Mazda 3 MPS For Sale

Skip to main content Site Map Primary navigation: Home New Mazdas Upgraded Mazda2 Mazda3 Mazda3 MPS New Mazda5 Mazda6 Mazda MX-5 Mazda RX-8 Mazda CX-7 Mazda Takuyas Configurator Offers Offers Used Mazdas Used car locator Why choose a Mazda Approved Used Car? Approved used range Buying a Mazda Finance & Insurance Offers Warranties Tax free sales Mazda Motability Find a dealer Configurator Mazda Fleet Owning a Mazda Owner Benefits Service and Maintenance Mazda Warranties Accessories 3-Year Plus Your Local Mazda Dealer FAQ's Mazda Parts Mazda Winter Offers Green Driving Tips Merchandise About Mazda All about Mazda Mazda Videos Mazda Careers Mazda & The Environment Latest Mazda News Overview Specs & Prices Offers Image Gallery Video gallery MPS Specialist The Mazda3 MPS - Extreme Performance Dance with the Devil. Mazda's darker side has arrived. Golf GTi; 0-62mph in 6.9 seconds. Focus ST; 6.8 seconds. Leon Cupra; 6.4seconds. MAZDA3 MPS; 6.1 seconds. Mazda3 MPS accelerates from 0-62mph in a staggering 6.1 seconds. And the impressive figures don't stop there. A massive 380Nm of torque is at your disposal offering immense in-range pull. Power (PS) Acceleration 0-62mph Torque (Nm) Mazda3 MPS 260 6.1 Seconds 380 Seat Leon Cupra 240 6.4 Seconds 300 Ford Focus ST 225 6.8 Seconds 320 Volkswagen Golf GTI 210 6.9 Seconds 280 Stomp on the accelerator and throw it into the corners. The car won't respect you if you don't. Look out for the rise of the bonnet as you accelerate sharply, the gaping bonnet vent helping your beast to breathe. Phenomenal levels of grip will ensure steering accuracy and an outstanding drive experience and with lowered sports suspension, sleek 18" alloy wheels and imposing styling, Mazda3 MPS really is the ultimate in sports cars. Deeply-bolstered sports bucket seats and a vibrant interior hint at the devilish personality behind this missile of a car. They hold and support as you address your favourite series of bends, and provide a strong backbone when you're experiencing that blistering pace and acceleration. Class-leading levels of specification ensure that the Mazda3 MPS is not just a performance car; it also has all the luxuries and toys you wouldn't expect. Radar-based rear vehicle monitoring system, rain-sensing automatic front wipers and dusk-sensing automatic Bi-Xenon headlights with Adaptive Front lighting System. The gadgets continue inside with automatic dual-zone climate control, premium Bose® surround sound system and an integrated 4.1" full-colour navigation system. Made in Japan. It's extreme, out of the ordinary and awesome. Three words sum it up nicely; MAZDA. PERFORMANCE. SERIES. Experience it for yourself by requesting a test drive or contacting one of our exclusive Mazda3 MPS specialist dealerships. Discover more: see full specification and prices For a more detailed breakdown of the Mazda3 MPS specification download our brochure Competitive data taken from respective manufacturers website as at 15th September 2010 Support navigation: Terms & conditions Contact us Site map CO2 emissions Get specs & prices Brochure request Find your dealer Request a test drive Car Configurator Back to top || Skip to main content Site Map Primary navigation: Home New Mazdas Upgraded Mazda2 Mazda3 Mazda3 MPS New Mazda5 Mazda6 Mazda MX-5 Mazda RX-8 Mazda CX-7 Mazda Takuyas Configurator Offers Offers Used Mazdas Used car locator Why choose a Mazda Approved Used Car? Approved used range Buying a Mazda Finance & Insurance Offers Warranties Tax free sales Mazda Motability Find a dealer Configurator Mazda Fleet Owning a Mazda Owner Benefits Service and Maintenance Mazda Warranties Accessories 3-Year Plus Your Local Mazda Dealer FAQ's Mazda Parts Mazda Winter Offers Green Driving Tips Merchandise About Mazda All about Mazda Mazda Videos Mazda Careers Mazda & The Environment Latest Mazda News Overview Specs & Prices Offers Image Gallery Video gallery MPS Specialist Request a test drive Get a brochure Find your dealer Mazda3 MPS Offers The Mazda3 MPS is extreme, unique and out of the ordinary, not only does it look great but it has the performance to match. Rapid acceleration from 0-62mph in just 6.1 seconds. A massive 380Nm of tummy-twisting torque, lowered sports suspension and sleek 18" alloy wheels. An exhilarating driving experience coupled with attractive running costs, the dynamic Mazda3 MPS is more desirable than ever. There really has never been a better time to buy a new Mazda3 MPS. To help make it your next car, the Mazda3 MPS is now available with the following offers: Mazda3 MPS From £21,595^ on the road price Price includes: Mazda Customer Saving £1,000 Free Driveaway Insurance** Price excludes: Metallic paint All offers available on this model: 3.9% APR * Mazda Personal Contract Purchase and Mazda Conditional Sale over 2 years 5.9% APR * Mazda Personal Contract Purchase and Mazda Conditional Sale over 3 years 0% APR * Mazda Conditional Sale over 2 or 3 years with minimum 30% deposit required Mazda Loyalty Bonus £500 Mazda Customer Saving £1,000 Typical 5.9% APR * Retail sales only. Subject to availability at MPS Specialist Dealers only on vehicles registered between 1 October 2010 and 3 January 2011. * Finance available on all Mazda3 models. ^On the road price includes Mazda Customer Saving. Finance subject to status. Terms and conditions apply. Applicants must be 18 or over. Guarantees/Indemnities may be required. Mazda Financial Services RH1 1SR. **Subject to underwriters normal terms and acceptance criteria. Free Driveaway Insurance entitles customers to free 7 day car insurance, this insurance is arranged and administered by Equity Direct Broking Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. FSA