There's no question FoMoCo's trying hard to enhance its offering of b-segment "microcars" it's got sitting in the company's micro machine carry-all. We're assuming that in addition to the available-only-overseas Fiesta, the Mazda2 (aka Mazda Demio, Mazda 121, Mazda Metro and a whole host of other brand names) is going to play a key role in that effort. The little DY-platformed FWD sub-compact's been a big hit in the segment in all of its names in both the European and Asian markets. But will it show up here in the US market? We don't know, but let's let quick-to-the-shutter spy photog Brenda Priddy give you her take as she just caught some shots of what's probably the next Mazda2 undergoing cold weather testing in Sweden:
"there has been some speculation that the third-generation Mazda2 may reach the States when it arrives for the 2008 model year. The upcoming Mazda2, which is an evolution of both the MX-Micro Sport Concept and the Sassou Concept from the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show, should begin arriving in select markets late this summer."
The 2008 model year sounds a wee bit earlier than when Mark Fields told us a b-segment would be arriving on these shores, but we were talking about the Ford brand in that conversation, weren't we?
2008 Mazda2 Spy Shots [The Car Connection]
Related:
Spy Photos: Mazda2, Wagon Too; Spy Photos: Mazda2; Detroit Auto Show Exclusive: We Talk To Mark Fields, Make Zero Mullet Jokes [internal]