Mazda3 MPS to debut in Geneva
The Europe-market Mazda3 MPS (for Mazda Performance Series) will be on display at the Geneva Motor Show, alongside the Kabura concept which debuted in Detroit in January.
The Mazda3 MPS, which will be marketed as the Mazdaspeed3 in North America, gets its zoom-zoom from a 2.3-liter MZR DISI (direct injection spark ignition) turbo engine, which Mazda says makes it one of the most powerful FWD high-performance sport compacts. The same direct-injection engine is used in the Mazdaspeed6, where it cranks out 274 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque in North American tune.
[Source: Mazda] Thanks for the tip, Micah!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Rocket Punch 1:54PM (2/13/2006)
"most powerful FWD high-performance sport compacts"... that is until the Dodge "SUV" SRT neon replacement thing came out. BTW, if no LSD or 4WD this car will have no hope.
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Micah 2:01PM (2/13/2006)
Woo-hoo!! That's going to be so sweet!
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Spytap 2:03PM (2/13/2006)
What's the price? I'll be shopping this against the Civic Si, so granted that more HP can cost a little more, but what kind of features will I get for the $$, and how much $$ are we talking about?
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RossL 2:08PM (2/13/2006)
Five doors, a rocket under the hood and (I'm guessing) an attractive pricetag. Personally, I'd choose the proven Mazda3 over the Caliber, but I wish 'em both well. And you can keep your silly two-door retro Camaros and Mustangs etc. - I happen to like sporty vehicles that are also practical.
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Dolph 2:13PM (2/13/2006)
I have to agree with #1... w/ that much power and no AWD, this thing will not be competitive.
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Ryan 2:34PM (2/13/2006)
Why AWD? Why not RWD, it would seem pretty rare in this segment, and that is all rare in itself anymore.
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Ian 2:53PM (2/13/2006)
HA HA HA... that POS dodge wont have a chance. I don't care if it has 500hp, its still a dodge subcompact - and it looks like crap.
I've driven the SRT-4 and I've got a Mazdaspeed protege... and between the LSD, front and rear sway bars and the suspension, the Mazdaspeed is a drivers car that actually handles. Unlike dodge, mazda actually tries to give the car the ability to go in something other than a straight line. The mazdaspeed 3 will be great... and it will get AWD just like the Mazdaspeed 6.
And 300hp doesnt make that Dodget (Pontiac Vibe on steroids) look any better...
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JZeke 2:54PM (2/13/2006)
Of all the cost cutting crap ive seen, its sad that Mazda is gonna make this 3 fwd only. RWD, AWD sure either/or would be sweet. But come on, this is a recipe for insurance claim disaster.
Whats going to happen after the Caliber and MPS3 have been out for 3 or so years is youngins with hot shoes are going to start putting holes in the shrubbery with these things, then the insurance rates for them is gonna skyrocket, then the makers will stop selling them... then the rest of us wont have any cool cars to buy.
True story, this is what killed the original hot hatch in both Europe and the states in the late 80s.
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jstand6 3:04PM (2/13/2006)
Every U.S. Mazdaspeed product so far (MS Protege, MS Miata, and MS Mazda6) has had LSDs. I'm pretty sure the MS3 will have one too. AWD, although nice, adds too much weight and cost. With the already amazing handling the Mazda3 has, it will be interesting to see what Mazdaspeed tuning does to it. And all rumors were indicating Mazda would use the 2.0L MZR; I'm surprised to see the 2.3L, but it's a welcome surprise.
Price will be a huge issue. A loaded Mazda3 already gets way up there for its class, but it does include a lot of features that justify the price (navigation, rain-sensing wipers, xenon headlights, Bose sound, etc.). But, the general public has shown that they will pay the price for the Mazda3, so it should be very interesting.
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Robert Aitchison 3:21PM (2/13/2006)
What I want to know is will it be available as a 5 door? I'm tired of of all the cool cars coming out in the most boring and impractical form possible.
