Awards roll in for all-new Mazda2

The all-new Mazda2 has won its third major award well before it goes on sale in Europe in early 2015, following in the tracks of Mazda's highly successful new-generation models already on the market. Yesterday evening in Berlin, Mazda received a 2014 Golden Steering Wheel in the A & B-segment category for its uncompromising new supermini.

It is the fourth time a Mazda has won a Golden Steering Wheel since the contest's inception in 1976: The Mazda 323 took the prize in 1985 and 1989, with the Mazda 626 prevailing in 1992. The annual readers' choice award is one of Europe's most coveted automotive prizes. The all-new Mazda2 was selected over nine rivals based on more than 300,000 votes cast in 25 European countries by readers of Bild am Sonntag, Auto Bild and sister publications.

"It's a great pleasure to receive this outstanding award for the all-new Mazda2 even before it arrives on the European market," said Takahisa Sori, Mazda Motor Corporation's head of development, after receiving the prize. "This proves that we've chosen the right direction for Mazda with our focus on design, driving fun and our innovative SKYACTIV Technology."

It follows the Good Design Gold Award 2014, presented last week in Japan for the all-new Mazda2. The Japan Institute of Design Promotion, which organises the awards, praised above all the vibrancy of the new model and its KODO – Soul of Motion design. The Good Design Award contest has honoured design excellence since 1957. Only 19 Good Design Gold Awards for the most outstanding designs were bestowed in 2014 from among more than 3,600 entries.

In October, the all-new Mazda2 was also named Japan Car of the Year 2014-15 – the second Mazda in three years to capture that country's highest automotive accolade after the Mazda CX-5 did so in 2012-13.

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