“Arouse your senses” was the theme underscored in the invitation of Bermaz Auto Philippines, the official distributor of Mazda vehicles in the Philippines, to the launch of the all-new Mazda3 sedan and Sportback last week.
But there is much more to the new Mazda3 than arousing the senses.
Steven Tan, president and CEO of Bermaz Auto PH, said that with the Mazda3, which is the first of the incoming seventh generation of Mazda vehicles, “Mazda has raised the standards of quality, craftsmanship and safety to never-before experienced levels in this class. Through exquisite design, superior finish, refined quietness and engaging vehicle dynamics, owners of the all-new Mazda3 will surely experience class-above driving pleasure.”
Tan added that the new Mazda3 represents a mature, more elegant evolution of KODO – Soul of Motion design philosophy.
Mazda Motor Corporation introduced the KODO-Soul of Motion design philosophy in 2010 to bring life to the form of Mazda cars. In the first generation of KODO design, Mazda infused the energy and rhythm of moving, living creatures (example: a loping leopard) into the form of Mazda vehicles.
MORE ELEGANT KODO. For the new Mazda3 and the next generation of Mazda vehicles, the designers developed a new look encapsulating a new kind of dignity, subtlety and restraint, reinterpreting the essence flowing from the fundamental elements of Japanese aesthetics and expressing this “less is more” style as a new kind of elegance.
The new Mazda3 takes design cues from the Vision Coupe, Mazda’s award-winning concept car unveiled in the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show which represented the two sides of Mazda elegance: sensuality and restraint.
Complying with the “Beauty in Subtraction” Japanese minimalist aesthetic, superfluous elements like the driver’s side keyhole and windshield wipers are carefully hidden in the Mazda3 to achieve a cleaner exterior finish.
To produce a sleeker, more elegant and graceful form, the Mazda3 sedan’s traditional 3-box proportions are heightened, the hood line is lowered and the overall length is increased.
All character lines are eliminated while beautifully curved body panels are sculpted to achieve a form that is determined by the interplay of light, shadow and reflections of the surrounding environment.
When light glides over the bodywork and the viewing angle changes, the Mazda3 looks alive projecting a new vision of elegance and premium quality, without the flamboyance and pretentiousness that characterizes some competing brands.
Bermaz Auto Philippines executives, from left, Patrick Manigbas (senior manager for sales), Ronette Tanjuatco (general manager for business strategy, compliance, admin. and logistics), Steven Tan (president and CEO), Ann Kalaw (senior manager for parts operation), Ramil de Vera (general manager for customer service), and Mikko David (senior manager for marketing and PR).
JINBA ITTAI. In Mazda cars, Jinba Ittai – the state of oneness between car and driver, is just as important as KODO-Soul of Motion.
The ideal driving position is key to Jinba Ittai since the correct driving posture enables the driver to have better control of the vehicle, and enjoy enhanced driving stability.
Skyactiv-Vehicle Architecture technology developed by Mazda is the culmination of innovations in seat design along with body and chassis construction, that further offers a new dimension of unity between cars and humans.
To further strengthen Jinba Ittai, every aspect of the Mazda3’s cockpit is laid out in perfect human-centric symmetry. Seating adjustments, pedal layout and ergonomics were adopted to make driving as natural and effortless as possible.
At the same time, impeccable craftsmanship with the use of high quality materials and soft-to-the touch surfaces enhance the premium feel in the Mazda3.
A 7.0-inch TFT LCD multimeter display shows a simplified layout of vehicle status information while a new, wider 8.8-inch Mazda Connect infotainment system display is operated via a Command and Controller knob and switch.
Mazda reduced Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) levels in the new Mazda3 via 49 key design and engineering improvements.
With cabin noise greatly reduced, the quality of music provided by the 8-speaker Mazda Harmonic Acoustics sound system is enhanced.
Premium variants of the Mazda3 are equipped with a 12-speaker Bose Premium Sound System.
