Australia among the first to see new Mazda3 MPS

By Matt Brogan | February 12th, 2009

Australian hot hatch enthusiasts will see the new-generation Mazda3 MPS just hours after the turbocharged performance hatchback makes its international debut on the other side of the world.

Mazda is fast-tracking a Mazda3 MPS to the Melbourne International Motor Show less than a day after its official world debut at the Geneva Auto Salon.

The new-generation Mazda3 MPS will be revealed on the Mazda Melbourne Motor Show stand on Wednesday, March 4.

This is a huge coup for Australia and for hot hatch fans, with the 2.3-litre turbo charged MPS appearing alongside the new Mazda3 range (including all-new SP-25 hatchback) as well as the revised MX-5 roadster.

The new-generation Mazda3 will be offered with a range of economical petrol and diesel engines. Mazda is confident it will make significant advances in style, safety, value for money and driving spirit when it goes on sale in April 2009. The Mazda3 MPS is slated for launch in Australia in the third quarter of 2009.

Wheelnut

*****PRIMO*****

Just looks like the old Mitsubishi Mirage!!
http://caradvice.com.au OSU811

hope it doesnt have the appaling torque steer, and dangerous handling of the current MPS, why oh why cant they fit the maz 6 mps AWD system into the 3MPS, now that would be a nice handling quick hot hatch!!
http://caradvice.com.au OSU811

they have copied the WRX bonnet scoop design, so why not copy them and fit the awd under it too, 190kw is way to much power for a light fwd car, to be safe or fun..
Acfsambo

Since Ford owns part of Mazda, would Mazda be able to access Fords new RevoKnuckle suspension and the diff from the RS Focus? Maybe thats how they are going to eliminste torque steer?
HAL

oh here we go, about a thousand comments about too much power for a FWD. I’m sick of hearing about it whenever the 3 MPS or Focus ST is brought up. The next article on this website today talks about the new V6 engine in the US version of the Accord Euro, which delivers….. wait for it……that’s right! 208kW ans 344Nm to guess what? a front wheel drive!

Wonder if such a fuss is going to be made about that one?
Thommo

Wheelnut Says:
February 12th, 2009 at 1:18 pm

“Just looks like the old Mitsubishi Mirage!! ”

…. IF YOU HAVE YOUR EYES CLOSED.

Personally, yes it’s a hatch, but that’s it – no resemblance at all.

Perhaps Wheelnut thought he was posting on the “2009 SEAT Leon & Altea pics released” story. Go look at that one if you want similarities to a Mirage.
http://caradvice.com.au OSU811

Hal if you have actually driven a 3 mps you would know what im talking about, that much torque steer and ill handling in tight corners, is unacceptable in cars today!! new cars are meant to be safer not deadly.. The reason the mps is so bad is because its a small light car and the way that the power is delivered from the turbo engine.. The accord is a much bigger/heavier car, with a v6 that has a smoother power delivery..
Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

Thommo it wasnt Wheelnut,I just asked him.Ive reported them for using anothers name!
Thommo

BM, glad to know. I just thought he was having a bad day – he does get a bit grumpy at times.
Deano

Hal, couldn’t agree with your sentiment more.

I’ve not driven a recent FWD turbo, but recall fondly my days of driving an ’87 626 turbo coupe… sure it was a handful, but within legal and sensible limits it was a bloody lot of fun

D.
HAL

OSU811

yeah, I have driven one, and found it to be a slightly alarming (in a good way), and very engaging drive. But isn’t that what’s it’s all about though? Sure there may be tossers who will make these things into deadly weapons, but that’s the same with every car. If you want a ‘safer’ more sedate version of the 3, then they are available too.

