2014 Mazda3 Design Walkaround Video with Director of Design Derek Jenkins

Autobytel attended the launch of the 2014 Mazda3 in San Diego, an event that provided a wealth of information on the new car’s design and engineering process. Autobytel met up with Derek Jenkins, Mazda’s Director of Design, who was happy to provide an overview of the car for this video. The new Mazda3 features a totally new exterior. The proportions of the vehicle have been changed so that a lot of the visual weight has been shifted toward the back of the car, which elongates the front of the car and the hood. Derek Jenkins says this design gives the car a sportier and more aggressive look, as well as lending it a more upmarket feeling. The car is also more sculpted, for a more athletic quality. The cabin is another area where the Mazda design team really focused on improvements. The cockpit is driver focused, for the best possible driving experience, and the quality of the upholstery and other interior materials has been improved to create a more upscale environment inside the car. The 2014 Mazda3 can be finished off with an optional aerodynamic body kid that includes a rear spoiler, a rear diffuser, a front chin spoiler, and side rocker panels. If the stock wheels look a little too much like everyone else’s, especially when surrounded by the ground effects kit, there’s an optional set of forged tuner wheels that can be added, thanks to a collaboration between Mazda and RAYS Engineering.