Mazda takes pre-launch orders for Axela in Japan

In their Japanese domestic market, Mazda has already begun taking orders for the all-new Mazda Axela, set for launch on 11 June 2009. Known as the Mazda3 to the rest of the world, the new Axela will once again come in four-door sedan and five-door hatch body styles.

Mazda Axela – open for bookings in Japan.

The first generation 3, which debuted in October 2003 as a replacement in the range for the 323, was highly acclaimed by users and journalists worldwide. Sitting on Ford’s global C1 platform, it had ride and handling characteristics that rivalled most European equivalent products. It went on to become a key model in Mazda’s lineup, racking up two million sales and accounting for more than a third of Mazda’s global sales.

First generation 3 sold 2,000,000 units.

For the Japanese market, the Axela will have the option of either 1.5-litre or 2.0-litre DOHC engines, with the 2.0 versions having the further option of front wheel drive or all wheel drive. The 1.5 version, known as the 15C, will be available in only front wheel drive guise, with the engine coupled to a continuously variable transmission.

Sedan version

The front-wheel drive 2.0-litre variants are equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission and Mazda’s proprietry start-stop feature, the i-stop. The four-wheel drive variants have the i-stop omitted, and feature one gear less, being equipped only with a four-speed automatic transmission.

Rear end of hatch version.

Sitting on top of these variants is the MazdaSpeed variant, with a 2.3-litre DOHC Turbo engine paired with a six-speed manual transmission – the only stickshift in the range so far. According to buzz currently generated in our own forum, the new 3 will be officially launched in Malaysia in the first week of June. Stay tuned for more news!

Rear view of sedan version.