Registration Number 490061. Registered office: Library House, new Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 4GD. Registered in England & Wales No. 6710272. Support navigation: Terms & conditions Contact us Site map CO2 emissions Get specs & prices Brochure request Find your dealer Request a test drive Car Configurator Back to top '); '); || Skip to content Skip to navigation Skip to search Homepage Accessibility help Access keys help Change Country United Kingdom Australia United States Top Gear Account Login Register Top Gear Site search Search topgear.com for Go Site Navigation Home News Car News First Drives Formula One Latest from the Top Gear TV Show Video: Porsche 911 GT2 RS on track Most powerful road-going Porsche ever built hits SilverstoneMore Cars Car Reviews Car Chooser Galleries Ford Mondeo Titanium X Sport driven Still one of the greatest cars in the (real) world and now cheaper to runMore The Show The Top Gear blog Series Guide Latest from Clarkson Latest from Hammond Latest from May Latest from The Stig Who is the Stig? 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Rubens rags the Liana Stig-beating F1 ace blitzes TG track in old Reasonably Priced CarMore Games Online Games Cool Wall A Reasonably Brilliant Driving Game How quickly can you get round the test track in the Kia cee’d?More Shop Top Gear Magazine Top Gear Live Top Gear on Amazon Tickets to Top Gear New look mag out now The Top Gear Awards 2010, plus free supercar calendar More Mazda 3 MPS Breadcrumbs Home Cars Mazda 3 MPS Road Test Car details navigation Home Our reviews Photos Cars for sale Mazda 3 MPS 256bhp £21,500 Driven November 2009 Additional Info The original Mazda3 MPS managed the intriguing feat of being very interesting on paper - a 256bhp hot hatch, the most powerful production front-drive car in the world - yet dull both to look at and, in comparison to its rivals, drive. It was launched in a more innocent age, way back in 2007, when people still wore top hats and considered packing a front-drive hatch with over 250bhp to be way beyond the very limits of physics, like sending a man to the centre of the sun or getting Gordon Brown to smile without looking like he's just killed a man. But times have changed. The Focus RS has proved that, armed with sufficiently anatomical suspension, a front-drive hatch can (just about) tame 300bhp, and that we actually rather like cars peppered with massive holes and big lumps of angular metal. Wisely, perhaps, Mazda has decided not to chase the power crown with this, the second-gen 3 MPS, and has instead concentrated on making its flagship hot hatch a bit more engaging. Engaging at all, in fact. So the powertrain remains largely unchanged, the turbocharged 2.3-litre four-pot still developing 256bhp but gently reworked for a little more mid-range torque and, importantly, lower emissions and improved economy - CO2 output is down by 5g/km, and the engine now meets Euro 5 regulations. Leaving the power figure unchanged isn't a problem: even now, 256bhp is right up there with the new RenaultSport Megane, Seat Leon Cupra and Vauxhall Astra VXR. The big work here has gone into making the relationship between self, significant turbo power and road a little more engaging than its predecessor, and adding some much-needed visual, er, something. Say hello, then, to the full hot-hatch smorgasbord of flared arches, bootlid spoiler, fat new front end with gurning mouth and, most strikingly, a whacking great hole in the bonnet which points to a long-term cocaine habit and poses significant danger to low-flying birds. If you're thinking the whole package looks a little familiar, we'll give you a clue: Subaru Impreza STI. Give the MPS gold wheels and a branded geek for a driver and it'd pass as a decent stunt double. Still, better to resemble a Japanese rally legend than a Malaysian rental car. Under the newly-steroidal metal, Mazda has heavily revised the MPS's bodyshell, improving torsional stiffness by 41 per cent. The chassis has been beefed up too, with much thicker anti-roll bars and stiffer shocks and springs. Weight is down by 50-odd kilos. All good stuff, but how is it out on the road? Fast. Really, significantly fast. The new MPS will crack 62mph in just over six seconds, barely a tenth slower than the Focus RS. Though not quite as ballistic when it gets on turbo as the Ford, it's still an indecently rapid thing, noticeably quicker than TG's Slightly Sensible Hot Hatch of Choice, the Golf GTI. Find a straight piece of motorway, bury the throttle in third and feel the horizon hoover you in as the MPS gets on boost at around 2,500rpm and keeps pulling hard to 6,000rpm - it's clear you're in a serious bit of machinery. Mazda has improved sound deadening in this new 3, which is great for motorway cruising but not so good for maintaining a squeaky-clean licence: it's the sort of car where you can be happily pottering at 60-something in the inside lane, absentmindedly squeeze the throttle to pass a caravan and suddenly find you're hauling triple figures and have mysteriously acquired a full police escort, a lengthy jail term and a new soap-wielding best friend called Chopper. But, assuming you manage to hold onto your licence long enough, you'll eventually encounter a corner, and that's where things get interesting. If you're sensing the words ‘torque' and ‘steer' washing like a big inevitable tsunami in the direction of this paragraph, yes, you're right. But not quite as much as you might expect: Mazda has fitted a torque limiter that prevents maximum twist reaching the wheels in first and second gear, or at extreme steering angles, and it does a fair - if artificial - job of reigning in the inevitable