First Glimpse at the New Mazda3 Saloon Thanks to Russian Spoilers

If you can stretch your memory all the way back to the New York Auto Show earlier this year, you’ll remember our first glimpse at the Mazda3 hatchback. Mazda officially unveiled the production version of the five-door hatch last week, and for those of you who haven’t seen it, the car is stunning. It’s exactly what you’d expect from the new Kodo design language, and it features all the economical goodies that we’ve come to love from the SKYACTIV suite. Check it out below:

But, the Mazda3 hatchback isn’t what we’re discussing today. Instead, we’re going to delve into the hatchback’s new, more attractive twin brother, the Mazda3 sedan. Photos of the car were “leaked” yesterday on Top Gear Russia, in what was undoubtedly a coy shout-out to American independence.

Without further ado, here are the unofficially official teasers for the Mazda3 sedan:

Why the Mazda3 Sedan is Crucial

As you’re evaluating the Mazda3 sedan, try to see how it fits into the long-term plan for our favorite underdog Japanese brand. It’s no secret, Mazda has had an excellent year. Award after award after award has been bestowed for their simple-but-smart SKYACTIV technology suite and stand-out designs. In addition, 2012 was the first year since 2007 that the Japanese brand actually turn a profit, and sales for 2013 are expected to breach 300,000 units (a number unseen since the 90’s).

However, while nobody can take away the excellence of Mazda’s cars, a fluctuating yen could take away the profits of their heavily export-based operations. A relatively weak yen in 2012 formed the foundation for the automaker’s profits, but that can – and will – change in the future. So, Mazda is currently in snowball-building mode. They’re trying to build as much momentum as possible, and the acceptance of these two entry-level vehicles will be the lynchpin for the brand’s short-term success or failure.

Mazda3 Sedan – Stats & What’s Different

Now that you know the importance of the Mazda3 sedan, let’s discuss the specs. Looking at the dimensions of the car, which are bigger in every direction than the outgoing model, it’s clear that Mazda has put serious effort into a superbly spacious interior. Sleek interior lines, a beautiful dashboard display and lots of legroom form the foundation of the cabin’s design.

Under the hood, you’ll find that the Mazda3 sedan is identical to the hatchback. In America, both cars will get the standard 2.0L 155hp or 2.5L 184hp engine, both made with the latest SKYACTIV technology, of course. Both cars will get front-wheel drive via SKYACTIV-MT (manual) or SKYACTIV-Drive (automatic) transmission. Really, the biggest difference between the sedan and hatchback is the rear, but that’s too obvious to list.

It won’t be too long before we see more about both Mazda3 vehicles, as they’re both slated for release as 2014MYs. So, what do you think… Is the sedan or hatchback the better-looking Japanese car? Sound off in the comments below.

Sources: Car and Driver, Top Gear Russia, Car Scoops