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View Full Version : Mazda3 MPS in the pipelines


Osprey06
11-07-2005, 07:55 PM
MOTOR magazine has a brief preview and pic of what they believe to be a Mazda3 MPS. Word in the article suggests that it will be front-drive only (citing some Mazda claim that they are not "going after the WRX")

I found some pics and a small article online here (go the beer carton bonnet scoop!!)

http://www.thecarconnection.com/Enthusiasts/Spy_Shots/Spy_Shots_06_Mazdaspeed3.S178.A8646.html

twilightprotege
11-07-2005, 08:04 PM
top mount intercooler....NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rupewrecht
11-07-2005, 08:04 PM
HAAHAHHAhahhahahhahhhhaa love that scoop

SehnKhan
11-07-2005, 08:14 PM
Thank christ it says "makeshift"... indicating to me that it's not going to come out of the factory like that. I certainly hope.

Good step forward for Mazda tho, seizing a slive of a market that's been thin of entries of late.

chicaboo
11-07-2005, 08:42 PM
Yeah, these pics have been up before on one of the forums, that is a cover over or inplace of the real scoop to maintain secrecy, so no shaker design for the 3!

Nate
12-07-2005, 02:27 PM
more spy photos .... :D




http://www.astinagt.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10392/normal_323%20with%20the%20scoop.jpg

ok not really ... but it was outside my house last week! :eek:

woofy
12-07-2005, 02:44 PM
more spy photos .... :D




http://www.astinagt.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10392/normal_323%20with%20the%20scoop.jpg

ok not really ... but it was outside my house last week! :eek:

Oh I am sick as today...and that pic cracked me up Nate.....laughing and coughing here.....lol

woofy
12-07-2005, 02:59 PM
i posted that up on OMC as secret pics of the MPS 3 Nate....you should see how many 3 owners......got ll excited waiting for that beauty to download...priceless....

Cosmo Dude
12-07-2005, 04:55 PM
more spy photos .... :D




http://www.astinagt.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10392/normal_323%20with%20the%20scoop.jpg

ok not really ... but it was outside my house last week! :eek:
And this (http://www.webvisions.com.au/cosrod/100_0354.jpg) was in my drive last year ;)
Lucky it was only there so I could deliver it.



MPS has never been a guarantee of AWD or turbo

Nate
12-07-2005, 09:20 PM
And this (http://www.webvisions.com.au/cosrod/100_0354.jpg) was in my drive last year ;)
Lucky it was only there so I could deliver it.

i thought that was part of some top sceret race project you had going, triangle and pins and all!

Cosmo Dude
13-07-2005, 07:32 PM
i thought that was part of some top sceret race project you had going, triangle and pins and all!
It was the race hood off the ol' 13B Cosmo. It ducted air to the top mount intercooler. It did a good job but looked just too non stealth, pins and triangle were for the delight of CAMS :rolleyes:
The 929 battery is on the other side.

mrpayner
11-08-2005, 08:01 PM
This is an article from November 2004 - Clicky Here (http://www.astinagt.com/images/mrpayner/Mazda3MPS.jpg) - 832kb.

AP

2DAMAX
01-02-2006, 11:47 PM
The MPS 3 should be at in June this yr so i have been told :)

CRA23
03-02-2006, 10:25 AM
ive been told that 2, but i still cant find any new info or pics of it

Rupewrecht
03-02-2006, 12:05 PM
Unless there's a concept car at a show in the next 2 or 3 months, i'd say it's a myth. Mazda have a long gestation time for cars

woofy
03-02-2006, 12:59 PM
it has been mentioned in a recent Mazda statement somewhere...stuffed if i can find it though. The MPS 6 was shown at the Melb motor show earlier in the year before it came out, so anyone heard of the MPS 3 being there? I know teh diesel 6 is, and it has been worked on here in Oz for several years really, and is known to be coming out later in the year.

CRA23
03-02-2006, 02:31 PM
i was told by the manager of the gold coast dealer, he said he didnt know a single thing about it just it will be here this year

woofy
03-02-2006, 02:41 PM
There is a way I can find out, just can't say it here. I might try that, but I'll wait another week or so for the melb car show...there might be something about it there.

