We can’t say we’re surprised by the news that Mazda does not have plans to manufacture high-performance models based on their Mazda3 and Mazda6.

The company is actually waiting for the models’ new generation before rolling out the Mazdaspeed treatment. But when will that be?

We can’t say for sure. But while we wait, Mazda is focusing all its engineers on the next-gen Skyactiv engines.

"Our research and development department is 100% focused on delivering Skyactiv generation two and if we don't have this we don't have any other derivatives," Mazda's North American operations president and CEO Masahiro Moro said.

The new engines are expected sometime next year. And once they’re out, Mazda can begin work on the performance versions.

Moro has more than hinted about the direction the brand will take for its future performance vehicles by calling the previous Mazdaspeed3 model childish (yes – that’s a direct quote). It’s obvious things are about to change.

"Mazda brand has become more mature, more upscale, more sophisticated, and we have a new transition of the brand to relate that direction," Moroso said.

Rumors were circulating at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show that Mazda has plans to introduce a new Mazdaspeed3 model using the CX-9 2.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine tuned to 295 HP and an AWD powertrain.

But it never happened.

The current 2014 models of the Mazda3 and Mazda6 are fairly recent, which means we won’t see newer models until 2020.

Simple math shows that we shouldn’t be expecting a high-performance version of the Mazdaspeed sooner than 2021.

So don’t keep your breath in – it will be a while.