Earlier this week, we shared a speculative rendering we made of the third-generation Mazda3 compact hatchback based on sightings of camouflaged prototypes, what we know about the carmaker’s new “kodo” (Japanese for “soul of motion”) design language and our own intel.

Now we learn that we could see the actual car arrive in U.S. showrooms as early as this fall. Automotive News spoke to three separate Mazda dealers, who told the publication that they learned about the autumn launch plan of the redesigned Mazda3 from the Japanese carmaker itself. The news agency said it contacted a Mazda spokesman about the story, but he (or she) declined to comment.

If Mazda does indeed launch the next 3 this year, it will have new entries in three popular segments in the market, as it launched the CX-5 compact crossover in 2012, followed by the Mazda6 mid-size sedan this year.

Autonews said the addition of the next generation 3 could help the company reach its goal of over 300,000 sales in the U.S. this year. In 2012, Mazda sold 277,046 cars in the States.

Rendering Copyright: Carscoops / Josh Byrnes

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