The first Mazda 2 rolled off the production line in Hiroshima yesterday. Vice President of Mazda, Robert Graziano, led the celebrations claiming that the new Mazda 2 "is the first of our new generation products to evolve to the next stage".
By this, he refers to Mazda's plan to produce driver's cars that are also safer and more environmentally friendly.
Following this strategy, the new Mazda 2 is 100kg lighter than the outgoing model in order to improve performance and economy, whilst the styling should suit the global markets that Mazda are now targeting.
The Mazda 2 made it's debut at this year's Geneva Show, where we reckoned it was one of the best new cars on show.
Sales begin in the UK later this year, and we can't wait to find out if Mazda has managed everything it claims regarding this all-important model. You'll be the first to know when we do.
The new Mazda2 is based on the same platform as the Ford Fiesta. The first image is showing a Lime Green Mazda2 which rolled off the production line.