As far as your comment about the Accord being much heavier – it weighs 1570kg in manual & 4 cyl, while the MPS weighs in at 1415kg. So is the Accord heavier? yes. Much heavier? not really. Even allowing for a slightly heavier engine with the V6, there’s only about 10% difference in it, so I wouldn’t have thought that would make a massive difference to any torque steer.
http://caradvice.com.au OSU811

As i said before Hal its more about how the power is delivered as the turbo mps is a turbo the torque kick is a lot harder and faster than in a atmo v6 plus the accord is auto so masks some of the torque steer too, and should be about 200kg heavier than the mps which is a lot..
HAL

OSU811

if you want a ‘smoother’ delivery with your 200kW then sure take the Accord. if you want fun and want to actually ‘drive’ i.e. take responsibility for controlling the car, then get the MPS. I guess the point I’m making is that some people will love the raw, unadulterated power that the MPS offers, while others will think it too ‘scary’ and worrisome. You don’t actually have to punish this thing 24/7, so I just reckon it’s nonsense that the only thing people talk about in relation to this car or the ST is the too much power for a FWD car comment. If it wasn’t ‘reasonably’ safe, then it wouldn’t be allowed on the road. As with every single car, the safety of it depends on the ability of the driver. Hell, if someobody wanted to they get into a lot of trouble driving a Datsun 120Y…..ok, for maybe slightly different reasons

A mate of mine has one of these in Brisbane and he has the attention span of a gnat when it comes to cars – changes them every 12 months or so due to boredom. But he’s had his MPS 3 for 2 years now and is still madly in love with it for the very reasons so many people on this website seem to hate it.
http://ozmazdaclub.com Ozmazdaclub

I have also driven the MPS and found that u understand the power range and torque you can drive it quite smoothly…

Love the look of the new 3 range and the MPS now has a bit of individuality…
Dan

Can’t do skids in it. Can’t do helis in it. Can’t do drift with it. Can’t modify it safely for more power. Booring…
HAL

Yeah Dan, because that’s what most people buy their cars for. gimme a break.
Dan

Yeah, I suppose it’s good for going from A to B then…
Thommo

Dan, you’re probably right, however it does do it much better than almost any Toyota on the planet.
Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

Hal perhaps we should just focus on what it can do! Didnt it nail the TRD Camry in Targa Tassie last year ?

0-100 for the MPS 6.2 SECONDS .
0-100 for the IS-250 8.8

Whos bored now ?
ZoomZoom

It also nailed a highly modified version of the TRD “camry”.

Can’t wait to see what the new one can do
Dan

Whoa! That’s a big call there Thommo… In what terms? Boot capacity? Fuel consumption? Better turning circle? Okay… I’m more after driver enjoyment, so from A to B I’d take a RWD Supra, Soarer, turbo MR2, over a small FWD econobox hatchback anyday!

Mazda should take example of Hyundai with their Genesis coupe… they’re doing it the right way around. Leave the FWD econoboxes as they are, econoboxes; and chuck turbos on their RWD coupes. Mazda chucks turbos on econobox FWD 3, and leaves the RWD RX8 NA. Go figure…
HAL

Yep, BM, I think you’re spot on there. But at the end of the day others are entitled to their opinion, and if the MPS isn’t what Dan or OSU811 want, so be it. I love it, and can’t wait for the new one….even if you can’t drift or skid in it
Dan

Oops, Bavaria is confused about basics of car comparisons again, apples with apples… here, let me educate you:

0-100 for the MPS 6.2 SECONDS
0-100 for the IS-F 4.6 SECONDS

Oh snap!!!
Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

Dan you know what I was talking about,you think the MPS is boring but you drive something thats slower ?

Wins in its class and thats what matters !

We all get you dont like Mazdas,ok!
Thommo

Dan, sorry must have missed them on the sales list…. oh that’s right there not for sale are they.

Don’t for one moment think that “driver enjoyment” or “class” should be in the same sentence as any toyota for sale in Aus.
Dan

LOL! I myself wouldn’t buy any new toyota at the moment, so you’re preaching to the converted Thommo. Your comment “to any Toyota on the planet” was rather more general, and didn’t look like it was directed at new cars was it

Bavaria, I have a daily commuter IS, and a weeeknd drift car. What’s your point?? 100s of cars are quicker than my daily, I don’t have an issue with it.
Frontman

Hal, yes I did like the drive in the current MPS, but as a Daily driver, or something to punt across a mountain range in early mornings (pre constabulary times ) I would open pick the XR5…. Not anywhere near as quick at top speed or down the quarter, but my personal experience musch quicker (and safer) across the mountains with morning damp hidden by shady trees.
Having said that, this new one should be a lot of fun, and I agree to your disgust in the constant comments on torque steer. It is a relative force, it is relative to the idixxx person behind the wheels driving ability.
http://caradvice.com.au OSU811

