Mazda has held the world premiere of the new Mazda3 five-door Hatchback at the Bologna Motor Show in Italy today, ahead of its sales launch planned for early next year. The second-generation Mazda3 Hatchback follows on the heels of the four-door sedan, which was revealed recently at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The new Hatchback will feature the same engines as those planned for the Sedan variant. This means it will be launched with two new engines, a 148hp (110kW) 2.0L four-cylinder with 135lb-ft (183Nm) of torque and a 167hp (124kW) 2.5L unit with 168lb-ft (227Nm) of torque. Both engines employ advanced electronic throttle actuation.

For European markets a newly developed 2.2L turbodiesel engine will also be available. The engine, which was just launched in the Mazda6, will output 182hp (136kW) and 295lb-ft (400Nm) of torque while delivering fuel economy figures of around 42mpg (5.6L/100km) - making it the most efficient engine in the lineup.

A slick-shifting five-speed and six-speed manual transmission as well as a five-speed electronically controlled Sport-AT automatic transmission are also be available depending on the model. The most frugal of the petrol units is the 2.0L unit equipped with a manual transmission, and it is rated at 25mpg (9.4L/100km) in the city and 33mpg (7.1L/100km) on the highway for the heavier Sedan. Fuel economy in the Sedan with the automatic transmission comes in at 24mpg (9.8L/100km) and 33mpg (7.1L/100km) respectively.

Some premium features of the car not normally found in this segment include optional self-leveling bi-xenon headlamps, a multi-function display, satnav, electronically adjustable seats with memory functions, an ambient lighting system, dual-zone air conditioning, a 10-speaker Bose stereo, Bluetooth connectivity, iPod connection and Sirius satellite radio. Other options include rain-sensing wipers, heated side mirrors, leather upholstery, and heated seats.

Further down the track, Mazda will introduce a high-performance Mazdaspeed (MPS) model, which you can see spy shots of by clicking here.