New Mazda 3 Unveiled - Good looking? Or dissapointed?

Wonderful, Exciting, Adrenaline Rushing concepts weren't they?

We kept quiet when we saw the Mazda6 that was launched earlier this year, having saw what Mazda had in mind with a slew of concepts strongly hinting an uprising of future design directions that trace back into the roots of Japan's culture - Modern, futuristic, yet with a good blend of natural elements. Now why do we say this? As we could clearly see that the Mazda 6's key designs was somewhat influenced by these elements, but not enough to take on a whole approach to the body and fluidity of the overall appeal, where the car's design was finalized amidst the previewing of those eye boggling concepts, and we somehow felt Mazda can't do much altering the 6's design on time (or budget)

Now upon gazing these mouth watering concepts of Nagare, Furai etc, we could almost feel that Mazda is on a revelation of revolution in their design studies, awaiting anxiously for the Mazda 3 to incorporate those flowing lines of Nagare, and those ridiculously beautiful touches of the Furai.

However, coming to the newly officially unveiled Mazda 3, we must say, raising the bar for expectations is nevertheless a bold and brave move, but cocking it a little bit too high and not even touching it by the finger tips would send spectators tumbling down from their raised seats; and this is exactly what we felt after seeing the first pictures. Flowing lines on the body? Checked, not there. Sculpture like surface on the bumpers? Checked, not there either. Watch the video below to judge it yourself:



Please make no mistake, as by itself, the new Mazda 3 are by no means an ugly car at all; with the right proportions, handsome head and tail lights it is relatively good looking, and interior materials and build should be what Mazda had consistently put out - Higher standards than what Toyota does.

But frankly speaking, we're expecting way too much from this magnifique of a manufacturer, the clever suicide doors on the RX-8, the wonderful ever green MX-5, taut and beautiful CX-7.

Why?

Well, they've played the concept game a little too wild, and we all insiders know it would cost a bomb to create such complex body panels, and looking at the concepts alone, one would've been able to see that plenty of costs would've gone onto the exterior, haven't even considering the vehicle dynamics and equipment levels, as in view of the current market turmoils, consumers would rather pick a cheap cheerful, frugal but rather good looking Mazda, than one which seems sculpted naturally by flowing water or sand storms, and a multi layered bumper design is by no means a substitute for a power window or iPOD ready stereo units. Hence its almost like a case of 'See? told ya.' when we saw the Mazda 3. Knowing it could be, but somehow hoping it could've been, as this is exactly what they've promised relentlessly in their concepts.

Yes, there's no point manufacturing cars without profits if they somehow stick on to the concepts and bankcrupt the company right? However they themselves should know that by creating concepts that are too wild and wonderful would only leave themselves with a shied away face if they couldn't realize their wonderful creations - Which is exactly what Peugeot always does, and then fails in surprising consumers.

And this is also exactly a line where Audi and BMW never crosses, both, highly respected manufacturers that could almost certainly produce elements of all their concepts, meeting expectations of consumers. Nuvolari? there ya go the A5, Lemans Quattro? There ya go the R8, Z4? 6 Series? They're all spawn from concepts as well, albeit concepts that weren't too brave, managing expectations well enough.

Yes, expectations the word here, and disappointment only ever comes from it.