Is this the 2015 Mazda Mazda3 hatchback?

A picture of a page from a Japanese magazine might have prematurely revealed the all-new Mazda3.  Expected to go on sale as a 2015 model, the hatchback will adopt the automaker's new Kodo design language and Skyactiv efficiency philosophy.  

The company's so-called Kodo design language that first entered production with the Mazda CX-5 is clearly visible in this car's front fascia, with some Infiniti-eque design cues present when viewing the car in profile. The next Mazda3 will also ditch the current car's "smiling" front end, which has received mixed reviews. 

Under the automaker's Skyactiv philosophy, issues such as vehicle weight and aerodynamics are factored into creating an altogether more efficient, yet still performance-oriented package. The CX-5 was the first full-scale application of Skyactiv, followed by the Mazda6, and the 2015 Mazda3 should follow suit.

We should learn more about the next-generation Mazda3 over the next few months as the current car's production cycle begins to come to a close. As the 3 is Mazda's highest-volume model in many of its largest markets - including North America - it is undeniably a crucial product for the Japanese automaker.