Mazda reveals a slightly-updated 3 in Japan as the Azera, includes mild facelift

Mazda recently freshened things up with the Mazda3 lineup in Japan, which they call the Axela.

Typically a mid-cycle refresh, the updated Mazda3/Axela comes with some visual upgrades and packaging rework–all the sort of things expected from a midlife revision.

As usual, the updated Mazda3/Axela gains a redesigned front grille and some tweaked headlights, while both the front and rear fascias get reshaped for a new look.

The insides too benefit from minor decorative changes, particularly on the door panels and the dashboard. Technologically, Mazda also updated their heads-up display to feature brighter and more vibrant colors for improved visibility.

But the biggest change to the Mazda3/Axela comes with the addition of the company’s new G-Vectoring Control system, an active computer program for the car’s settings that helps improve handling with electronic control. Think of it as Mazda’s fancy-schmancy version of electronically-controlled torque vectoring, where the car’s computer adjusts specific parameters within the car like transmission and throttle response and control, to chassis and body, to improve the driving experience overall.

Mazda plans to implement this system in all of their cars across the lineup.

The updated 2017 Mazda Axela has already been launched in Japan while the 2017 Mazda3 for the US is expected to go on sale later in the year.

– By: Chris Chin

Source: Mazda