Also, FWD with 275Hp seems like a recipe for burnouts more than erformance. Even with an LSD (mandatory with that kind of power) you will have a lot more power than you will have traction. AWD or at least RWD sure would have been nice here. (though the C1 is a designed for FWD/AWD platform not sure how practical RWD would be)
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Liters 3:57PM (2/13/2006)
Not comparing it to the VW R32? (or the rumoured R36)??? In 2007 or 8 this MZ3 MPS will be the closest competition for VW's hot hatch. In its current iteration, the R32 produces 240hp and has AWD; the MZ3 MPS will have a detuned 2.3L turbo to the tune of around 250hp and no AWD. Of course Mazda and fanboys will try to compare it to the GTI... No contest there. The (US Spec) R36 will blow this out of the water.
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pavster 3:58PM (2/13/2006)
Yeah, seriously a RWD version of the Mazda 3, even without a turbo, would be quite sweet.
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ebm14 4:02PM (2/13/2006)
I think AWD should be stanndard with the 3.
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jstand6 4:03PM (2/13/2006)
Posted by Ian (#7 above): "The mazdaspeed 3 will be great... and it will get AWD just like the Mazdaspeed 6."
Like I said, AWD adds too much weight and cost. The MS3 will be FWD. From Mazda's press release:
"...MAZDASPEED 3 is one of the most powerful high-performance sports compacts with front-wheel drive (FWD) on the road today."
Adding AWD will probably place the MS3's price right there with the lower-end WRX and EVO models, making them a direct competitor. I think Mazda wants to steer clear from those two. If they can bring the MS3 to market under $23k, I think they'll have a winner.
Posted by Robert Aitchison (#10 above): "What I want to know is will it be available as a 5 door?"
All of the press photos so far show only a 5-door. Mazda got a lot of criticism that the Mazdaspeed Protege was only released as a sedan. The Protege5 was the car attracting the targeted market, not the sedan. It seems Mazda has learned its lesson.
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jstand6 4:23PM (2/13/2006)
Posted by Liters (#11 above): "The (US Spec) R36 will blow this out of the water."
I sure hope so! That's like saying the Corvette will blow the Mustang out of the water. They are two completely different price points. Considering that in 2004, the R32 was just shy of $30k, it better blow the MS3 out of the water. The new Mazdaspeed6 is less than $29k. The MS3 will be considerably cheaper. I can't imagine what the R36 will cost. Judging by the way VW is pricing their lineup as cars are replaced, the R36 will probably cost considerably (probably something like $10k more) more than the MS3. And at that price, you're in WRX STi and EVO territory. The R36 better be damn good.
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Liters 4:36PM (2/13/2006)
The MZ3 MPS at anywhere within $1K of $23K would be a steal, which is why it won't cost anywhere near $23K. Surely Mazda will charge a premium for its +50hp over the $23K VW GTI V (200hp, 207ft/lbs). For reference the 200hp, 138ft/lb Honda Civic is $19,900 base price. Neither have the extra convenience of 2 extra doors at the aforementioned base-prices. I'd call the MZ3 MPS at a square $25K.
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travis 4:41PM (2/13/2006)
hey #11, it all depends on what the final price of this is... if it's 22-24k, it'll DEFINITELY be compared to the GTI as that's the same price. if it's $30k+, sure compare it to the R32.
i'd take it in a heartbeat with 250-270hp, FWD and LSD. oh, and a 6sp. between the LSD and some really good tires and it shouldn't have an issue hooking up. how much hp does that Eclipse have to the front wheels (260hp and 263tq)???
and hopefully this won't weigh 3300+ pounds like the new GTI...
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Liters 4:50PM (2/13/2006)
#15: Since there is no R36 yet, would you call the MZ3 MPS vs. current Euro-Spec R32 a fair competition? Call it more like E55 vs. RS6 than Mustang vs. Corvette.
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travis 5:07PM (2/13/2006)
Liters, it definitely won't be *over* 25k, as that puts it squarely in competition with the MS6 (28.5k). Even starting at the 28.5k MS6, take out the AWD and you're at maybe 25.5-26k. take out the larger platform and normal price difference between the Mazda3 and the Mazda6, and you're probably around 23-24. Hell, even if you just added the 6k difference between the Mazda6 and the MS6 to the Mazda3's base price of 16.9, you'd be at 22.9k. Anyway, fingers are crossed...
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Liters 5:35PM (2/13/2006)
That's what I'm getting at, it can't cost more than $25K because of the MS6, and if it costs less than that it would be hands-down the best money-for-performance deal on the market. Let's keep our fingers crossed for AWD or at least LSD instead.
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