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Thursday, March 28, 2024

2014 Mazda3 Named a World Car Awards Finalist Alongside Luxury Marques

Last updated Thursday, April 3, 2014 09:16 ET

Redesigned Compact Shares Spotlight with the Audi A3 and BMW 4 Series

BALTIMORE, 04/03/2014 / SubmitMyPR /

Sporting Mazda's aggressive KODO, or Soul of Motion, design language, the 2014 Mazda3 isn't exactly your run-of-the-mill compact car, but automotive journalists recently went so far as to place it on the same level as luxury nameplates when choosing their World Car of the Year finalists. Selected along with the Audi A3 and BMW 4 Series, the redesigned Mazda3 is in elite company as it looks to take the top overall prize in the 2014 World Car Awards, which will be announced at the New York International Auto Show on April 17.

This year's World Car Awards are being determined by the votes of 69 revered automotive critics from 22 countries, including 10 writers based in the United States. The finalist list for the World Car of the Year award was narrowed down to three from 24 new vehicles. All models were required to be on sale in at least two continents between Jan. 1, 2013 and May 31, 2014. In addition to its World Car of the Year nomination, the 2014 Mazda3 has also joined the BMW i3 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class as a finalist for the World Car Design of the Year award, which involves initial input from five international design experts before a winner is decided by the jury of journalists.

"The new Mazda3 may cost thousands of dollars less than its fellow World Car Awards finalists, but it's no less likely to turn heads out on the road with its bold design," said Adel Mahious, general sales manager of Russel Mazda, a Baltimore Mazda dealership. "Mazda has also reengineered the car from the ground up to be just as engaging as its sleek exterior suggests, so the end result is a seamless blend of style and performance that really stands alone in the compact segment."

The most prominent KODO design features on the 2014 Mazda3 are its five-point grille, swept-back headlamps and flared fenders, while swooping style lines run the entire length of the car. Underneath the sheet metal, the Mazda3 now features the automaker's entire suite of fuel-saving SKYACTIV technologies, which incorporate lightweight materials and smart engineering in the engine, transmission, body and chassis to create a responsive-yet-efficient ride. With its standard SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter four-cylinder powerplant, the 2014 Mazda3 returns up to 40 mpg on the highway in hatchback form and up to 41 mpg on the highway as a sedan.

About Russel Mazda:
A respected Baltimore, Maryland Mazda dealer for many years, Russel Mazda strives to provide nothing but the best Mazda buying experiences, one family at a time. Their wide inventory of new and pre-owned Mazda models is backed up with stellar customer service that is sincere, informative and hassle-free. Russel Mazda also provides top-notch automotive service performed by factory-trained and certified technicians with genuine Mazda parts. Browse their entire inventory online at www.russelmazda.com or in person at 6624 B Baltimore National Pike in Baltimore. They can also be contacted by phone at 866-851-5047 or found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RusselMazda.