Now all we have to do is hope that it handles mods well.

 

Edumds insider saysss...


2007 Mazdaspeed 3: Is It the Quickest Mazda Ever?

Date posted: 02-14-2006

GENEVA — Mazda insiders are predicting the new 2007 Mazdaspeed 3 will be one of the quickest production cars to wear the brand.

Slated to make its public debut in two weeks at the Geneva Motor Show, the Mazdaspeed 3 — or Mazda 3 MPS, as it's called in Europe — shares one key ingredient with its larger performance-oriented sibling, the Mazdaspeed 6. That's the turbocharged direct-injection, 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engine that delivers a whopping 274 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque.

Insiders say that from its position shoehorned into the engine compartment of the smaller, lighter Mazda 3, the power plant should propel the Mazdaspeed 3 in true pocket-rocket fashion, with projected 0-to-60-mph acceleration in the low sixes.

Unlike the all-wheel-drive Mazdaspeed 6, the smaller car will retain its front-drive layout. The Mazdaspeed 3 also should get the same sheet metal and interior updates as the rest of the Mazda 3 line when it arrives at U.S. dealers later this year as an '07 model.

Anticipated price tag: Well under $25,000.

What this means to you: Hip pocket-rocket fans are back in the horsepower game.

 

Quicker than the RX-7? That would be interesting to see. On the average the RX-7 stock runs mid to high 13s@100-103MPH and 0-60 in about 5.1 to 5.4 Seconds. If the Mazdaspeed 3 is quicker than that, then that would be a sight to see.

With that said, I just don't see this happending. The RX-7 was pretty light, at around 2800lbs, I expect the Mazdaspeed 3 will be atleast 3000lbs, also the biggest thing going against it will be the fact that it is FWD, unlike the RWD layout of the RX-7.

 

still should be pretty quick though, great competition for the Caliber SRT-4. Poor RSX Type S will struggle to keep pace, perhaps it's time a RSX Type R to keep up.

 

This thing would most likely go up against a VW GTI price wise. This car would be a great family car. It is a wagon. When this comes out I could trade my car in and tell my wife I am getting the wagon so we have more room for our son. Also it would be easier to get the stroller in and out. Plus all families need a car with 274 HP that isn't a bloated gas hogging SUV.

 

You'd be better off with a WRX wagon if you wanted a "family car" that you could tune.

 

Awesome!!!!! We had a Mazdaspeed Protege and loved it. The wife still talks about that car even though she has moved up the car food chain a few notches since then. My brother has a Mazda 3 though and has been waiting for this. I hope it comes here in the hatchback version too....looks awesome. (p.s. it's a hatchback....not a station wagon....big difference)

 

well as a current mazda 3 owner, AWESOME! To bad its a hatchback, i really like my sedan. Oh well, i may upgrade anyway!

here are some specs

http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/mazdaspeed3.asp

Engine
Type: Inline-4, Turbocharged
Displacement cu in (cc): 138 (2261)
Power bhp (kW) at RPM: 274(204) / 5500
Torque lb-ft (Nm) at RPM: 280(380) / 3000
Redline at RPM: 6700
Brakes & Tires
Brakes F/R: ABS, vented disc/disc
Tires F-R: n.a.
Driveline: Front Wheel Drive
Exterior Dimensions & Weight
Length × Width × Height in: n.a.
Weight lb (kg): n.a.
Performance
Acceleration 0-60 mph s: n.a.
Top Speed mph (km/h): n.a.
Fuel Economy EPA city/highway mpg (l/100 km): n.a.

 

there! FWD....... lets hope they make a change in that department

 

Yeah, they're keeping the FWD but that's the only way to keep the price manageable. The wheel hop on our Mazdaspeed Protege was a bear and with more HP this one may be even worse....but I hear some urethane motor mounts address the problem adequately.

 

Too damn slow? Compared to what -a modded Evo? The Speed6's are fast, not Evo fast, but way faster than a WRX.

And who cares about 1/4 mile times!? Especially when they come from lame US car mags who only care about 0-60 times and cupholders.
"Wow, I can floor the gas pedal and go fast in a straight line!"

No wonder there are hardly any good American road racing drivers -all we care about is going fast in a straight line, or in fricken' circles 400 times in a row.