MY opinion is if your buying a new performance model car, you need to be able to drive and use its power safely and have fun without having to deal with torque steer or uncontralable wheel spin/trac control intervention on any tight corner.., which is why a wrx or putting the maz 6 mps awd system in the 3 would make more sense and make a more enjoyable/controlable/better handling hot hatch! why have 190kw if the car can never put all that power to the ground efficiently, would be better of reducing the power or adding awd.
Dan

There’s a reason why there are no real powerful FWD sports cars / supercars out there in the first place. Because in that respect, FWD is inherently flawed.
Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

Yeah I think we all know that Dan,point is this is one of the best in its class,if not the best,then again I do like the Focus RS.

Adding AWD adds weight and to the price.
Dan

A price worth paying for… with AWD you can safely add more power to it too, to offset extra weight. FWD turbo segment is a joke imo.
Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

I thought the same up till Fords new RevoKnuckle suspension system. You can go fast without torque steer.
Frontman

Dan, Awd IS NOT the be all and end all on tarmac. Sorry but it’s true. Give me an off the shelf XR5 and you can have an off the shelf STi or Evo 10 and do the run from Samford to White Cedar Creek (Mt Glorius, Both sides). I can comfortably say that the “Underpowered” Torque Steering Pig XR5 will be comfortably in the car park long before the AWD is. If it was dirt or not so tight the story would be reversed.
Joober

“Can’t do skids in it. Can’t do helis in it. Can’t do drift with it. … Booring… ” Says who you cant? Heli/doughys maybe not, but put some maccas trays under the rear tyres and go for gold, its fun at low speeds.
Tim

And why did you bring up Toyota bashing in this thread?

Jeez, grow up!

Spam word: STi!
Technofreak

Awesome! waiting for this gunna be hard not to part with cash for one of these….hmmm….
Joober

Tim, no idea always seems to come up, good ol tall poppy…
Dan

“Says who you cant? Heli/doughys maybe not, but put some maccas trays under the rear tyres and go for gold, its fun at low speeds.”

LOL! I think you’ve missed the point. You don’t need a turbocharged car for that, a 0.6L Matiz will do the job haha.
Joober

in fact any FWD car will where a RWD cant , to clarify i meant in replace to doing the donuts/helis, use the trays!
Dan

Yay, FWD, a redneck’s choice!
TAZ19

I would take a wrx over this time anyday…pfft
Falcodore

I have driven an MPS and found it to be a hoot. Drove it on a windy, bumpy road and it handled very well and flowed through the bends fantastically!

I think it was Car and Driver in the US that tested this against the WRX and Lancer Ralliart and the MPS beat them both! Was actually quicker through the corners than the others, so AWD doesnt always mean better.

Would never buy a Toyota Dan? Look up Toyota Altezza mate, might open your eyes up.
Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

Quote “Yay, FWD, a redneck’s choice! ”

How the hell does he get away with saying crap like that?
Dan

Yeah, Altezza was discontinued in 04 or 05. Point being?

I’d happily buy another toyota, Supra was a great car. But not anything new at this stage.
Dan

“How the hell does he get away with saying crap like that? ”

Do you seriously think a normal decent person, other than a yobbo antisocial vandal or something, would steal and destroy someone else’s property? I apologise ahead if you yourself do such stupid acts as putting maccas trays on your rear wheels for skids…
Falcodore

The Altezza name was killed in 06 when Toyota introduced the Lexus brand into Japan but they were one and the same Dan.

Do agree with you about the supra though, even the MR2 wasnt a bad little car IMO.

Toyota might regain some credibility if they started making REAL sports cars again like Mazda do.
Dan

They were, not anymore. The new model IS has never had the Altezza badge on it. Having said that, the Altezza was an awesome car, obviously not the crapy IS200 version. IS300 (with the Supra 2JZ motor) and the RS200 with the awesome 3S-GE engine) were the pick of the bunch. They’re some of the better handling sedans out there.

I agree though, I wish they started selling something desirable again. At the moment, there is nothing in their line up I would actually want to own. Bring back the Supra I say!