Cosmo Dude
03-02-2006, 05:58 PM
Melbourne motor show is only a month away.
If it were as radical as the Mazda 6 MPS then Mazda would have published spy photos by now. I'm sure that the Mazda 3 was released with an AWD option in Japan and the Mazda 6 has the Turbo 2.3 in Australia.
That said MPS is not an abbreviation for 'Turbo AWD Mazda' and if you think it is then you may very well be disappointed.

pr1mo
03-02-2006, 08:19 PM
i bet they spotlight the MX Crosssport (CX-7) this year

Cosmo Dude
03-02-2006, 09:07 PM
i bet they spotlight the MX Crosssport (CX-7) this year
Why would they spotlight that in the Mazda 3 MPS????

CRA23
16-02-2006, 02:31 PM
we have conformation!!! the MPS3 is coming :D

"Mazda Motor Corporation will showcase the world premiere of the new high-performance Mazda3 MPS, as well as present the European debut of the Kabura concept vehicle, at the 76th annual Geneva International Motor Show to be held from Tuesday, 28 February through Sunday, 12 March 2006. "

"The flagship of the Mazda3 range, the all-new Mazda3 MPS, will give sports-minded customers a double dose of Zoom-Zoom driving fun. Mazda3 MPS is the second model in the Mazda Performance Series, following the Mazda6 MPS launched in Europe a month ago. The car will be called Mazdaspeed Axela in Japan, Mazdaspeed3 in North America and, in other key regions including Europe, Australia and New Zealand, Mazda3 MPS. Mazda looked to embody the three distinct attributes with the new vehicle: Driving Fun, Ownership Delight and Everyday User-Friendly Convenience. With its compact, lightweight body and substantial power generated by its 2.3L MZR DISI TURBO petrol engine, Mazda3 MPS is one of the most powerful high-performance sports compacts with front-wheel drive (FWD) on the road today.

The car's styling pursues a look of strength and solidity in a design that conveys its unmatched dynamic performance at a glance. Mazda3 MPS reflects Mazda's intention to continue delivering Zoom-Zoom in all its products. "http://mph-online.com/web/prtranslated/00531

http://www.mazda.co.jp/publicity/release/200602/0213a.jpg

http://www.mazda.co.jp/publicity/release/200602/0213b.jpg

or if u can read japanese http://www.mazda.co.jp/publicity/release/200602/0213.html

Drunknmonkeyau
16-02-2006, 03:57 PM
looks nice but i'd like to see a few more pics from diffrent angles.

Cosmo Dude
16-02-2006, 06:01 PM
Well it gets turbo but still only FWD.
Probably down on power a little (compared to the 6 MPS) because of it.

CRA23
16-02-2006, 06:05 PM
still would fly tho, been lighter than the 6 and less drivetrain loss not been awd, i read somewhere else mazda didnt want it to be awd cos then it would be compeating against the 6 they want to sell it in a diff category

Rupewrecht
16-02-2006, 09:34 PM
I wonder if they'll bother to put an LSD in it

Shame it's based on the hatch (as i prefer sedan) but i'd imagine that's to appeal to the 'hot hatch' brigade, and distance it more from the 6 MPS

CHiMPY
17-02-2006, 09:14 AM
I wonder if they'll bother to put an LSD in it

Shame it's based on the hatch (as i prefer sedan) but i'd imagine that's to appeal to the 'hot hatch' brigade, and distance it more from the 6 MPS
Sounds to me like the perfect opportunity to look at dropping the MPS engine into the sedan SP23 :D

Cosmo Dude
17-02-2006, 07:44 PM
Sounds to me like the perfect opportunity to look at dropping the MPS engine into the sedan SP23 :D
You could do that with the Mazda 6 MPS engine now.

CRA23
01-03-2006, 10:13 PM
photos from the 2006 geneva motor show

http://www.autoweek.com/files/specials/2006_geneva/mazda/mazdaspeed3/images/01.jpg

http://www.autoweek.com/files/specials/2006_geneva/mazda/mazdaspeed3/images/02.jpg

http://www.autoweek.com/files/specials/2006_geneva/mazda/mazdaspeed3/images/03.jpg

http://www.autoweek.com/files/specials/2006_geneva/mazda/mazdaspeed3/images/04.jpg

http://www.autoweek.com/files/specials/2006_geneva/mazda/mazdaspeed3/images/05.jpg

BigBoyLemonade
03-03-2006, 07:40 AM
hoo hoo baby! I think might be a potential buyer :)

CHiMPY
03-03-2006, 12:38 PM
hoo hoo baby! I think might be a potential buyer :)
You aint the only one.

