2021 Mazda 2 gains wireless Apple CarPlay and improved fuel economy in Japan, Australian arrival by end of 2021

The 2021 Mazda 2 has received new technology and a fuel economy boost in Japan, with an Australian launch likely by the end of 2021.

The mid-year changes in Japan see the Mazda 2 gain wireless Apple CarPlay compatibility as an option – joining wired Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto connectivity already on offer – as well as wireless smartphone charging for the first time.

There's also a new Platinum Quartz Metallic interior colour, along with a 'Sunlit Citrus' special edition (pictured in the new colour) for the Japanese market, which is claimed to "imagine a trip to the south under the sun" with beige Grand Luxe interior upholstery, 'citrus' yellow accents, a beige or yellow key fob cover, and a standard-fit 360-degree camera.

Under the bonnet, Mazda has introduced new, more efficient variants of the city car's 1.5-litre non-turbo petrol engine, which claim to reduce fuel economy by 6.8 per cent – translating to the equivalent of 4.9L/100km combined according to Australian testing procedures, a reduction of 0.4L/100km.

Enabling this change is a new 'Diagonal Vortex Combustion' technology, which creates a 'vortex' of air and fuel within the engine's cylinders, allowing the substances to mix more quickly, improving efficiency. This is aided by an increase in the engine's compression ratio from 12:1 to 14:1.

Mazda says many of these engine improvements – including the computer software that controls them, claimed to be more responsive than before – are derived from its breakthrough SkyActiv-X petrol engines, as used in the Mazda 3 and CX-30 X20 Astina models.

It's not clear whether the more efficient engine will come to Australia, however, as it's likely it has been developed specifically to meet new Japanese emissions regulations, which provide tax reductions for vehicles with lower emissions and fuel economy – including the new high-compression Mazda 2.

The revised 2021 Mazda 2 is on sale now in Japan, with prices unchanged versus their outgoing equivalents, despite the engine improvements and (optional in Japan) technology upgrades.

Mazda Australia has yet to confirm arrival timing for the updated Mazda 2, though Drive understands the changes will be rolled out across the local range by the end of 2021 – given Australian-delivered Mazda models tend to closely follow updates to their Japanese counterparts.