Return Of The Mazdaspeed 3? Sorta

Jack Baruth
by Jack Baruth

To my mind, there have only been two truly committed “sport compacts”: the Dodge (Neon) SRT-4 and the non-smiling generation of the Mazdaspeed3. Everybody else, from the original GTI to the Focus ST, has diluted the “more power” formula with additional refinement or equipment or Euro-style panache.

The current Mazda3 has already gotten plenty of props from us and from others. Will there be a turbo model to marry the big-power attitude of the original MS3 with the refinement and room of the current car?



According to the folks at CarsGuide, who presumably can read Japanese, the home-market Holiday Auto is reporting that there will be an MS3, and that it will be:

* Turbocharged! (Woo-hoo!)


* Six-speed manual (Alright!!!)


* All-wheel-drive

Ain’t that some shit, man. That will likely push the weight to 3200lbs or so. With that much jelly in the jam, and the additional driveline drag of AWD, the proposed 300hp from a turbo/Skyactiv combo engine is unlikely to set the world on fire, or particularly trouble drivers of the original MS3 in a straight-up 40 roll.

Let’s hope that Holiday Auto (pronounced “ Holiday Aw-aw-aw-aw-aw-aw-aw-aw-aw-to“) has it only partly right, and the next Mazdaspeed3 will follow the same FWD, no-frills format as its predecessors.

Jack Baruth
Jack Baruth

More by Jack Baruth

Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 82 comments
  • Flipper35 Flipper35 on Jun 02, 2014

    For 90% of the time you are driving the car FWD is perfectly fine. It will get you through your daily commute just as competently as an AWD system but with less weight, complexity and money. For those few times you are taking a spirited drive on the back roads, the inability to put down all your power from the apex out isn't going to cost you anything but some rubber from the front tires. I was goaded into taking a test drive of a Neon based SRT4 as is was one of the last in stock and they wanted to get rid of it. I drove it hard and it was enjoyable and may have bought it if the upper bolsters weren't too narrow for my shoulders. By the way Jack, our Avenger SE V6 is broken in if you want to test drive it to see if the extra HP is worth the extra weight on the front end over the 4 pot engine.

  • Dragonphire Dragonphire on Jun 03, 2014

    I think the CX9 would have to lose about 500lbs for this engine to work well in the real world without to many draw backs. I dont need to restate what everyone here knows. I small engine with a turbo in a big heavy vehicle equals very low mpgs when you press the accelerator hard. If they are in a pinch then pay for (again) someones already made 6 cylinder. Subie has a nice one, although Mazda would have to redo a few things under the hood. Or how about Toyoda or BMW.

  • The Oracle Well, we’re 3-4 years in with the Telluride and right around the time the long term durability issues start to really take hold. This is sad.
  • CoastieLenn No idea why, but nothing about a 4Runner excites me post-2004. To me, they're peak "try-hard", even above the Wrangler and Gladiator.
  • AZFelix A well earned anniversary.Can they also attend to the Mach-E?
  • Jalop1991 The intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged due to suspected improper assembly by the supplier. Over time, partial engagement can cause damage to the intermediate shaft splines. Damaged shaft splines may result in unintended vehicle movement while in Park if the parking brake is not engagedGee, my Chrysler van automatically engages the parking brake when we put it in Park. Do you mean to tell me that the idjits at Kia, and the idjit buyers, couldn't figure out wanting this in THEIR MOST EXPENSIVE VEHICLE????
  • Dukeisduke I've been waiting to see if they were going to do something special for the 60th Anniversary. I was four years old when the Mustang was introduced. I can remember that one of our neighbors bought a '65 coupe (they were all titled as '65 models, even the '64-1/2 cars), and it's the first one I can remember seeing. In the '90s I knew an older gentleman that owned a '64-1/2 model coupe with the 260 V8.
Next