2009 Mazda3 MPS

Mazda plans to debut two new models of the all-new Mazda3 (called Axela in Japanat the coming Geneva International Motor Show, one environmentally friendly and the other enthusiast friendly. The world premiere of the Mazda3 with i-stop, Mazda’s advanced fuel-saving start-stop system, will be shared with the all-new Mazda3 MPS, Mazda3’s high performance flagship model. The Mazda3 MPS (Mazdaspeed Axela) now features improved fuel economy and emissions that satisfy Euro 5 regulations.

Mazda says the Mazda3 is one of its core products, with more than two million units of the first generation produced. It also has high environmental and safety performance levels, exemplifying Mazda’s Sustainable Zoom-Zoom long-term vision to provide cars that are eco-friendly and safe while still being fun to drive. Mazda says the Mazda3 with i-stop embodies Sustainable Zoom-Zoom and adds a new eco-friendly option to the line up. It features the i-stop system in combination with the MZR 2.0 DISI (Direct Injection Spark Ignition) engine.

Carrying forward the MZR 2.3 DISI Turbo engine, Mazda3 MPS builds on the overall popularity and recognition of the previous model. The all-new Mazda3 Program Manager, Yoshiyuki Maeda, says, “These two models add extra value to an all-new Mazda3 line up that has already shown strong appeal. “The new Mazda3 series takes a significant step ahead in both the realms of driving performance and environmental technology to lead the way toward a new generation of motoring.”

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2010 Mazda3 MPS Mazdaspeed

The 2010 Mazda3 isn't yet for sale and already Mazda is prepping the next MPS, .a.k.a. the 2010 Mazda3 MPS Mazdaspeed for the Geneva Motor Show.

Following on the heals of the 2010 Mazda3 hatchback reveal, Mazda is planning to bring their latest hot-hatch Mazdaspeed version to Geneva. According to sources, the European "MPS" version will get a turbocharged 2.3-Liter engine while the American version will get the 2.5-Liter engine. Despite the differences, both should produce around 268 HP.

There are other rumors out there, including the possibility of the FWD suspension system from the Euro Ford Focus RS. From these spy photos it's obvious the new hatch is going to get the typical visual accessories including a hoodscoop, larger wheels, more aggressive front bumper, large spoiler and rocker body panels.

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Mazda3 Sedan debuts at the LA Auto Show

The Mazda3, the Japanese carmaker’s most successful vehicle, received a new sedan version, which made its debut at the LA Auto Show. The new Mazda3 Sedan has a more dynamic exterior design, improved performance, more environmental and safety features and new standard and optional equipment. The first impression is that the car looks really good, following Mazda’s Zoom Zoom trend and borrowing a lot of styling elements from the gorgeous Mazda6.

Under the hood, the Mazda3 will be available with a MZR 2.0 liter (148 hp at 6500 rpm and 135 lb-ft of torque at 4500 rpm) and a new MZR 2.5 liter four-cylinder, borrowed from its big sister, the Mazda6, which delivers 167 hp at 6000 rpm and 168 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm. Both engines benefit from Mazda’s advanced electronic throttle actuation and exclusive torque base control technology.

Regarding the transmission, the Mazda3 will be offered with a five-speed manual transmission, a six-speed stick-shift transmission or a five-speed electronically controlled Sport-AT automatic transmission. Unfortunately, the fuel economy figures are not that impressive, the 2.0 liter Mazda3 getting 25 mpg (with manual, and 24 mpg with the automatic) in the city and 33 mpg on the highway, while the 2.5 liter version gets 21 mpg (city) and 29 mpg (highway). I don’t know about you, but for the car’s size and for the current times, this sounds a little too much.

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2009 Mazda3 MPS spied at Nürburgring

Crowned by most as the performance-hatch king, the hotly anticipated successor to the Mazda3 MPS has been spied lapping the Nürburgring.

To ensure there is no mistaking this hot-hatch for its naturally-aspirated siblings, Mazda has included a seemingly WRX-inspired hood scoop and oversized spoiler.

Sources confirm that the new model will again be powered by the current 2.3-litre turbocharged unit expected to produce an identical 190kW.

This leads to question if this is strictly a make-over or whether Mazda has thrown in a few additional performance goodies.

This next-generation MPS certainly has a rather impressive twin from which to borrow inspiration - namely the new Ford Focus RS and its highly acclaimed RevoKnuckle suspension system which apparently eliminates the need for all-wheel drive.

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Mazda3 sedan at the Sydney Motor Show - video

At the Sydney Motor Show currently underway, Mazda has presented a preview of the Mazda3 sedan, with the video above. The car will be officially presented at Los Angeles, but given its success on the Australian market, the preview happened at the Sydney show. The preview was presented by Philip Spender, Mazda Executive Vice President, saying that the five-door version will debut on the European market sometime after November this year.



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2010 Mazda3 Spied

Yesterday spied photographs got the best look at the upcoming 2010 Mazda 3. This all new sport compact was originally due to go on sale sometime in the last half of 2009, but sources say it will now hit showrooms late 2009 as a 2010 model year car.

Riding on Ford’s global C1 platform, the new Mazda3 will measure in a bit longer and wider than the current model. The sportier-looking Mazda3 will also get a small bump in horsepower – as well as a boost in fuel efficiency.