I like.

Fro-Daddy
07-03-2006, 03:51 PM
not a fan of the hatch...

should be reversed, mps6 as the hatch, and mps3 as the sedan...but meh

Rupewrecht
08-03-2006, 09:36 PM
Yes, it will have an LSD in it's 6 speed box. And facelifted 3's will be released later this year

Osprey06
11-03-2006, 11:18 PM
Yes, it will have an LSD in it's 6 speed box. And facelifted 3's will be released later this year
and Motor magazine reakon 185kw @ motor!

HI-RES
14-03-2006, 03:57 PM
Hmm I reckon the body styling is too similar to SP23, just like they did with the 6. Still wouldn't mind goin for a test run...

but i'm holding my breath on the XR5 Focus *COUGH*

MitchEG
14-03-2006, 10:03 PM
yeah i was thining the same thing of the xr5, (nice engine, good power, good value) until i saw the interior up close at the motor show...not the greatest piece of interior/dashboard design. Oh well, it whats underneath that matters.

Im also holding my breath to see how the well the 3 transmits all that power without corrupting the fwd steering and handlng too much. (e.g alfa 147gta or astra vxr-if u've seen the top gear vid)

2brag
07-04-2006, 12:37 PM
as i did with the M6 MPS...ill be driving one as soon as it comes off the truck...wonder what theyd sell one to me for hehe, might have to trade the sp20 in

Lunchbox#bg
02-05-2006, 06:02 PM
roumor has it it will do 0-100 in 6 seconds Im Waiting for it aparantly we are also Due For a mps rX8

AstinaBoiV6
02-05-2006, 07:19 PM
not that fflashy stock.. maybe with a kit

Savvyfx
02-05-2006, 07:19 PM
Damn it I want AWD.

Cosmo Dude
02-05-2006, 07:56 PM
I hope they are released around June. Should have a car allowance by then :D :D :D

AstinaBoiV6
02-05-2006, 08:15 PM
hahah new cars r not worth buying ... the depreciation in price is not worth it. save a lil more and wait a month or 2 until some 1 gets bored of theirs and get bargain.. but oh well wat do i kno.. u want new get new.. :p for that $$ id rather get a xr5

Cosmo Dude
03-05-2006, 04:33 PM
The idea was to lease it. All cars depriciate and their are some tax benifits with this plan. I have to look much further into it as the time gets closer.

AstinaBoiV6
03-05-2006, 05:49 PM
ahh yes a lease would def be alot better.. my brother had a 04 XR6 Turbo in black on lease for 2 months.. was fun but chews like a mofo. i luv the digital fuel guage it had. soo u can actually watch just how much fuel u have left after a thrashing. :p

CRA23
03-05-2006, 07:58 PM
i think i heard november for the mps3

Osprey06
04-05-2006, 04:48 PM
Just a quick heads up - the latest episode of Fifth Gear (s09 e04) has a very quick preview of the 3 MPS. Nothing we don't already know, but they show a few minutes of what I gather is a Mazda promo video (just a red 3 MPS driving around, really...). They're expecting to get their hands on in around September.

sonicneo1
08-05-2006, 12:51 AM
Saw mission impossible3 tonight. there was a mazda ad before the movie that showed all the current mazda cool cars: RX8, 6 MPS and 3 MPS. So the 3MPS must be relatively close for release if they're advertising it already.

ace.manley
08-05-2006, 10:12 AM
they reckon the Mazda3 is targeted towards the younger age bracket, it's not all wheel drive as it will be lighter, there for faster to fall into the speedy hatchback market. The Mazda6 is for older age bracket, it sticks to the road like glue.

project.r.racing
08-05-2006, 10:22 AM
Saw mission impossible3 tonight. there was a mazda ad before the movie that showed all the current mazda cool cars: RX8, 6 MPS and 3 MPS. So the 3MPS must be relatively close for release if they're advertising it already. 3 months until release i'd be guessing knowing mazda's marketing ways

mrpayner
16-05-2006, 10:23 PM
You can get sexy hi-res wallpapers from DesktopMachine.com (http://www.desktopmachine.com/cars/22-Mazda%20wallpapers.html?t=482)

Ad's

mrpayner
29-05-2006, 05:26 PM
For those who are dreaming click here (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/MAZDASPEED-Mazda-3-Mazda3-Import-Tuner-Car-T-shirt-M_W0QQitemZ270000106106QQcategoryZ15687QQssPageNam eZWD2VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

Ad's

SehnKhan
16-06-2006, 08:44 PM
It's not being advertised on the Mazda.com.au site (still as coming soon).

