Mazda1 minicar under consideration? - Auto News

The news comes from Mazda's general manager of global sales and marketing, Yasuhiro Aoyama, who spoke to GoAuto before the Australian International Auto Show. If the model is approved, it won't reach production until sometime between 2016 and 2020.

The car could take the form of an ultra-efficient but advanced city car (think VW Up!) or a low-cost vehicle for emerging markets, like Tata's Nano.

Sooner or later, the city car will need to be made in order to conform to stringent European emissions rules. It will need to be low in weight and use downsized but advanced engines.

There is the possibility Mazda will partner with another automaker in order to build the car in order to help cut development costs and take full advantage of the economies of scale. The most likely partner is the Fiat group, as Mazda is co-developing the next MX-5 to share its chassis with an upcoming Alfa Romeo, though Mazda and Ford had a long-term partnership in the past. The current Fiesta and Mazda2 share platforms.

"Mazda has the resources to do a sub-B car," Aoyama said, suggesting going it alone is a viable option too.

Considering rumors that the next Mazda2 may not arrive in North America due to low sales, the likelihood of the Mazda1 ever being sold on these shores is low.
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Source: Leftlanenews