Finally, the wraps are...
Finally, the wraps are off the new A3… And Auto Express has the first official pictures.
Bosses at the firm have...
Bosses at the firm have dismissed rumours that the Sassou, which was unveiled at last September"s Frankfurt Motor Show, would replace the current model altogether. Instead, the sporty newcomer will run alongside the Ford Fiesta-based hatch, and could arrive in showrooms as early as next year.
A spokeswoman said: "There will be a facelifted Mazda 2 in 2007, and as little as six months later the Sassou will arrive as the three-door version." Unfortunately, some of the innovative technology showcased on the concept car - such as the built-in USB port for downloading data - won"t appear on the finished model. Neither will the clever LED lights, which are obscured by body-coloured translucent plastic when they"re not in use.
Other design elements, including the flexible rear seat arrangement, remain. Power comes from a three-cylinder 1.0-litre turbocharged engine. Visitors to the British Motor Show will get a chance to see the Sassou concept in the flesh at ExCeL in London this summer.