(29 Apr 04)

It's secret in the sense that, although the pre-launch publicity has just started in Japan, Mazda isn't letting on right now what the car looks like.

Taking its name from a combination of the Italian "verita" meaning truth and the English "satisfaction" meaning - well, you know - the new 1.5-litre model is the result of a design brief to keep in mind something simple, compact and high-quality.

It's aimed at couples in their 30s, and Mazda describes it as expressing "an ideal relation between people with an uncompromising sense of style and the products that satisfy them", which sounds rather like the kind of thing manufacturers say about their concept cars.

However, the Verisa isn't just a twinkle in the stylists' eyes, but fully production-ready. It will go on sale in Japan this summer, complete with keyless entry and considerable emphasis on the audio system, which has an option able to store up to 3000 songs. One of Japan's leading actresses and a top-rated fashion photographer will feature in the promotional campaign, which is intended to be seriously stylish and arty.

Absolutely no word yet about whether or not the Verisa will make its way to the UK.

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