Mazda 3: leaked images appear in Japanese magazine

Images purporting to reveal the design of the all-new Mazda 3 have appeared in the leaked pages of a Japanese automotive magazine.

While an earlier, widely circulated rendering claiming to detail the third-generation hatchback proved to be a fake, the latest shots appear to align closely with CarAdvice’s spy shots of the new model, suggesting the magazine shots could be the real deal.

The new Mazda 3 will become the fourth model in the Japan-based manufacturer’s line-up to embrace the company’s Kodo design language, following the CX-5, Mazda 6 and CX-9.

The next generation of Australia’s favourite car will feature angular headlights integrated into a prominent black grille, replacing the smiley face front end of the outgoing second-gen model.

Muscular front wheel arches contribute to an athletic profile, while sharp horizontal tail-lights and a raked rear window create a fresh look at the back.

CarAdvice’s spy photographers snapped an undisguised shot of the new Mazda 3’s cabin, confirming it will feature a tablet-style screen at the top of the dashboard, a rotary dial on the centre console and revised instrument cluster with one large circular binnacle flanked by two square fixtures.

The new 3 will be built from the ground up utilising the brand’s Skyactiv drivetrain, chassis and aerodynamic technologies, including its new fuel-efficient petrol and diesel engines, stop-start and energy regeneration systems.

The third-generation Mazda 3 will be unveiled in the coming months ahead of its Australian introduction at the beginning of 2014.