wheel-tugging. It's still more noticeable than in the Golf GTI or Leon Cupra, but hardly worse than the Focus RS or Mini JCW. But while torque steer is just about controlled, there's a general fidgetiness to the MPS's steering that makes it disarmingly tricky to thread together a series of corners. Though the rack is quick, the wheel seems determined to self-centre, making you fight against it to hold your line into a bend. Where the GTI or the Focus ST breathe and skim through corners, the MPS battles against them, nibbling after cambers and clawing onto changes in tarmac. This impression of nervousness is magnified by the ride, which is tougher than a Kevlar-clad rhino. Chassis stiffness is great news when you're on a smoother-than-single-malt racetrack, but hit a knobbly stretch of country lane and the MPS is so hard that it bounces across the bumps, giving the front end a distinctly tenuous relationship with bad roads. Avoid the potholes, and there's a pleasing mechanicity to the MPS. The new front differential is a proper limited-slip affair - no prissy electronic interpretations here - and you can clearly feel it tucking the nose of the car into tight corners. So long as you don't encounter a mid-bend divot, there's masses of grip, and far more feedback through the wheel and chassis than on the old MPS. So, despite its flaws, the new MPS isn't without its charms. Think of it as a rival to the hardcore Megane R26.R or Honda Civic Type R, a car that trades cruisability for wiry reactions and tight-apex pointiness, and it makes some sense. But the real kicker, we fear, will be the MPS's price tag. A single high-spec version will reach the UK, a throw-the-whole-options-list-at-it special costing £21,500. You get a lot of kit (satnav, leather, 10-speaker stereo, parking sensors), but none of it is hugely convincing. The satnav has a tiny screen and can only be controlled by a tiny set of buttons on the steering wheel, while the half-leather buckets could use a little more lateral support. Though there are some neat bits of design - the wraparound dash, for one- the overall finish is nowhere near VW standards. A proper base-spec MPS, a car that undercuts the Focus ST, Golf GTI, Renault Megane et al while offering more pace and power would be a tempting prospect for the committed hatchist. But at this price it's tough to see why you wouldn't forgo a bit of kit and opt for the Golf, or save up for a few more months for that proper hot-hatch supercar, the Focus RS. Unlike the last-gen Mazda3 MPS, the new version manages to be as interesting on the road as it is on paper - in a good way, for the most part. But in a market packed with glitteringly brilliant hot hatches, it'll remain a niche choice. Tough crowd. Sam Philip Now share it More Advertisement Find your next car now Over 200,000 used and new cars available Search Mazda 3 MPS for sale I fancy something else Honda Civic Type R Renault Megane £14,050 - £24,985 Ford Focus ST Advertisement Cars for sale: Mazda 3 MPS Powered by Auto Trader Used car New car You can also search for a new Mazda 3 MPS. Postcode Pop your postcode in here (or leave it and search for cars near the Top Gear office. Errr?) Price Go Related stuff News Meet the Mini-Enzo! Japanese kit car maker creates a Lotus Exige rival based around Mazda’s 256bhp turbo engine. Yep, it’ll be fast… Mazda3 gets stop-start A lot of hot air See more news Videos Good company Clarkson tests the Mondeo ST220, Mazda6 MPS and Vauxhall Vectra VXR Watch now See more videos Links Mazda - forum Mazda - official UK site Car manufacturers Alfa Romeo Ariel Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Cadillac Caterham Chevrolet Chrysler Citroen Corvette Daihatsu Dodge Ferrari Fiat Ford GMC Honda Hummer Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Jeep Kia KTM Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lotus Maserati Maybach Mazda Mercedes-Benz MG Mini MINI Mitsubishi Morgan Nissan Pagani Perodua Peugeot Porsche Proton Renault Rolls-Royce Saab SEAT Seat Skoda Smart Ssangyong Subaru Suzuki Toyota Vauxhall Volkswagen Volvo 2 ways to find a car... 01. by make/model Make Model Go 02. with CarChooser It's like speed dating, but with cars. And you always get a result. Go Advertisements Advertisement TG Car Chooser Who says Top Gear doesn't do sensible car buying advice? Use this new interweb tool to find your next car. 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Open Car Bar Car Chooser Compare Car Bar fullx Click to add cars to the Car Bar Close Help Advertisement || Mazda3 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Mazda3 Manufacturer Mazda Also called Mazda Axela Production 2004–present Assembly Hofu, Japan Bogotá, Colombia[citation needed] Tehran, Iran[1] Santa Rosa, Philippines[citation needed] Taoyuan, Taiwan[citation needed] Predecessor Mazda Familia/323/Protegé Class Compact Body style(s) 5-door hatchback/wagon 4-door sedan Layout Front-engine, front-wheel drive Wheelbase 2640 mm (103.9 in) Designer Hasip Girgin The Mazda3 (known as the Mazda Axela in Japan) is a compact car manufactured in Japan by the Mazda Motor Corporation. It was introduced for the 2004 model year, replacing the Mazda Familia (323 or Protegé in export markets). A more performance-oriented version of the Mazda3 is marketed as Mazdaspeed3 in North America and Mazda3 MPS in Europe. A second generation Mazda3 for the 2010 model year was unveiled in late 2008, with the sedan premiering at the Los Angeles Auto Show and the hatchback at the Bologna Auto Show. Contents 1 First generation 1.1 Design 1.2 Engines 1.2.1 Performance 1.3 2006 1.4 2007 1.5 2008 1.6 2009 2 Second generation 2.1 Engines 3 Motorsports 4 References 5 External links [edit] First