It’s that time again, folks: yet more Mazda3 speculation!

The images in this post are apparently genuine computer generated renders of the upcoming Mazda3 replacement, but rather than being the renders of the actual car itself, they’re supposedly CAD (computer-aided design) models from a toy company.

This wouldn’t be the first time a third party company “accidentally” let slip vital imagery or information about a client company’s upcoming products, so it’s not too big a stretch to believe this rumour.

As you can see, the most dramatic differences appear to be to the face and front quarter panels, with an almost Peugeot like treatment to the much larger headlights (despite the intention clearly being to follow the Mazda6 language) and big-mouthed grille, with large sharply angled and curved side intakes.

The front quarter panels carry the flared guards of the 6, but to less effect in the shorter space.

Along the side, the beltline (window sills) dips much more deeply toward the front of the car, but less so than its smaller sibling the Mazda2, sitting above a very deliberate character line along the door handles.

Though we have no image of the rear, the tail lights do appear to wrap around the side of the new Mazda3 a lot more than the previous model, while the overall profile of the vehicle from the cowl through to the rear bumper looks virtually unchanged.

Certainly not the design revolution many had been expecting, but then again, there’s no official word yet that this is indeed the 2009 Mazda3.