SPYSHOTS: 2016 Mazda CX-3 Spotted Testing In Thailand

The crossover SUV segment is about to get hotter as spyshots of the all-new 2016 Mazda CX-3 in Thailand have found their way onto the internet courtesy of Headlight Magazine.

Could this mean the highly-anticipated crossover will make its way here soon? Well, of course it will, but with these photos, it's no surprise that our neighbours will be first to it. On the bright side, chats with various SAs at Mazda showrooms tell us that the CX-3, while anticipated to arrive in Malaysia much earlier, may get here much later in the year instead.

Back to the spyshots we have here, and production of the all-new Mazda CX-3 will be at the company’s factory in the Thailand province of Rayong. In these spyshots, we see the crossover’s sleek body shape which although covered up in camo wrap, still shows us the brand’s distinctive front grille along with the front and rear lamps.

Based on what we can see, the lamps themselves appear to be of the LED variety - hopefully the same is retained for our Malaysian-spec cars.

Elsewhere, we see alloy wheels which feature a five twin-spoke design and twin exhaust tips are the rear. Unfortunately, no shots of the interior were spied, but we don't expect to see too many surprises against what were revealed globally, bar some slight changes to specifications that may differ slightly in each market the car is sold.

The source also revealed that Thailand-market Mazda CX-3 will be powered by a 1.5-litre SkyActiv-D engine paired to a SkyActiv-DRIVE six-speed torque converter automatic transmission.

Where us in Malaysia are concerned, it's anyone's guess at the moment as to which powerplant we could get: petrol is the more likely (2.0L if that's the car), being the tried and tested, but Bermaz (our local Mazda distributors) have been flirting with diesel tech for quite some time now.

As for launch date, Headlight Magazine reports that the crossover SUV will make its Thai debut in about six months, which could mean a 2016 debut for us here in Malaysia.

The Mazda CX-3 will enter the local market to compete against the likes of the Honda HR-V, Ford EcoSport and the Peugeot 208.