Two additions to the new Mazda3 family were debuted at Geneva – one a fuel-saving economy special and the other a 260bhp turbocharged MPS sports flagship.

Both will go on sale in the UK later this year, while fleets will get their first chance to see the 3 at a special launch event being held at Donington Park in May.

The new family of 3 hatchbacks go on sale in the UK in June, and Mazda is looking to grow its fleet share of the market with them.

Peter Allibon, fleet and remarketing director at Mazda, said: “We are looking to grow our share of the end-user and contract hire market with the 3.

“We need to get people driving it which is why we are putting more Mazda3 models on our demonstrator fleet and also taking the models to companies so staff can drive them.

“We need to get the BIK message across, especially with the new 1.6-litre diesel model which emits 119g/km of CO2.”

As well as the MPS sports model, Mazda also gave its i-stop technology its world debut. This system cuts the engine when it is idling.