Way to go.

As for the stop/start system sounds great. If they put all the stuff from the Prius into normal cars EXCEPT for the electric motors and batteries we would have most of the benefits with none of the costs.

@ FrugalOne – I havent looked at the figures but id say the 3 has a large enough market segment in Australia as-is. A lot more local competition in the UK so perhaps that might be why they are holding off… just a stab in the dark…

But, the reasons why Australia wont get it any time soon are marketing reasons as the 2.0L is the range topping powerplant in the UK while the 2.0L is the base model powerplant with the less costly port injection in Australia and the 2.5L is the range topper. The Program Manager Kenichiro Saruwatari was quoted as saying this in Nov 2008 Wheels magazine page 68.

Combined with the engine of gasoline direct injection, the optimization of aerodynamic and other external measures, the new i-STOP system is able to reduce fuel consumption of the new Mazda 3 2.0 l. DISI by 14% in combined cycle , compared with first-generation Mazda3 with conventional 2.0 petrol engine.

When Mazda engineers began work on the renovation of the entire range of this model followed a very simple logic: The car does not move does not emit . Hence comes the cutting system idle Mazda, which is in Europe with the new DISI engine of 2.0 liters and four cylinders of the new Mazda3.

I-stop system of the new Mazda3 and 2.0 liters of gasoline direct injection is activated automatically when starting the engine. If the driver you want, you can disable it using a button on the dashboard. The system is imperceptible while driving, after the initial boot. But when the vehicle makes a stop and the driver steps on the clutch to leave the car idling, the engine stops automatically. A green indicator on the dashboard of the driver shows that the court system has launched an idling motor stops planned. While the car is stationary, does not consume fuel. To resume the march, the driver has only to step on the clutch and the engine re-start automatically.

The system i-stop Mazda is not a variation of other systems currently on the market. Rather it is an absolutely unique solution developed by Mazda alone and that only uses an electric motor during the initial phase of the boot. Basically, i-stop takes advantage of direct injection technology to restart the engine after a stop . It is this ability which makes it unique.

The system starts the Mazda engine start immediately. Their average time power is only 0.35 seconds, twice as fast as conventional systems.

The new 2.0 i-stop the Mazda3 consumes just 6.8 l/100 km (combined), 14% less than the 2.0 petrol engine with conventional injection into the inlet manifold of the Mazda3 previous generation. Emits 159 g / km of CO2 and meets the emission standards for Euro V. However, with a maximum output of 111 kW/151 hp at 6200 rpm, a maximum torque of 191 Nm at 4500 rpm and a six-speed manual transmission. Its acceleration to 100 km / h is in 10.4 seconds.

To ensure that electricity supply is reliable at all times, especially during stop and restart the engine, the 2.0 liter Mazda3 i mounted two battery-stop . The main battery is in charge of electricity supply, while the second is used only for starting the engine.

When i stop the engine cuts, lighting, sound equipment and all other consumers of electricity continue to operate. Even control the air conditioning is turned on if the driver does not require that the system is fully operational. In this case, the i-stop recognizing the need to restart the engine. The operation of all systems continued during the boot process.

2010-mazda-axela-with-i-stop-launched-in-japan

for a story with some technical info.
Other info is out there too.