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August 5, 2009
The wheels are unique to the Mazdaspeed3, but some familiarity may be noticed as they are modeled on those of the RX-8 R3. The front underspoiler, floating rear spoiler, side skirts, LED tail lamps and large dual exhaust tips complete the package. Overall, it’s a more aggressive look when compared with the outgoing model. Colours are restricted to red, blue, white and black (they get silver in the U.S. We don’t.).
  2010 Mazdaspeed3. Click image to enlarge |
The dominant interior colour is black, with subtle red graphics, specific to Mazdaspeed, distributed throughout. The steering wheel, seats, door trim, shift lever boot and centre armrest feature red stitching, and the blue and red illuminated instrument panel now houses an LED turbo boost gauge. It’s all quite tasteful and understated, although there is no shortage of switches, buttons and dials.
There is one trim level for the Mazdaspeed3, which offers equipment and amenities similar to the Mazda3 Luxury and GT-E packages (basically, everything you can get). The list of standard equipment is long, but highlights include dynamic stability control with traction control, adaptive front lighting system, cloth/leather sport seats with power and memory driver’s seat, rain sensing windshield wipers, dual zone climate control, navigation system, satellite radio, Bose audio, tilt/telescope steering wheel, intelligent key system, special tri-mode electroluminescent gauges and alloy pedals. There’s more, but you get the picture.
We drove the Mazdaspeed3 on a short track at Mosport International Raceway, on a skid pad, and on local roads.
In short, acceleration is fierce, torque-steer is gone, and turbo lag is a non-issue. The brakes are awesome, bringing the car down from speed with surprising suddenness, but no drama. Gear-shifting is smooth and precise (although second and fourth are positioned very close).
As you might expect with a front-drive car having a 60/40 front-to-rear weight distribution, there is some understeer. Enter a corner too fast, and your steering goes away; pick the right line and speed, and it corners on rails. Nonetheless, in a tight slalom, you do feel the front bias.
   2010 Mazdaspeed3. Click image to enlarge |
Body lean is mitigated by the above-mentioned hardware and software built into the car, but this is still a hatchback, which means it has a higher centre of gravity than a roadster, for example. It also means the car does lean a bit, and you feel it. The wheels, however, seem fully planted, and there’s little, if any, dive under hard braking.
On public roads the ample torque obviates the need to spin the engine to enjoy your drive. The ride is civilized, the seats are supportive and the driving position is fully adjustable. The compact navigation screen is — how best to put this? — better than nothing, but that’s not a particularly high standard. It’s useful, but it really is compact; let’s leave it at that.
The sound from the exhaust is very pleasant in all conditions, having, as the British would say, a rorty note. It’s a fuller sound than you’d expect from a four-cylinder engine; not intrusive, but purposeful.
The styling leaves no doubt as to the Mazdaspeed3′s capabilities. Yes, it has lots of creature comforts, but it clearly communicates high performance, and can back it up with a flick of the shifter. Owners are unlikely to get tired of the willingness with which this car gets up and goes.
Maybe there’s a market for a stripped-down Solo 2 version of this car that would appeal to club racers, but then again, it’s nice to have all the bells and whistles in a car of this class.
Unlike the discontinued Mazdaspeed6, which found favour with a limited number of consumers in Canada (about 2,000 over three years), the popularity of the Mazdaspeed3 should ensure a solid future. And if you really do need more power, there’s always the cold-air intake and performance exhaust route, that will add an extra 10 per cent, or so.
For the zoom-zoom-zoom group.
Related posts:
- Pricing for 2010 Mazdaspeed3 announced
- Pricing announced for 2010 Mazdaspeed3
- Day-by-Day Review: 2007 Mazdaspeed3
- First Drive: 2007 Mazdaspeed3
- Test Drive: 2007 Mazdaspeed3
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