NEXT MAZDA 2 REVEALED

EX MAZDA surprised visitors to the Japan Mobility Show with a unexpected concept car called the Vision X-Compact. This superminisized model previews a new Mazda 2, which should arrive some time in 2026 or early 2027 with a choice of hybrid and ICE powertrains.

- Jordan Katsianis

A petrol-powered supermini might sound old-fashioned by European standards, but a B-segment model is crucial for car manufacturers in many international markets, not least Mazda in the UK. This new Vision X-Compact previews what a new model might look like, with a more playful evolution of the design language seen on the larger Mazda 3.

The nose has a revised grille, with the 3's previous trim now forming the daytime running lights. There's no physical mesh, and instead it has a simple body colour inside it. The headlights are openings inside the front bumper, but we expect these to be more traditional LED units in a housing for the production car.