We adopted a new approach, called "airflow management," to optimally control the flow of air. Conventional car designs create a large amount of drag, a loss that adversely affects aerodynamic performance. However, the all-new Mazda 3 does not take in excess air and thereby minimizes drag. One specific example is the upper and lower grille openings, which concentrate ram pressure (wind pressure) in a manner that eases the intake of air and directs it effectively to cool the engine. Additionally, the front corners of the upper body were reshaped and round front tire deflectors were added to control the flow of air along the vehicle's sides. As a result, the drag coefficient for the European specification 5-door hatchback and 4-door sedan are respectively 0.30 and 0.28, amongst of the bests in the segment. These measures helped the engineers attain top-class levels for wind noise reduction, high speed stability and fuel economy.