By James Bergeron
Photo Gallery:
2010 Mazdaspeed3
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From the sedate to the mental: this week, I am behind the wheel of Mazda’s mental Mazdaspeed3, the little car with big power stuffed under the hood and driving the front wheels only. Mental, mainly because this is one of the only cars I would say Mazda has ever made that has had more than enough, if not too much, power. Typically, Mazda is more about low-powered fun in the twisties.
First thing I noticed about the new 2010 Mazdaspeed3 was the updated speedometer. I remember clearly that in the 2007 Mazdaspeed3 that I drove, 200km/h was at 12 o’clock, 100km/h was at the nine o’clock position and I was constantly in the position of speeding frequently and at risk of being locked up for it. For 2010, the speedometer is updated, placing a more sane 140km/h at 12 o’clock, no longer deceiving you into thinking you are going too slowly.
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Of course, there are a bunch of other changes as well, and most of those can be found in articles describing the differences between the 2009 Mazda3 and the 2010, as most of the new Mazdaspeed3’s guts are shared with the more pedestrian 2010 Mazda3. The interior is updated on the “Speed3,” with more bolstering for the front seats and leather inserts.
The drivetrain remains unchanged from the previous generation Mazdaspeed3: a 2.3-litre engine turbocharged to 263hp and 280lb-ft of torque. This power is then sent to the front wheels through a six-speed, short-throw manual transmission where it then attempts to hook up with the road. Be gentle at first and you will succeed.
Other notables in the Mazdaspeed3 include: Xenon headlamps, power adjustable driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control and a seven-speaker Bose stereo system. The 2010 Mazdaspeed3 is approximately $1,600 more than the outgoing 2008.5 Mazdaspeed3, but it includes a navigation system and a little more sophistication and elegance — so, to me, the two cars are about equal, value-wise.
2010 Mazdaspeed3
MSRP as tested (including destination): $34,590
For more information on Mazda and the Mazdaspeed3 visit Mazda Canada
