LA MOTOR SHOW: World debut for Mazda CX-3

Update, October 28: Mazda has officially confirmed this morning that the CX-3 will premiere at the LA show, which opens from November 21. A new artist's impression of the small SUV has been released, but the manufacturer has provided no further details concerning CX3. It has revealed, however, that the new MX-5 will be on display in LA, and facelifts of the Mazda6 and CX-5 will be making their global debut there also. 

Mazda will unveil its first compact SUV at next month's Los Angeles motor show, motoring.com.au has learned.

The all-new CX-3 will make its world-first appearance at the final major motor show of 2014, before going on sale globally next year.

Mazda Australia refused to comment on the surprise news from our Japanese sources, who have confirmed the long-awaited Mazda2-based crossover is indeed just three weeks away from its international premiere.

It will debut in LA alongside a facelifted version of the larger CX-5, Australia's top-selling SUV, and a third, as-yet-unnamed world premiere from Mazda.

The CX-3 will be the Japanese brand's first direct rival for small SUVs like the Hyundai ix35, Subaru XV, Holden Trax, Mitsubishi ASX, Nissan QASHQAI and JUKE, Volkswagen Tiguan and Ford EcoSport.

The fastest growing new vehicle segment will also be joined in 2015 by the all-new Honda HR-V, Jeep Renegade, Renault Captur and Suzuki Vitara, plus a redesigned ix35 and, in early 2016, Fiat's all-new 500X. Toyota and Kia are also likely to join the pint-size soft-road brigade in coming years.

Based on the third-generation Mazda2 hatchback to be launched in Australia next week, the five-door CX-5 wagon will share the same new SKYACTIV chassis, powertrains and technologies.

That means a higher ride height, new body panels and chunkier offroad-style appendages, as indicated by our rendering, and a new 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine delivering about 80kW and 140Nm.

As for the new 2, transmission options will include six-speed manual and automatic transmissions, and the CX-3 is also likely to be a front-wheel drive only model.

Like the next Mazda2, the CX-3 should be available in up to three equipment grades, fitted with a host of advanced technologies including i-ACTIVSENSE safety aids and MZD Connect infotainment.

It's not clear whether the CX-3 will be produced in Thailand alongside Australia's Mazda2, or together with the Japanese- or Mexican-built Mazda2.

Either way, given the existing CX-5 currently opens at $27,880, CX-3 pricing will be competitive with its rivals, starting from under $25,000.

As we reported earlier this month, Mazda is planning a new model avalanche over the next few years.

Having launched the all-new CX-5 and new Mazda6 and Mazda3 since 2012, Mazda has said its new 2 would be the first of five new models by March 2016.

The next will be the lighter, smaller and cheaper new fourth-generation MX-5 roadster, which launches here with a downsized 1.5-litre engine priced from under $40,000.

After the CX-3 will come a redesigned CX-9 large SUV – the final Mazda model to be given the SKYACTIV treatment, including a downsized 2.5-litre turbo engine – and a new Mazda5 people-mover, which remains unlikely for Australia.

Beyond that from later in 2016, however, Mazda is understood to be planning a host of sports and green models, including a Mazda6 coupe, MPS versions of the Mazda2, 3 and 6, and a diesel-hybrid Mazda6.

A successor for the Japanese market's previous Mazda2-based Verisa premium compact model has also been rumoured, along with an all-new Mazda1 for emerging markets, also based on the new 2.

But Mazda's move to its next-generation SKYACTIV II technologies from 2018 is also expected to bring the Japanese car-maker's first all-electric and plug-in hybrid powertrains, the latter employing rotary range-extender technology from the previous Mazda2 PHEV concept.

However, Mazda's renaissance will be complete by 2020 – its centenary year – when it will reincarnate its trademark rotary-powered coupe as the all-new RX-9 flagship.

The long-overdue RX-7 replacement will emerge in concept form as early as 2017 – when Mazda's original Cosmo Sports rotary turns 50 – powered by a 335kW-plus two-stage turbo hybrid powertrain.