Mazda 3 MPS Targa Tasmania
April 17, 2007 by Alborz Fallah
Well it seems that Mazda is trying to build some credibility for the Mazda 3 MPS. The Hot hatch which was released last year (to a great deal of hype) has been a little lacklustre in the sales department.
Running the Mazda 6 MPS engine and turbo, the 190kW (380Nm of Torque) Mazda 3 has some problems putting all that power down via the front-wheel drive system. When we drove the Mazda 3 MPS, torque steer was a very evident problem around every corner.
Nonetheless, Mazda have decided to enter the five-day tarmac event in Tasmania. The event starts today from the state’s northern city of Launceston.
Mazda have set up their own website to cover the Mazda 3 MPS’ progress.
Print it: 
Would have been smarter to do this when they released the vehicle a year or so ago but it would still be nice to watch how it performs. MMAL did this 5 or so years ago with the launch of the Ralliart Magna and most motoring journalists were impressed even with the mild torque steer of the manual version. I hope this pays off for Mazda anyway because they make some great cars.
It came 10th out of 120plus cars in the 6 day trecherous all-weather event!!! How is that for a FWD you afraid-of-torque-steer FWD bashers!? Oh, did i also forget to mention both Mazdas entered were in near factory trim? Only modifications allowed were spring/shock changes, brake pads, tyres, muffler change and safety gear.
The 3 was the first production spec car in the race. The clincher, the 3MPS was 5th, yes 5th fastest on the WETTEST stage of the event! What can you do though, as far as most aussies are concerned FWD is hopeless and RWD, AWD is the king. Thing is, in snow/rain etc, it is widely regarded, mostly overseas, that FWD is actually superior to RWD WRT control. (casts line and waits for the obvious bite!) ;-)
Torque steer happens when you apply too much throttle, particularly with boosted power, and the power starts steering the wheels. Are you accelerating in every corner? Hmmm.
If you did that in a RWD, would you not expect it to break traction? Or oversteer?
What you are doing is breaking traction with the front wheels in the same fashion. Or understeering!
Im so glad that other people can see the wrong in what you are writing and correct you for it, even if you persist.
The Mazda bashing is also a little too obvious guys, you can hardly be impartial.