A new version of Mazda’s CX-3 has broken cover in heavily disguised form, with the manufacturer revealing the small SUV will not be built in collaboration with an outside partner.

The news is tucked away in Mazda’s mid-year financial report, which features an excessively camouflaged look at the new CX-3. The image is badged as the “next-generation” of the car, not a concept. 

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While it’s difficult to draw many conclusions about the SUV’s new look due to how severely it’s been obscured, it appears to be taller than the current model, with a bigger grille opening and reworked headlights in line with the marque’s Kodo design philosophy. It also appears to take visual cues from the Vision X-Coupe, the twin-rotary plug-in hybrid that was seen at last year’s Japan Mobility Show.

Unlike Mazda’s 6e and CX-6e, which were built as part of the joint venture with China’s Changan, the next CX-3 will be an entirely in-house affair, according to the company report. That has led to speculation that the next model could feature a range of internal combustion powertrain options, with a hybrid version a possibility.

Fans of the CX-3 can expect the new entrant into one of the most important parts of the market to also gain new touches in the interior, updated safety tech, and a new digital interface. It’s worth noting that Mazda has not confirmed any details on how the upcoming version will be powered, what its new design elements will consist of, or any information on the trim levels.

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Last year, Mazda confirmed the second generation of the CX-3 is due to go into production in Thailand in 2027. The vehicle has been in production since late 2014, with periodic minor updates filtering through since the model went on sale in Australia in 2015. At the moment, the current CX-3 is also produced in Mexico, and was also put together in Japan until 2022. The upcoming small SUV looks set to keep its current name instead of moving to the two-digit naming structure found on the larger CX-30 and other models including the CX-60 hybrid medium SUV.