The Mazdaspeed 3 has been finally launched in the U.S., joining the many many other cars that have been unveiled there by other manufacturers. While Ford chose to go with Volvo inline-5 engines for the hot hatch versions of the technically similiar Focus, Mazda developed their own turbocharged 2.3 liter direct injection online-4 engine for the Mazda 3 and Mazda 6.

The new Mazdaspeed 3 (also called the Mazda 3 MPS) comes in the 5-door body, and its engine puts out 263 horses at 5,500rpm and 380Nm of torque at 3,000rpm, not quite up there with the ultra-quick spooling ability of Volkswagen and BMW turbo engines but somehow only the European marques seem to be able to achieve that.

The 6-speed transmission’s gear ratios (gear 2 to 5) have also been revised to be slightly taller to take advantage of all 380 Newton meters of torque. There is a torque management system which tries to rein in the torque steer based on which gear the car is in and the steering angle.

(Source) Paul Tan

Tags: 6 speed transmission, Cars, Ford, horses, hot hatch, management system, Mazda, mazda 3, mazda 6, mazdaspeed 3, newton meters, torque, turbo engines, turbocharged, volkswagen, Volvo

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It looks like a shrunken RX-8 but the 2009 Mazda 3 carries a sharper and smarter look. The big grille and black plastic bumper make it look like a pretty girl that’s smiling and bearing her braces. Some vertical rather than horizontal fog lights might have also made the 3 look more dynamic, and the rear lights look a little aftermarket. In all, the new Mazda 3 look is far better than the old one.

The new Mazda 3 is a good car. It steers nicely, has a great gearbox and decent engines, and it’s cheaper than the equivalent Volkswagen. But it doesn’t feel as richly luxurious or prestigious inside, the badge doesn’t have the cachet and many people will overlook it because of that.

(Source) Car Magazine Online

Tags: gearbox, Mazda, mazda 3, rx 8, volkswagen

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