Next Generation Mazda 2 Could Be An SUV

Since its introduction in 2015, the fourth-generation Mazda 2, codenamed DJ, has managed to redefine how we perceive B-segment hatchbacks, offering an engaging driving experience coupled with a premium interior.

While the current model still has some life left in it, Mazda has already dropped a potential bombshell in regards to its replacement model.

Speaking to Australian media at the 2018 Los Angeles Motor Show where the company unveiled the all-new Mazda 3, Mazda's Global Head of Design Ikuo Maeda said that the next generation 2 could become a baby SUV, positioned below the CX-3, instead of a conventional hatchback.

"At the moment I don't have the answer to what will happen with the Mazda 2, but we will put some focus on the future of that size of car and what it might turn out to become," he said.

While Maeda-san said that compact cars are important, the baby SUV segment is practically untapped as recent trends have shown that new cars buyers are shifting towards SUVs. "All I can say is that we have just started with this new generation [of design] and we will always look for new opportunities. We will take time to see where this design takes us and we have many different options for this at the moment," he added.

Originally slated for a debut as soon as 2021, Mazda has since held back on finalizing the design of the new generation model, as the design studio and development teams have reached their limits. A range of new models have been keeping Mazda’s team hard at work, including a new BT-50 and two electric crossovers.

The new BT-50 is expected to arrive next year. As for the electric crossovers, these two models will spearhead Mazda’s foray into electric vehicles, with one being a battery-powered electric model while the other with a range-extender hooked up to Mazda’s rotary engine to recharge the batteries.