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Mazda CX-3 Crossover Spied in Full Production Form ahead of LA Debut

Even though Mazda has decided to kill off the CX-7 and seems to be delaying development of the next CX-9, the Japanese company is committed to the SUV and crossover segment. Based on their smallest car, the Mazda2, they are planning to launch a new crossover utility vehicle that sits below the current range.
Mazda CX-3 Crossover 6 photos
Photo: CarPix
2015 Mazda CX-3 Crossover2015 Mazda CX-3 Crossover2015 Mazda CX-3 Crossover2015 Mazda CX-3 Crossover2015 Mazda CX-3 Crossover
It's going to be called the CX-3 and many believe it's just one day away from being fully revealed at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show, since the company released a teaser sketch. However, in an altogether different corner of the world, the Japanese company's engineers are feverishly working on this fully disguised prototype for the CUV.

We think that indicates only a pre-production prototype or concept car will be shown in LA, just like the Mazda2 was previewed by Hazumi concept a few months before its arrival.

In terms of design, the CX-3 looks like every other Mazda right now, which is no bad thing. In fact, if we were in the market for a brand new B-segment crossover, we'd wait for this one to be fully revealed before making a buying decision.

Looking from the side, the CX is almost identical to the 2. It's as if they took a supermini, xerox it with a 5% zoom and added plastic wheel arches with a magic marker. The only niggle we have is that in order to get a sportier design, Mazda has made the rear pillars kind of thick and the rear windows very small. Who wants a family car they can't see out of?

Since the CX-3 is going to share its platform with the Mazda2, it's all too easy to expect that the engines will be swapped over as well. The most impressive are going to be the new 1.5-liter Skyactiv-D diesel and the 1.5-liter petrol with i-Eloop. All-wheel drive is definitely possible, since even the normal Mazda2 supermini is offered with it. However, most models in this segment don't offer AWD at all, which Mazda might also decide to do in order to make the car cheaper.
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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