![]() ![]() But while the turbo's "phoooar" resonates loudly inside the cabin when pushed hard from 4,000 rpm, we feel the 3 could do with some extra exhaust note tweaking befitting the car's character. Power comes online from 2,500 rpm and stays hot all the way up to the 6,800-rpm redline, with its linear torque response more akin to a gutsy V6 than a four-cylinder turbo. That 264 hp is delivered through a clean-clicking six-speed manual gearbox with short throws and a firm touch. That translates into a rather quick 0-60-mph time of 6.1 seconds, according to Maeda. Tipping the scales at a mere 3,060 pounds, the MPS is 154 pounds lighter than the GTI, and boasts a 64-horsepower and a whopping 74 pound-feet of torque power advantage over its German rival.Įmploying the same 2.3-liter turbo four as the Mazdaspeed 6, but with retuned intake and exhaust systems, and a modified ECU that reduces torque levels in 1st through 3rd gears, this super-Mazda generates 264 hp (JIS) at 5,500 rpm and 280 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm. the standard Golf, the hot 3's on-road performance makes this four-door the quickest hot hatch on the market. The MPS's 18-inch rims and subtle yet sporty aeropart upgrades around the grille, bumpers and rear roof spoiler give the car the aggressive look it must have, while its two-tone interior trim, red stitching and polished-aluminum pedals make it all feel very, well, European.īut while the extent of cosmetic surgery parallels the GTI vs. Targeted directly at the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTI, Ford Focus ST and Alfa Romeo 147 GTA, the new kid on the block has the credentials to really throw some fireworks into this hotly contested genre.Īt our test-drive near Mount Fuji, Chief Engineer Tatsuo Maeda pulled no punches when he said that his team's benchmark during the Axela MPS's development was the GTI, but with the intent to take the total package to the next level. Simply put, this car will cause many headaches for the segment's heavy hitters. Inside Line was first in line to check it out. in mid-September and has just gone on sale in Japan as the Mazda Axela MPS. In just under three years, the popular hatch has sold more than 920,000 units worldwide and rates as one of the most competitive and best-handling hatches on the market.īut in the hot-hatch segment, Mazda lacked presence. If Mazda ever needed a successful volume-selling car to ensure its survival, then the Mazda 3 is it. ![]()
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