Yes, it doesn’t get those big brawny alloy wheels, the nifty conceptual ground effects kit or the center mounted tail pipes, but overall, the production 2015 Mazda2 seems to remain faithful to the 2014 Geneva Motor Show Hazumi Concept, and that’s a good thing for the Japanese firm.
Naturally, this is just a first assessment based on what we can decipher from the camouflaged prototype that our spy photographers nabbed on German roads, and we’ll have to wait for the wraps to come off during the second half of the year for our final judgment.
The sub-compact model sits on a downsized version of Mazda’s Skyactiv platform architecture and will initially be powered by the new 1.5-liter Skyactiv-D diesel unit that was introduced on the concept, as well as a 100PS (99hp) 1.5-liter SkyActiv-G petrol engine, currently employed in the Mazda3 in Europe and other markets.
The North American version of the Mazda2 will be built at the brand’s factory in Mexico alongside a Toyota-badged model (likely a Yaris replacement) with different sheetmetal but the same engine range.
By John Halas
Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS
PHOTO GALLERY
