Sporty, fuel-efficient 2011 Mazda2 makes North American debut at the LA Auto Show

Mazda2 makes North American debut at LA Auto Show

LOS ANGELES — Mazda rolled out a new Mazda2 hatchback at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Wednesday, a sporty design the automaker says will be its most fuel-efficient car ever offered in North America.

The 2011 Mazda2 will be available in North America late next summer.

“Mazda2 will be the most fuel-efficient car in our showroom, and the most fuel-efficient car ever sold in North America by Mazda,” said Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO of Mazda North American Operations. “It is everything that the other cars in our lineups are, just in a more focused package.”

The subcompact was first made available in 2007 in Europe, Japan and Australia and, to date, some 370,000 models have been sold, Mazda said.

In the latest version, Mazda shortened the body overhangs and trimmed the corners to enhance the car’s sporty look.

The five-door hatchback comes with a 1.5-liter engine and is available in a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission.

A Mazda spokesman said the automaker is not ready to release specific details on the Mazda2’s fuel efficiency and pricing.