2014 Mazda CX-3

So did Mazda, who recently announced that next to its CX-5, CX-7 and CX-9, its lineup will also include a smaller CX-3. This new compact SUV is set to arrive in 2014 and will compete with models like the Ford Fiesta-based EcoSport and the Nissan Juke.

Mazda engineers will design every detail of the car, from chassis to the interior, to obtain a very low weight and as a result a very efficient model. For the CX-3, Mazda is preparing a new diesel engine — likely a 1.6-liter — that will deliver around 80 mpg and CO2 emissions of about 95 g/km. Next to it, customers will also get a new turbocharged 1.3-liter engine. It rumored that the CX-3 will only be offered as a front-wheel-drive model.

On the exterior the next CX-3 will combine design elements from the CX-5 - like the famous ’shield’ grille, with design elements unveiled in the new generation Mazda6. From our above rendering, you can see that we expect it to also borrow styling elements from the CX-5, but feature a quicker drop-off at the end of the hood – a key part of the KODO design language that Mazda is moving forward with.

The model will arrive in 2014 at a price of around £13,000 (about $20,000 at the current exchange rates).

Image note: The above image is a TopSpeed rendering and is not an official image of the Mazda CX-3