shifter; this being an EV on a new, dedicated platform, designers could have minimized the focus on shifting and opened up a host of other uses.  A brief press release informs us that Mazda's worked to liberate the cabin from structural clutter, though. The brand says the interior is "designed to give occupants a feeling of being 'enveloped in openness,'" and that the "goal [is] to make spending time in the car a comforting experience that allows customers to be themselves." Empty spaces throughout the center console "create a connection between the driver and passenger seat areas," so perhaps what looks like a free-floating console demo section in the video is what the unit will look like in the car. Elsewhere, the EV will feature eco-friendly materials. The EV isn't expected to make it to America, its powertrain designed to satisfy residents of particularly dense urban environments. The running gear should stick close to the drivetrain developed for the e-TPV prototype, meaning a 35.5-kWh battery powering a single electric motor at the front axle producing 138 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, and a single-speed transmission. Range is thought to be around 120 to 150 miles on a charge. The onboard charger can handle 6.6-kW home charging and 50-kW rapid charging. Eventually, a range-extender version with a rotary engine should join the lineup; Mazda said it chose a rotary because even though it's less efficient than competitors' ICE range extenders, it's so much quieter. The debut of what everyone expects to look like a crossover happens on Oct. 23.

Mazda6 sees gains in ugly month for midsize sedans

Though June overall wasn't a terrible month for automaker sales, at least for the most part, it was pretty hideous for midsize family sedans. Basically every single model in the segment saw declining numbers including the Subaru Legacy, Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion, Volkswagen Passat, and even perennial volume sellers such as the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. All of these cars are down in year-to-date numbers, too. But there's one bright spot, and it comes from Mazda. Mazda reports that the Mazda6 actually had a really good month. It sold 3,204 examples of the family sedan in June 2018, compared with 2,360 in June of last year. That's a nearly 36 percent increase month-over-month. It was also enough to bump Mazda6 sales for 2018 ahead of 2017's numbers through June. Those numbers also put the Mazda6 ahead of the Volkswagen Passat for June, and just 20 vehicles shy of the Subaru Legacy. Admittedly, these are still small numbers all around. In the same month, Honda sold over 26,000 Accords, and Toyota sold about 27,000 Camrys. Sales of Mazda's other vehicles also indicate that crossovers really are the new hotness. The CX-5 sold a whopping (relatively) 12,710 units. The CX-3 and CX-9 sold about 2,300 examples each, which is below both Mazda3 and Mazda6, but both crossovers gained more this month and over the year than both cars. Mazda3 is actually down this month and overall. All of this also seems to give some credence to Ford's decision to move away from traditional sedans. Still, for fans of more conventional cars, it's a bit heartening to see that more niche players can find some success with the design. We're also pleased to see such an excellent sedan recognized with actual buyers. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery 2018 Mazda6 Signature View 17 Photos Image Credit: Mazda By the Numbers Mazda Sedan