Mazda2 to come to North America

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Citing a shift in America’s mindset regarding small cars, Mazda has just announced it will bring its subcompact hatchback, the Mazda2, to North America. ‘As consumers’ tastes and attitudes toward small vehicles have changed,” says Mazda North American Operations’ president and chief executive, Jim O’Sullivan, “we now believe strongly there is a place in our lineup for a car below our current least-expensive car, the Mazda3.”

Currently, Europe’s Mazda2, known as the Demio in Japan, has a number of small-displacement engine offerings, including a diesel option, and despite being more compact than its successful stable mate, the Mazda3, retains much of the attractive styling and ‘zoom-zoom’ performance for which Mazda’s wares are generally known. The five-door hatchback will add to the segment’s growing competition in the States; Volkswagen plans to bring the diminutive Polo to us as a 2011 model; and Fiat should reenter our marketplace with the 500 around the same time.

Mazda’s public announcement may be a little late in the game, but it clearly has been planning this for some time; the U.S.-spec Mazda2 will be unveiled at the L.A. Auto Show this December, where we’ll find out about engine variants, pricing and whether the 2’s redesign includes a new Joker face.

-- Alison Lakin

Alison Lakin is a staff writer at DriverSide.com.