New Mazda 2 3-door Geneva 2008

Mazda will keep up the momentum of its most successful sales period in Europe by showing off its new Mazda 2 3-door.

Promising buyers a more sporty version over the current 5-door design, the new Mazda 2 3-door will incorporate a new rear window design and an optional sports appearance package with a special front bumper design and side sills that visually lower the car’s centre of gravity, and a rear roof spoiler.

Mazda 2 Three-door Show Car
Under the spotlights of the Mazda stand is a Mazda 2 3-door created especially for the Geneva Show that emphasises the car’s sporty nature. Its exterior is painted in the same special ‘red mica’ colour as the Mazda Ryuga concept shown at the Detroit Show in 2007. The show car has the optional exterior Sports Appearance Package enhanced by lowered suspension, projector-type headlamps and special 16-inch wheels.

On the inside, the Mazda 2 3-door's sporty theme continues with Recaro seats in racy red and black two-tone, and matching red stitching on the leather steering wheel with a painted bezel. The door trims have leather inserts and panels in special paint.

Powertrains – low consumption and low CO2 emissions
Power will come from the same engines used in the 5-door model including two 1.3 petrol engines, one of which has more power, and a 1.5-litre version with 103 PS and can manage a frugal 47.9 mpg with low emissions of 140 g/km.

For the ultimate economy, customers can order a MZ-CD 1.4-litre common-rail turbo diesel. This engine produces 68ps at 4000rpm and 160Nm of torque at a low 2000 rpm for lively acceleration. At the same time, it achieves a remarkable 65.7mpg (combined cycle) and produces a very low 114 g/km of CO2 for low operating costs.

All the engines will be mated to a 5-speed gearbox but with higher ratio's than its 5-door partner to improve fuel consumption.

No prices have been announced as yet but expect the entry level version to be under £8,000 when it hits UK showrooms in late summer.