Currently have a nice hi-res image as my background. *Dreams of one day owning a Mazda3 MPS*.

I like Rods idea... I too could lease one the day they hit Aus streets if I really wanted to, but based on my past I think I'd rather buy my next car completely outright.

HI-RES
21-06-2006, 12:24 PM
I test drove an SP23 at a mazda dealer a fortnight ago and they said the MPS 3 is coming out in July along with the facelifted regular 3.
An accurate forecast? Hard to say.
My Dad ordered an MX-5 back in April and the lead time from Japan was 3.5 months.....they are struggling to meet global demand

Osprey06
27-07-2006, 07:12 PM
Well the 3 MPS has been out for two or three weeks now...I test drove one today :D

I haven't driven a 6 MPS, so didn't really know what to expect. I must say it was quite impressive! Mazda have apparently opted for the full 190kw (i thought it was going to be around the 170kw mark) and I must say the car is pretty quick - the car makes very short work of the first three gears! What's more impressive is the kick it gives as the motor winds past 2k rpm. Good low down torque, but runs out of puff just a little at the top. Best to pick another gear and let the torque do the work. You can't really hear any turbo 'whistle', but rather when the car hits boost it sounds like a jet taking off...a restrictive exhaust maybe?!?! The LSD & computers do a good job of preventing torque steer (although you can feel the diff working away when cornering with any enthusiasm). Ride quality suprised me. It feels pretty stiff but still rides pretty well. I found the speedo quite off putting (starts at the bottom, half the numbers are upside-down and sideways and it doesn't seem to take up all of it's little binnacle for some reason...) and coming from my little 323 it felt like a biiig and almost 'unweildy' car (which I think is due to the long dash and the sloping bonnet, mainly). Oh and you sit very low, which exaggerates the high/long/sloping bonnet profile. Getting back in my 323 afterways, the 3 MPS is definately quicker everywhere & a hugely more flexible motor - which shouldn't really suprise me comparing a stock 20 year old 1.6 turbo to a thoroughly modern 2.3...and with a 6 speed box

If they sold it as a sedan (and not just the butt ugly hatch) I might consider buying or leasing...:\\ I'm not in the market for a car and haven't test driven anything else, so can't compare the car.

Ian
28-07-2006, 02:05 PM
I'm not in the market for a car and haven't test driven anything else, so can't compare the car.

Haha test pilot!

I might see if I can test pilot one of these as well, and then go back to dreaming...

Ive heard that the MPS6 is only AWD on the straight, in corners it go's into FWD?

LordWorm
28-07-2006, 02:17 PM
Haha test pilot!

I might see if I can test pilot one of these as well, and then go back to dreaming...

Ive heard that the MPS6 is only AWD on the straight, in corners it go's into FWD?
Dunno about that
I'd hazard a guess that its an east west engine, and is predominantly front wheel drive with rear wheel assist...(as opposed to rear wheel drive with front wheel assist).

AWD isnt everything tho...

mrpayner
28-07-2006, 05:05 PM
Ive heard that the MPS6 is only AWD on the straight, in corners it go's into FWD?
No the system works when you need it.. normal everyday sedate driving is FWD, when you start to hammer it though is when the 4WD kicks in.. Drive it hard through corners, hard down the straight 4WD is engaged automatically and seemlessly.. You won't even know it's done it.

chipa
30-07-2006, 08:22 PM
^^ True, but the ratio that the MPS 6 uses has a lot more forward bias than other performance AWD cars. I would have to dig up the original review, but I think it got no higher than 70:30.

mrpayner
30-07-2006, 09:55 PM
Yeh i seem to remember figures similar to that also..

Crocaine89
03-08-2006, 07:29 PM
imagine that engine in a hardtop *drool*