Mazda Kai hints at a gnarly new Mazda3
Like the production version eventually will, this concept sports Mazda's clever new Skyactiv-X engine.

Mazda Kai Concept
Mazda calls the Kai Concept a "more mature expression" of its current design language, and I'd be inclined to agree.
Mazda Kai Concept
Many of the sharp creases found on the current body have been replaced with smooth, flowing lines
Mazda Kai Concept
Thanks to how far back the cabin sits, it looks fast, even though it's not moving.

Mazda Kai Concept
The roof has a solid-color center, with a longitudinal piece of glass above each passenger's head.
Mazda Kai Concept
The headlights and taillights are slimmer and more aggressive, too.
Mazda Kai Concept
The steering wheel is familiar, but thinner.
Mazda Kai Concept
The shifter is just that -- a straightforward shifter that doesn't fall prey to the same shift-by-wire trappings that ate other automakers whole.
Mazda Kai Concept
The biggest change is the infotainment system, which lives inside a tier of the dashboard, as opposed to its current "floating tablet" look.
Mazda Kai Concept
The Kai Concept packs Mazda's Skyactiv-X engine, which runs on gasoline but relies on a compression-ignition scheme more similar to a diesel engine.
Mazda Kai Concept
In the meantime, keep scrolling to check out even more pictures of Mazda's hot hatch concept.