generation First generation Production 2004-2009 2006-present (China), 2005-2010 Tehran, Iran[1] Assembly Nanjing, China[2][3] Platform Ford C1 platform Engine(s) 1.4 L MZR I4 1.5 L MZR I4 1.6 L MZR I4 2.0 L MZR I4 2.3 L MZR I4 1.6 L MZ-CD I4 2.0 L MZR-CD I4 Transmission(s) 5-speed automatic 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual 6-speed manual Length 2004-06 i Sedan: 178.3 in (4529 mm) 2004-06 s Sedan: 4540 mm (178.7 in) 2004-06 Hatchback: 4485 mm (176.6 in) 2007-09 i Sedan: 177.4 in (4506 mm) 2007-09 s Sedan: 177.6 in (4511 mm) 2007-present Hatchback: 176.8 in (4491 mm) Width 1755 mm (69.1 in) Height 1465 mm (57.7 in) Curb weight 1180-1315 kg (2600-2900 lb) Related Mazda Premacy/Mazda5, Ford Focus, Volvo C30, Volvo S40/Volvo V50 The Mazda3 has been generally well-received by the automotive press for its performance, handling, styling and interior, with some describing it as feeling like a more expensive sport sedan despite its value-oriented price.[4] Some criticisms have included fuel economy and crash test results (only receiving four out of a maximum five stars from the EURO NCAP Safety Testing Programme) the latter of which was rectified by making six airbags standard.[5][6] In 2006 the Mazda3 was the second best-selling car in Canada and the best selling car in Israel during 2005-2007.[7][8] [edit] Design The Axela is based on the Ford global C1 platform, shared with the latest European Ford Focus and Volvo S40. Based on the styling of the MX-Sportif concept car, the Axela is available in two body styles, a four-door sedan, marketed as "coupé style" in Europe, and a five-door hatchback, branded the Sport version in Canada, Japan, and the United States. Mazda3 s hatchback (US) Mazda3 SP23 sedan (Australia) Front suspension is by MacPherson struts, with coil springs and an anti-roll bar. Rear suspension is a Ford-Designed "E-link" multi-link suspension, with four locating links per wheel and an anti-roll bar, suspended on coil springs that are mounted inboard of the shock absorbers to reduce suspension intrusion into the cargo area. Disc brakes are standard at all four wheels, with 300 mm (11.8 in) discs front and 279 mm (11 in) discs rear; ABS and electronic brake force distribution are available or standard, depending on the model. Wheel and tire sizes vary with model, from 15" on base models to optional 17" wheels on upper-level models. When first introduced, United States-market Mazda3 models were available in only two trim levels, i and s, with the 2.0 L and 2.3 L engines, respectively. Since then Mazda has introduced additional models under the Touring and Grand Touring labels. British Mazda3's are offered in S, TS, TS2, Sport, and a top end 2.3ltr turbocharged Mazda3 MPS (Mazda Performance Series) models. Since April 2008, when there was a mainly cosmetic facelift of the Mazda3, there have been some changes to the trim designations for UK cars, with the models now being the entry level S, then Takara (which replaces TS & TS2), the Tamara Special Edition and the Sport and MPS as before. All 3 models use the inline-4 Mazda MZR engine, with various types, displacements and outputs including the MZ-CD turbodiesel, depending on model and market. Transmissions are a five-speed manual transmission and a four-speed automatic transmission; since the 2006 model year, a five-speed automatic is optional on models with the 2.3 L engine. This transmission has now been made standard on the 2.0 L engine in Japan (FWD models only), as part of a minor facelift in early 2008 which includes different front/rear bumper designs, new wheel designs and body colors, stiffened chassis, and better interior materials. The MPS / Mazdaspeed version is only available with a six-speed manual. [edit] Engines This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2009) The Mazda3 features the following engines: Japanese market (JIS ratings): 1.5 L: 114 PS (84 kW), 140 N·m (103 lb·ft) 2.0 L: 150 PS (110 kW), 183 N·m (135 lb·ft) 2.3 L: 171 PS (126 kW), 214 N·m (158 lb·ft) European market (ECE ratings): 1.4 L: 84 PS (62 kW), 122 N·m (90 lb·ft) 1.6 L: 105 PS (77 kW), 145 N·m (107 lb·ft) 2.0 L: 150 PS (110 kW), 187 N·m (138 lb·ft) 2.3 L MZR DISI Turbo: 260 PS (191 kW), 380 N·m (280 lb·ft) 1.6 L MZR-CD common-rail diesel: 109 PS (80 kW), 240 N·m (177 lb·ft) 2.0 L MZR-CD common-rail diesel: 143 PS (105 kW), 360 N·m (266 lb·ft) 2.2 L MZR-CD common-rail diesel: 185 PS (136 kW), 400 N·m (295 lb·ft) American & Canadian markets (SAE net ratings): 2.0 L: 148 bhp (110 kW), 135 lbf·ft (183 N·m) (04-05) PZEV engine: 145 bhp (107 kW) (04-06), 144 bhp (107 kW) (07-); 132 lbf·ft (179 N·m) (all years) 2.3 L: 156 bhp (117 kW), 150 lbf·ft (203 N·m) PZEV engine: 153 bhp (113 kW), 149 lbf·ft (202 N·m) (2006 only) 2.3 L MZR DISI Turbo: Mazdaspeed3: 263 bhp (196 kW), 280 lbf·ft (380 N·m) Interior Mazda changed the rating for US & Canadian markets 2007 2.3 L naturally aspirated engine: 2.3 L: 156 bhp (116 kW), 150 lbf·ft (203 N·m) [[PZEV engine: 151 bhp (113 kW), 149 lbf·ft (202 N·m) (07-)]] ASEAN markets (DIN ratings): 1.6 L: 110 bhp (78 kW), 107 lbf·ft (145 N·m) 2.0 L: 148 bhp (110 kW) and 138 lbf·ft (187 N·m) Australian market (ADR net ratings): 2.0 L: 145 bhp (108 kW), 134 lbf·ft (182 N·m) 2.3 L: 154 bhp (115 kW), 150 lbf·ft (203 N·m) 2.3 L: DISI MZR: 260 bhp (190 kW), 280 lbf·ft (380 N·m) 2.0 L MZR-CD common-rail diesel: 143 PS (105 kW), 360 N·m (266 lb·ft) [edit] Performance Official performance figures for the European Mazda3 1.4 S, the lowest-powered model, are 0–100 km/h in 14.3 seconds, with a maximum speed of 170 km/h (106 mph). Wheels magazine reported an 8.7 second 0–100 km/h time for the Australian 2.0 model in its May 2004 issue. The 1.6 CiTD 80 kW