Mazdaspeed 3

First Generation Mazda 3

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 point. Some criticisms include fuel economy and crash test results (only receiving four out of a maximum five stars from the EURO NCAP Safety Testing Programme) the latter which was rectified by making six airbags standard. In 2006 the Mazda3 was the second best-selling car in Canada and the best selling car in Israel during 2005-2007.

Mazda 3 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.

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 in on base models to option 17 in 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 Mazda3s 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.

Mazda 3 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)

American & Canadian markets (SAE net ratings):

* 2.0 L: 148 bhp (110 kW), 135 lbf·ft (183 N·m) (04-05)
* 2.3 L: 156 bhp (117 kW), 150 lbf·ft (203 N·m)
* 2.3 L MZR DISI Turbo: Mazdaspeed3: 263 bhp (196 kW), 280 lbf·ft (380 N·m)

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)

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)

Mazda 3 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 spec’s.

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 efficiencies of these models average in the high 20’s in mpg terms, with the 2 litre 2008 Mazda 3 Automatic model scoring a 23/31 city/hwy mpg EPA rating.

Second generation Mazda 3

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 incorporated LED tail lamps and a dual exhaust. Engines include retaining the same 2.0L engine, while the 2.3L engine has been replaced with the 2.5L straight-4 shared with the second-generation Mazda6.

Mazda has not confirmed whether the new design is based on the current C1 platform or the CD3. The new model is expected to be wider, longer and lighter than the current Mazda3; the North American market’s base 2.0L engine is expected to receive a modest boost in power.[citation needed] The 2.3L engine will be replaced with a 2.5L engine that produces 167 bhp (125 kW; 169 PS) and 167 lbs of tq. In other continents it is also expected to receive a 2.2L turbodiesel engine. Car and Driver had earlier mentioned a possible 1.6L rotary engine, which most likely will not happen.

Mazda unveiled the 2010 Mazda3 sedan at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19, 2008. The new Mazda3 is slightly larger than the old 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. Both engines are also available in PZEV versions, the 2.0 producing 144 hp (107 kW) and the 2.5 producing 165 hp (123 kW). 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.

The European model of the Mazda 3 will include the i-stop feature which is claimed to increase fuel economy by roughly 12% .) 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. Like the previous generation, the Mazda3 hatchback variant has been selected as the basis for the 2nd generation Mazdaspeed3.

The hatchback was unveiled a few weeks after the sedan at the Bologna Motor Show. Full details and images of the high-powered Mazda3 MPS were released at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2009.

Mazdaspeed3

The Mazdaspeed3 is a sport compact hatchback introduced by Mazdaspeed for the 2007 model year, as a performance-enhanced version of the Mazda3. Mazda unveiled the Mazda3 MPS at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show in February. The same model is sold in North America as the Mazdaspeed3 and as the Mazdaspeed Axela in Japan. Pricing starts at US$ 22,835 (including destination) and it is designed to compete with the latest generation of hot hatches, including the Dodge Caliber SRT-4, and the new Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit GTI.

The Mazdaspeed3 features the same turbocharged 2.3-litre DISI MZR I4 engine from the Mazda6 MPS/Mazdaspeed 6. In this application, it produces 263 hp (196 kW) and 280 ft·lbf (380 N·m) when running on 93 octane gasoline ((R+M)/2). This is routed through the front wheels rather than the complex all-wheel drive system found on its big brother (Mazdaspeed6). The Australian market receives the Mazda3 MPS with the same engine as the Mazda6 MPS with 190 kW (255 hp) of power. The engine was listed in the Ward’s 10 Best Engines for three years straight.

A GKN limited slip differential is standard, along with a six-speed manual transmission, traction control and Dynamic Stability Control. No automatic transmission option is offered. To limit wheelslip, boost in the first gear will be limited to produce a maximum of 230 hp (170 kW). Boost is also limited in second and third gears. The amount of boost reduction is determined by the gear selection and steering angle. There is no reduction of boost in gears above third.

It uses the five-door hatchback body of the Mazda3 Sport, though it has extra structural bracing. Volvo-sourced 12.6 in (320 mm) front and 11.0 in (280 mm) rear brake discs hide under 18 in (457 mm) wheels.

Critical reception has been generally very positive, with automotive writers praising the car’s balance of good performance and low cost. The review by Edmunds.com compared the vehicle favorably to some more expensive rivals, saying “It’s a lot of machine for the money and it offers the same balance of speed, practicality and value we’ve found previously only in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution or Subaru WRX STI.”

Several road tests have the Mazdaspeed3 attaining 0-60 mph in under six seconds with skidpad numbers in the .87 to .91 range.[clarification needed] In Car and Driver magazine’s May 2007 issue, the Mazdaspeed3 recorded its quickest acceleration times, completing the 0-60 mph sprint in 5.3 seconds, with a quarter mile time of 13.8 at 102 mph (164 km/h). Car and Driver also put the Mazdaspeed3 on their 10 best list for 2007 and 2008.

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Tags: 3, Mazda, mazda3, mazdaspeed, mazdaspeed3, Turbo

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 16th, 2009 at 5:24 pm and is filed under Mazda. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.