Mazda Australia today unveiled the second of its "extreme cars", a rally-ready Mazda2 at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney.

With its stripped-out interior, bonnet-mounted driving light pod with four Hella Rallye lights, chunky Dunlop Direzza rally tyres, 15X6 Compomotive wheels and roof-mounted fresh-air vent, the Mazda2 Rally Concept looks race ready.

Extensive engineering workensures that its purposeful looks are backed up with strong off road ability.

Developed under the experienced rally eye of Mazda's Motorsport manager, Allan Horsley, the Mazda2 Rally Concept features a full race Bond roll cage specifically designed to provide crash protection while adding additional body stiffening to Mazda's smallest car.

Other body upgrades include a sump guard and a carbon fibre shield to protect the car's fuel tank from the rigors of racing at high speed on gravel.