diesel (as sold in Europe) with a five-speed manual does 100 km/h in 11.6 seconds and has top of 182 km/h (113 mph) according to the official Mazda specifications. In its test results for the 2004 Mazda3 5-door with the 2.3 litre engine, Car and Driver magazine reported a 0-60 mph (0–97 km/h) acceleration time of 7.4 seconds and a governor-limited top speed of 190 km/h (118 mph). The fuel consumption of these models average in the 10 L/100 km (24 mpg-US; 28 mpg-imp), with the 2 litre 2008 Mazda3 automatic-transmission model scoring a 10 L/100 km (24 mpg-US; 28 mpg-imp)/7.6 L/100 km (31 mpg-US; 37 mpg-imp) city/highway United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rating. [edit] 2006 This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2009) For the 2006 model year, Mazda added variable valve timing and variable-length intake runners to the 2.0 L engine resulting in a power increase to 150 bhp (112 kW; 152 PS). The automatic transmission used in Mazda3 S trim with the 2.3 L engine was changed from a four-speed to a five-speed design. The larger 2.3 L engine was PZEV-certified (Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle) for vehicles sold in California and other states that have adopted California automotive emission standards. The 2.0 L engine had already been PZEV-certified. The colour palette was also simplified in 2006, with the deletion of Canary Yellow. [edit] 2007 This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2009) 2007-2009 Mazda3 CiTD Sport (EU) 2007-2009 Mazda3 sedan (US) 2008–2009 Mazda 3 (BK Series 2) SP23 hatchback (Australia) The 3 received a minor cosmetic facelift for the 2007 model year with minimal exterior, interior and mechanical changes. On base models, the black plastic at the top of the grille became body-coloured. The front fascia and bumper were changed with a floating foglight design and the lower air intake opening was reshaped to better resemble the typical "Mazda five-point face." All Mazda3 sedans and five-doors gained the same "Axela" clear-lens style rear tail-lights as the SP23 model. Which in 2007 Mazda brought out the Mazda Axela similar to the Mazda6 Atenza . In addition, the Grand Touring trim also featured LED brake lights. The LED brake lights were added to compete with the growing trend of higher-end vehicles using LED tail lamps for more visible light output. The range of alloy wheels were redesigned, featuring a 17 inch alloy wheel for the Grand Touring version. The rear fascia was slightly changed adding a notch on the bumper cover of the sedan. Several new exterior colors were added, phantom blue, a copper red metallic (April 2008), Aurora Blue and dark cherry. The Titanium Gray color was replaced with a darker Galaxy Gray color. The interior of the Mazda3 was offered with several new color choices and an audio jack in the centre console, allowing the use of digital music players. Also, Takara models, which were introduced in the 2008 upgrade, added climate control and 6 cd autochanger to the TS specification. The 2007 model also includes less visible mechanical changes. The keyless entry system was improved. Reinforcements to the body shell improve overall chassis rigidity. The front dampers of the MacPherson strut suspension have been re-tuned to quicken steering response and reduce understeer. The hydraulic dampers of the multi-link rear suspension were also re-tuned to match the front suspension changes. Mazda engineers and designers addressed concerns regarding cabin noise level by redesigning or changing multiple systems and adding sound-deadening material to the roof lining and hood panel.[9] The bumper-to-bumper warranty was reduced to 36 months / 36,000 miles while the powertrain warranty was increased to 60 months / 60,000 miles in most markets. In the UK all Mazda3's have a 3 year unlimited mileage warranty, 3 year roadside assistance and 12 year anti perforation warranty as standard. Canadian Mazda3's received standard seat mounted side-airbags and body shell mounted side curtain airbags across the model range. Previously both airbag types were not available. [edit] 2008 This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2009) In Canada, the 2008 model year was replaced in Spring 2008. An additional trim level included the Sport GX with a 2.0L engine, previously all Sport hatchbacks had a 2.3L engine and came only in GS or GT trims. Compared to the GX sedan, the GX hatchback has body-coloured door handles, and fog lamps. Options for the Sport GX include air conditioning, a convenience package containing power accessories and 15-inch alloys, and a rear trunk spoiler. The GS sedan received standard 16-inch alloy wheels, previously only available with the moonroof option, while the GX had 15-inch alloy wheels added to the convenience package (which includes steering-wheel mounted audio controls, power windows, power locks, and remote entry). The GS hatchback now comes with factory-installed air conditioning. GT models received standard xenon headlights, previously part of the leather package. In the U.S., the i Touring trim level was replaced by the i Touring Value model. This new model added a body-color front grille, fog lights and 17" alloy wheels, giving it a very similar appearance to the more expensive s models. The interior also received leather-covered steering wheel and shift knob from the s model. Anti-lock brakes and side-impact airbags, previously optional, were now standard. [edit] 2009 Initial news reports indicated the 2009 model year would receive a minor face-lift with exterior design modifications that included chrome door handles, a new roof spoiler, expanded use of black moldings on the rear bumper, and new alloy-wheel options.