Although this the American version spied here, our photographer reports seeing buttons for heated seats, satellite radio and an MP3 hard drive.

Under the hood Mazda is expected to increase the juice, with the current 2.3-litre motor rumoured to be bored out to a 2.5-litre. That should give the new 3 10-20kW more power compared to the current 108kW (115kW for the SP23).

Mazda insiders say the new Mazda3 will make its official debut at the LA Auto Show in November this year.

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2010 Mazda3 sedan spied

The new Mazda3 will showcase the new styling direction that will eventually spread to the entire Mazda lineup, Laurens van den Acker, Mazda’s design chief, said recently.

Although still covered in a bit of camo, we can see an impressive pair of projector headlamps up front and angled tail lights in back. Overall, once the camouflage comes off, we expect a much more sporty design to be revealed.

From the interior photos, we can see this 3 sedan is packing a 6 speed transmission. That’s one more gear than the current model. We can also see buttons for heated seats, satellite radio and an MP3 hard drive. That probably tells us we’re looking at a Grand Touring sedan prototype.

The new Mazda3 will ride on the next-generation global Ford Focus C1 platform and is expected to be longer and wider than the current model.

Under the hood, Mazda’s MZR line of motors will get a bump in power and further tweaking for fuel savings. Expect the current 2.3L motor to be bored out to around 2.5L. That should give it a 20-30hp bump from the current 156hp rating. The 2.0L base motor probably won’t see an increase in displacement, but a 10 to 15 horsepower increase is likely.

This all new sport compact was originally due to go on sale sometime in the last half of 2009, but will now hit showrooms in the summer of 2009 as a 2010 model year car.

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Mazda3 – Next generation

The Mazda3 has been a compact darling ever since its introduction in 2004, and even though its current design is nearly five years old, it still wins many comparison tests. Since its near the end of a design cycle, a new Zoom Mazda is on its way, and some interesting renderings have been published online of what the new Mazda3 could look like.

The design theme is decidedly Mazda6-based up front, with similarly angled LED headlights and the same basic shape, but this unofficial Mazda3 is far more "in your face." The large front air dam looks more like something from the MazdaSpeed collection, and its large opening doubles as the Mazda3's grille. The side view features clean, flowing lines and the same basic shape as the current Mazda3 hatch. Out back, football-shaped LED tail lamps give this rendering a touch of class, and the similarly-shaped in-set dual exhaust looks like a concept-only touch. Due to the surprising success of the current model, the next Mazda3 has to be very, very good or it will be a big disappointment. If the next 3 looks as good as these renderings, we wouldn't be disappointed at all.

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2008 Mazda3 sports range

Mazda has freshened up its Mazda3 sports line up with improved value, safety and appeal across the sports range.

The streamlined Neo Sport, Maxx Sport, Diesel, SP23 and MPS variants now sport a host of cosmetic changes and added extras. The range of colours available for the Mazda3 range has also increased to 12, with the addition of Copper Red, Golden Sand, Metropolitan Grey and Stormy Blue.

Base model Neo Sport retains its $20,990 price tag despite the addition of alloy wheels, power windows and mirrors and an AUX jack for iPod compatibility as standard - totaling $1600 worth of extras at no added cost.

Priced from $25,500 the Maxx Sport gets six airbags, chrome outer door handles, new design 16-inch alloy wheels, upgraded cloth interior trim which takes inspiration from the SP23, and a sleek centre console in Piano Black finish.

The Mazda3 Diesel sedan and hatch enjoys the same improvements as the Maxx Sport, with the best-in-class 360Nm and 105kW diesel engine taking the price to $29,500.

Chrome outer door handles and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Traction Control System (TCS), previously packaged into the SP23 Luxury, are now standard features on the Mazda3 SP23, priced from $29,600. Inside, the SP23 gets a new ultra-quality seat and door trim cloth courtesy of the MPS, and a centre console, instrument panels, steering wheel and power window switch bezels all in Piano Black.

The turbocharged Mazda3 MPS gets similar interior upgrades along with a brand new cloth trim with red highlights, priced from $38,750.

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Power conversion: Mazda3 MPS Extreme

Leaving the hyper-futuristic Tokyo creations behind for a minute, here's an Aussie concept that's far less cutting-edge but, in its own way, every bit as crazy.

We'd never considered the 256bhp Mazda3 MPS as a car that needed any more power, but that hasn't stopped the Australian division of Mazda Motorsport going ahead and doing just that.

This is the Mazda3 MPS Extreme, which - thanks to a reworked engine management system - now develops a frankly worrying 282bhp.

Mazda says the power upgrade will boost the performance by 'about 20 per cent' which, considering that the standard MPS will reach 60mph in just over six seconds, could mean the Extreme hitting the same speed in the low fives. If - and this is a big if - it can get the power on the road.

It's not just the engine management that has been revised: the Extreme gets a sports exhaust system and a neat-looking set of 19-inch wheels. It also sits some 25mm lower on its springs than the stock MPS, with wider wheelarches and bigger spoilers to create that authentic Outback Chav-Chic effect.

Sadly, the Extreme is just a demonstration model at the moment, and Mazda hasn't confirmed that it'll go into production. Here's hoping it does: sure, it'll torque steer like hell, but the Aussies need something to smile about after the rugby.

You didn't think we'd get right the way through an Australian story without mentioning it, did you?

© Source: topgear
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