MAZDA PROACTIVE SAFETY. Mazda introduced a 7th (knee) airbag to the suite of innovative, state-of-the-art active and passive safety features in the new Mazda3.
Blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, smart brake support forward and reverse, driver monitoring, front and rear cross traffic alert, and pedal misuse alert, supplement the usual ABS with EBD, dynamic stability control, front and rear parking sensors, 360 degree view rear camera, smart keyless entry system with push start/stop button, seatbelt reminder, and ISOFIX for a child safety car seat.
MATCHING POWERTRAIN PERFORMANCE. The new sensual elegance of the seventh generation Mazda3 is matched by the premium performance of its powertrain.
Two inline 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve gasoline engine options are offered: the Skyactiv-G 2.0 in the Premium Sportback and sedan variants, and the Skyactiv-G 1.5 liter in the Elite Sportback and sedan variants.
The 2.0 L produces 154 PS and 200 Nm max torque while the 1.5L is capable of 111 PS and 146 Nm peak torque. Both engines are mated to the responsive Skyactiv-Drive 6-speed automatic transmission.
Skyactiv-G is a highly efficient direct-injection gasoline engine that achieves the world’s highest gasoline engine compression ratio of 14.0:1.
Thanks to the high compression combustion and direct fuel injection technology, fuel efficiency and torque are increased 15 percent.
Mazda claims that these SkyActiv-G engines are the most advanced naturally aspirated motors in the compact car class, where the Mazda3 is categorized.
For five consecutive years, from 2013 to 2017, these engines brought the Mazda brand to the top of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s list of most fuel-efficient automotive brands.
THE SKYACTIV-X. Meanwhile, Mazda has developed a more advanced Skyactiv engine.
In selected European markets last autumn, the 2020 Mazda3 2.0-liter was released with the revolutionary Skyactiv-X engine featuring Mazda’s Spark Plug Controlled Compression Ignition technology.
The Skyactiv-X engine is the world’s first commercial gasoline unit to combine the spark ignition of a gasoline engine with the compression ignition of a diesel.
It delivers 180 PS (178 HP) and 224 Nm max torque, and comes standard with the Mazda M 24-volt mild hybrid system that minimizes fuel consumption, increasing fuel economy and lowering emissions by recycling energy recovered during deceleration that powers an electric motor that assists the engine.
In a pre-event interview, Bermaz Auto PH CEO Steven Tan told PDI Motoring that the Skyactiv-X engine cannot be brought to the Philippines at this time because Euro 6 gasoline with the quality and technical standards required by the engine, is not available here.
The 2020 Mazda3 lineup that Bermaz Auto PH is offering is more practical. The Skyactiv-G engines in the Philippine spec Mazda3 are designed to run even on 91 RON unleaded gasoline.
What Mazda Motor Corp. said in a statement sent to Mazda North America about the Skyactiv-X engine’s chances of coming to the United States is applicable here:
“Skyactiv-X is not the only way we are making our cars more competitive. We are making continuous updates to our existing Skyactiv-G and Skyactiv-D engines, including adding cylinder deactivation, optimizing displacements, and adding turbocharging.
“With all new technologies, our approach is to take a comprehensive look at the needs, business environment, and regulations of each market, and make a decision on the most appropriate technologies to introduce and the appropriate timing at which to launch them.”
MARKETABILITY AND PRICES. Since its initial worldwide launch in 2003, more than six million units of the Mazda3 have been sold.
More than 19,000 Mazda3 units have been sold in the Philippines since it was introduced here in 2004, making the Mazda3 the most successful Mazda model on record in the country.
Raising the all-new Mazda3 to a higher premium level necessarily raises its price range. The 1.5-liter Elite sedan retails at P1.295 million while the 1.5-liter Elite Sportback costs P1.32 million.
The 2.0-liter Premium sedan is yours for P1.495 million and the 2.0 liter Premium Sportback is priced at P1.51 million.
The top of the line is the 2.0-liter MazdaSpeed Sportback with a P1.59 million price tag.
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