[10] This turned out to not occur in the US or Canadian market. The 2009 model year was only a few months long as production ceased in November 2008.[7] [edit] Second generation Second generation Production 2009-present 2010-present Tehran, Iran [1] Assembly Hofu, Japan Bogotá, Colombia Pretoria, South Africa[11][12] Engine(s) 1.6 L I4 petrol 1.6 L I4 diesel 2.0 L I4 petrol 2.0 L I4 diesel 2.2 L I4 diesel 2.5 L I4 petrol Transmission(s) 4-speed automatic 5-speed automatic 5-speed manual 6-speed manual Length Sedan: 180.9 in (4595 mm) Hatchback: 4,490 mm (176.8 in) Width 1755 mm (69.1 in) Height Hatchback: 1,470 mm (57.9 in) Sedan: 57.9 in (1471 mm) Related Mazda Premacy/Mazda5 Ford Focus Volvo C30 Volvo S40/Volvo V50 In October 2008 Mazda released pictures and video showing the next generation design of the Mazda3. Mazda has restyled the exterior to reflect its current design language and a dual exhaust. Two engines are offered in the US and Canadian markets, the 2.0L petrol engine offered in the previous generation and a new 2.5L inline-4 that is shared with the second-generation Mazda6.[13] The 2010 model is based on the C1 platform.[14] The new model is marginally wider, longer and lighter than the previous generation Mazda3. The 2.3L engine was replaced with a 2.5L engine that produces 167 bhp (125 kW; 169 PS) and 167 lb·ft (226 N·m) of torque. In other markets, many more engines are offered including a new 2.2L turbodiesel engine.[15] Car and Driver mentioned a possible 1.6L rotary engine offering, which has not happened yet.[16] 2009 Mazda3 (BL) SP25 hatchback (Australia) Mazda unveiled the 2010 Mazda3 sedan at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19, 2008. The new Mazda3 is slightly larger than the older Mazda3 and is available in "i" and "s" versions. The "i" is powered by a 148 horsepower (110 kW) 2.0L engine while the "s" is powered by a 167 horsepower (125 kW) 2.5L engine adapted from the Mazda6.[17] Both engines are also available in PZEV versions, the 2.0L producing 144 hp (107 kW) and the 2.5L producing 165 hp (123 kW).[18] The 3s Grand Touring model adds leather seats, power driver's seat with memory, rain-sensing windshield wipers, dual-zone automatic climate control, and steerable active bi-xenon headlights as standard equipment.[17] The hatchback was unveiled a few weeks after the sedan at the Bologna Motor Show. The European model of the Mazda3 will include the i-stop feature which is claimed to increase fuel economy in cities by roughly 12%.[19] This feature stops the engine each time the car comes to a complete stop, it quickly starts up again without the need of a starter when the vehicle proceeds. Full details and images of the high-powered Mazdaspeed3 (aka Mazda3 MPS) were released at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2009.[20] Like the previous generation, the Mazda3 hatchback variant has been selected as the basis for the 2nd generation Mazdaspeed3. [edit] Engines Model Type Power, torque@rpm Japanese models ZY-VE 1,498 cc (1.498 L; 91.4 cu in) I4 111 PS (82 kW; 109 hp)@6000, 140 N·m (100 lb·ft)@4500 LF-VDS 1,998 cc (1.998 L; 121.9 cu in) I4 150 PS (110 kW; 150 hp)@6200, 186 N·m (137 lb·ft)@4500 LF-VE 1,998 cc (1.998 L; 121.9 cu in) I4 143 PS (105 kW; 141 hp)@6500, 179 N·m (132 lb·ft)@4000 LF-VDT 2,260 cc (2.26 L; 138 cu in) I4 turbo 264 PS (194 kW; 260 hp)@5500, 380 N·m (280 lb·ft)@3000 UK models 1.6 1.6L I4 105 PS (77 kW; 104 hp)@6000, 145 N·m (107 lb·ft)@4000 2.0 1,998 cc (1.998 L; 121.9 cu in) I4 150 PS (110 kW; 150 hp)@6500, 187 N·m (138 lb·ft)@4000 2.2 2.2L I4 diesel 150 PS (110 kW; 150 hp)@3500, 360 N·m (270 lb·ft)@1800 2.2 2.2L I4 diesel 185 PS (136 kW; 182 hp)@3500, 400 N·m (300 lb·ft)@1800 US models 4-door i 1,998 cc (1.998 L; 121.9 cu in) I4 150 PS (110 kW; 150 hp)@6500, 183 N·m (135 lb·ft)@4500 4-door i PZEV 1,998 cc (1.998 L; 121.9 cu in) I4 146 PS (107 kW; 144 hp)@6500, 179 N·m (132 lb·ft)@4500 4-door s 2,488 cc (2.488 L; 151.8 cu in) I4 169 PS (124 kW; 167 hp)@6000, 228 N·m (168 lb·ft)@4000 4-door s PZEV 2,488 cc (2.488 L; 151.8 cu in) I4 167 PS (123 kW; 165 hp)@6000, 226 N·m (167 lb·ft)@4000 5-door s 2,488 cc (2.488 L; 151.8 cu in) I4 169 PS (124 kW; 167 hp)@6000, 227 N·m (167 lb·ft)@4000 MAZDASPEED3 2,260 cc (2.26 L; 138 cu in) I4 turbo 267 PS (196 kW; 263 hp)@5500, 380 N·m (280 lb·ft)@3000 Canadian models 4-door GX,GS 1,998 cc (1.998 L; 121.9 cu in) I4 150 PS (110 kW; 150 hp)@6500, 183 N·m (135 lb·ft)@4500 4-door GT 2,488 cc (2.488 L; 151.8 cu in) I4 169 PS (124 kW; 167 hp)@6000, 228 N·m (168 lb·ft)@4000 5-door GX 1,998 cc (1.998 L; 121.9 cu in) I4 150 PS (110 kW; 150 hp)@6500, 183 N·m (135 lb·ft)@4500 5-door GS,GT 2,488 cc (2.488 L; 151.8 cu in) I4 169 PS (124 kW; 167 hp)@6000, 227 N·m (167 lb·ft)@4000 MAZDASPEED3 2,260 cc (2.26 L; 138 cu in) I4 turbo 267 PS (196 kW; 263 hp)@5500, 380 N·m (280 lb·ft)@3000 Australian models Neo 1,998 cc (1.998 L; 121.9 cu in) I4 150 PS (110 kW; 150 hp)@6500, 183 N·m (135 lb·ft)@4500 Maxx 1,998 cc (1.998 L; 121.9 cu in) I4 150 PS (110 kW; 150 hp)@6500, 183 N·m (135 lb·ft)@4500 Maxx Sport 1,998 cc (1.998 L; 121.9 cu in) I4 150 PS (110 kW; 150 hp)@6500, 183 N·m (135 lb·ft)@4500 Diesel Sports 2,183 cc (2.183 L; 133.2 cu in) I4 150 PS (110 kW; 150 hp)@3500, 360 N·m (270 lb·ft)@1800-3000 SP25 2,488 cc (2.488 L; 151.8 cu in) I4 169 PS (124 kW; 167 hp)@6000, 228 N·m (168 lb·ft)@4000 MPS 2,261 cc (2.261 L; 138.0 cu in) I4 turbo 259 PS (190 kW; 255 hp)@5500, 380 N·m (280 lb·ft)@3000 [edit] Motorsports The Mazda3 was introduced to the Speed World Challenge in 2009. Team Sahlen will be entering a Mazda3 in the Continental Challenge Street Tuner class in 2010.[21] [edit] References ^ a b c "Bahman Group". Bahman Group. http://www.bahmangroup.com/default.aspx. Retrieved 2010-12-06.  ^ "Facilities | Ford Motor Company Newsroom". Media.ford.com. http://media.ford.com/plant_display.cfm?plant_id=135. Retrieved 2010-12-06.  ^ "Mazda3经典款". Mazda3sedan.com.cn. http://www.mazda3sedan.com.cn/. Retrieved 2010-12-06.  ^ "Edmunds.com Mazda3 2009 review". http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/mazda3/2009/review.html. Retrieved 2010-03-06.  ^ "AutoWeek review". http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071112/FREE/311120002/-1/ehg-crain.hitbox.com. Retrieved 2008-03-26.  ^ "U.S. News & World Report Best Cars & Trucks ranking". http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/2008-Mazda-Mazda3/. Retrieved 2008-03-26.  ^ a b 2009 Mazda MAZDA3 Review by Cars.com ^ 2008 Mazda MAZDA3 Review by Edmunds.com ^ "Launch Report Mazda3". Car Keys. http://www.carkeys.co.uk/launches/mazda/10477.asp. Retrieved 2008-03-13.  ^ "2009 Mazda3 / Axela Facelift Debuts In Japan". CarScope. http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2008/01/2009-mazda3-axela-facelift-debuts-in.html. Retrieved 2008-08-28.  ^ "Facilities | Ford Motor Company Newsroom". Media.ford.com. http://media.ford.com/plant_display.cfm?plant_id=64. Retrieved 2010-12-06.  ^ "Mazda South Africa - Mazda3". Mazda.co.za. http://www.mazda.co.za/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1248849333432&pagename=Page&c=DFYPage&site=MSA. Retrieved 2010-12-06.  ^ Ludwick, Tom (October 2008). "2010 Mazda3". Car and Driver. http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/mazda_mania/2010_mazda_3_car_news. Retrieved 2008-10-09.  ^ Quiroga, Tony (November 2008). "2010 Mazda3 - First Drive Review". Car and Driver. http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/08q4/2010_mazda_3-first_drive_review. Retrieved 6 March 2010.  ^ "Sneak Peek: 2009 Mazda3". Detroit News. http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071114/AUTO03/711140311/1149/AUTO01. Retrieved 2007-11-14.  ^ "2010 Mazda3 - Spied". Car and Driver. http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/car_shopping/budget_rides/2010_mazda_3_spied. Retrieved 2008-10-02.  ^ a b "2010 Mazda3 sedan test drive". About.com. http://cars.about.com/od/mazda/fr/10_mazda3_sedan.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-20.  ^ "2010 Mazda3 sedan test drive: Details and specs". About.com. http://cars.about.com/od/mazda/fr/10_mazda3_sedan_2.htm#Details. Retrieved 2008-11-20.  ^ "Mazda i-stop Technology – saves gas at red lights". http://www.newlaunches.com/archives/mazda_istop_technology_saves_gas_at_red_lights.php.  ^ "AUSmotive.com - 2009 Mazda3 MPS image gallery". ausmotive.com. http://www.ausmotive.com/2009/03/03/2009-mazda3-mps-image-gallery.html.  ^ "Event Information - Entry List". Grand-am.com. 2010-01-10. http://www.grand-am.com/schedule/entrylist.cfm?series=k&eid=1502. Retrieved 2010-03-16.  [edit] External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mazda3 Official USA Mazda3 website Official UK Mazda3 website Official Canadian Mazda3 website v • d • e « previous — Mazda road car timeline, 1990s–present Type 1990s 2000s 2010s 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 Kei car Carol Carol Carol Carol AZ-Wagon AZ-Wagon AZ-Wagon AZ-Wagon AZ-Offroad Spiano Scrum Scrum/Scrum Wagon Scrum/Scrum Wagon Subcompact Revue/121 Demio/121 Demio/Mazda2 Demio/Mazda2 Verisa Compact Familia/323/Protegé Familia/323/Protegé Familia/323/Protegé Axela/Mazda3 Axela/Mazda3 Familia Van Familia Van Familia Van Mid-size Capella/626 Capella Capella/626 Atenza/Mazda6 Atenza/Mazda6 Cronos/626/Xedos 6/Eunos 500 Eunos 800/Xedos 9/Millenia Mazda6(N.America) Full-size Sentia/929/Efini MS-8 Sentia Sports car AZ-1 MX-3 Precidia Roadster/MX-5/Miata Roadster/MX-5/Miata Roadster/MX-5 MX-6/Mystère MX-6/Mystère/Efini MS-6 RX-7 Efini RX-7/RX-7 Cosmo RX-8 Minivan Premacy Premacy/Mazda5 Bongo Friendee Biante Efini MPV/MPV MPV MPV/Mazda8 Crossover CX-7 CX-9 SUV Navajo Tribute Tribute Pickup B-Series B-Series B-Series BT-50 Van Bongo Bongo v • d • e Mazda automobile timeline, North American market, 1980s–present Type 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s Model year 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 Subcompact GLC GLC Mazda2 323 323/Protegé Compact Protegé Protegé Mazda3 Mazda3 626 626 626 Mid-size 626 626 Mazda6 Mazda6 Millenia Full-size 929 929 Sport compact MX-3 MX-6 MX-6 Sports MX-5 Miata MX-5 Miata MX-5 RX-7 RX-7 RX-7 RX-8 Minivan Mazda5 MPV MPV Mid-size crossover CX-7 Full-size crossover CX-9 SUV Navajo Tribute Tribute Pickup B-Series B-Series B-Series B-Series || home news car reviews motorshows videos Boom boom boom Having less than 200bhp is so 2008. The Mazda3 MPS has a startling 256bhp. But is it all bark and no bite? > Reviews homepage -> Mazda reviews | First Drive | Hamburg, Germany | 2010 Mazda3 MPS | Here we have an 'alternative' car if ever there was one. Mention the words 'hatch' and 'hot' during a conversation (about hot hatches, hopefully, otherwise people might think you're weird) and the initials that come to mind will be GTI, RS, ST, VXR and possibly GLXie. Maybe not that last one. For most, 'MPS' probably won't figure highly, but that could soon change: the Mazda3 MPS is one quick muddy funkster. It's not new though. The last Mazda3 MPS had massive power and a capable chassis, but that was never quite enough to propel it into the upper echelons of the hot hatch tree. This one's built on a very capable base model (as we've recently attested to) so it's off to a good start. In the Metal We reckon the standard Mazda3 is already one of the most visually dynamic hatches on the market today. The MPS version bolsters its case even further by piling on even more surface aggression in the form of a remoulded front bumper (complete with a nice, offset 'MPS' badge), some side skirts, a big roof spoiler and a pair of wide pipes, one at either side of the rear skirt. There's a bonnet scoop too, and some 18-inch wheels. As aesthetic heat goes, the 3 lands pretty much halfway between a Golf GTI's discretion and a Focus RS's Essex excess. It's a good balance if you ask us. But as far as we're concerned, the interior dabbling isn't quite as successful. It's quite limited for a start, with some half-leather buckets, different trim on the dash and doors, aluminium pedals, and an MPS-branded instrument binnacle about the extent of it. And the trim - a sort of swirly collection of red dots - is all very early 1990s and cheesy. Backlit controls - like the air con temperature dials - pulse when used, which is a neat touch, but the cabin is arguably a step down from the perfectly acceptable standard one; it's no worse, but raised expectations make it a disappointment. What you get for your Money This is a car at the top end of a Japanese maker's range, so naturally the spec sheet is long. It includes parking sensors, bi-xenon headlamps, blind spot warning indicators in the door mirrors, dual-zone climate control and Bluetooth for your Blackberry. And then there's the question of that engine and the associated collection of chassis adjustments. �21, 500 is the price Mazda dealers will be scribbling on the window with a big marker when it goes on sale on 1st October. That outlay buys straight-line acceleration that will embarrass almost anything at the same price and a top speed limited to the same 155mph as a load of German mega cars with twice the power and four times the price. To keep that all in check, the 3 has a torque-sensing limited slip differential, as well as a torque limiter that comes into place for the first and second gears of the six-speed transmission. The springs and dampers are stiffened up too of course, but just in case it still feels a little soft, Mazda has shod the eighteens with a set of Dunlop tyres sporting ultra stiff sidewalls. The steering is tightened up too. Driving it Despite Ford's recent Revo-miracle, giving a smallish, front-wheel drive car a 2.3-litre, 256bhp turbocharged engine with 280lb.ft of torque at 3,000rpm could be either disastrously overwhelming or hilariously manic, like being stuck in a lift with Reeves and Mortimer. We're not going to damn the MPS by saying it's the former, but the car does tend to have an aversion to going forward quickly in a straight line in first and second gears without making its driver fight the wheel for the privilege. We should mention here that the test routes we drove the car through weren't the most challenging we've ever experienced, so we're reluctant to pretend we've given the car a comprehensive dynamic once over, but initial impressions suggest that while it's a capable chassis, the front wheels can't quite handle all that torque and power. It's a shame too, because it seems the 3 has loads of grip and a nice, neutral balance around corners; and the steering, while not the most communicative we've felt, doesn't suffer much slack. The ride is going to cause Mazda dealers the biggest headache when it comes to persuading test drivers to sign on the dotted line though; it's just too hard. It's great for body control and feel from turn-to-turn - and distinguishing the MPS from lesser shopping carts, for that matter - but plenty of its peers prove that you needn't sacrifice that basic hatchback tenet of day-to-day comfort in order to achieve an involving driving experience. The boomy soundtrack doesn't help either, which is just loud rather than special. Worth Noting You know, we could bore the pants off you by telling you how many copies of the last 3 MPS Mazda shifted worldwide (31,000) and in Europe (6,300), or how many of the new one it should shift in the UK (a couple of thousand). Or we could tell you how the torque limiter works (a combination of electronic wizardry and temporarily opening the turbo's waste valve). But those things would be irrelevant to the majority of buyers. What is relevant, however, is how mega the Bose surround stereo is in this thing. The ten-speaker system (which is standard) has two 'twiddlers' and a sub woofer ensconced in the spare tyre well. Very nice, and a very effective way of drowning out just about any unwanted cabin noise, be it mechanical or human. Summary We weren't really able to give the Mazda3 MPS the thorough going over we'd have liked to during our first drive, but we have done enough to glean it's quick and lively in an old-school, slightly overwhelming way, and that on the UK's notoriously ripped up roads it will bump its occupants about like a horse. We'll hedge our bets on a definitive conclusion for now, but first impressions are of a missed opportunity here. The sharply sculpted, thoroughly entertaining standard Mazda3 should form the basis of a splendid hot hatch; as it is, Mazda looks to have sacrificed finesse in the quest to out-power everything in its price bracket. The result is an intriguingly entertaining car, but one that's too flawed to stand on the hot hatch podium. For now... Mark Nichol - 8 Sep 2009 Performance: Engine & Transmission: Ride & Handling: Fuel Economy: Tactility: Appearance: Interior: Safety: Value for Money: - Order a Mazda brochure - Test drive a new Mazda now - Mazda road tests - Mazda videos - Mazda news - 3 MPS images 2010 Mazda 3 MPS specifications:Technical specifications for 2010 Mazda 3 MPS Internal links: | Home | Privacy | Contact us | Archives | Insurance | Follow Car Enthusiast on Twitter | Get the Car Enthusiast iPhone App | Copyright 1999-2010 ©