First look Mazda 3 MPS

Although it has confirmed the hot turbocharged hatch, apart from these teaser photos, performance details are scarce.

The company is saving the best for the car's first official airing at the Geneva show, which opens on March 3.

If exchange rates hold, pricing is expected to be close to the current car, around $40,000.

The MPS makes up a small but important portion of sales of the 3000 Mazda3s sold locally each month but Butler says it has a strong following.

“It's reason for existence is more than just sales,” he says.

“It's the halo car for the Mazda3 and for the brand.”

Visually the new MPS gets the go-fast bits that so characterise the current car, but the letterbox bonnet air intake for the turbo is new.

It gives the car and edgier, more aggressive look that is obviously designed to go head-to-head with its key rivals, the Subaru Impreza WRX and Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart.

Apart from the air intake there is low-profile performance rubber, dual exhausts, rear diffuser and sports body kit and a rear roof-mounted spoiler.

Inside buyers can expect comfy sports seats and sports instruments.

Power comes from the carry over turbo-charged direct injection 2.3-litre four cylinder engine, shared with the CX7, mated to six-speed manual gearbox.

The company isn't revealing performance figures but power could be as high as 200kW, just enough to eclipse the WRX and Ralliart.

The current car develops 190kW/380Nm.

Butler says there was no need to upgrade the 2.3-litre to a normally aspirated 2.5-litre, which will power the new Mazda3 SP25.

Apart from power and torque figures, Mazda isn’t telling us whether the car will stick with front-wheel drive or opt for all-wheel drive.

There is also some speculation it could borrow the new “Revoknuckle” front-wheel drive suspension from the Ford Focus RS, as the new Mazda shares much underneath with the Ford.

The Revoknuckle suspension is designed to eliminate torque steer and provide a more connected steering response.

According to the Mazda3 program manager, Yoshiyuki Maeda, the MPS is “is the ultimate sporting expression of our new-generation Mazda3 range”.

“It builds on the already capable new-generation Mazda3 hatch with higher levels of ferocity and exhilaration, and like all new Mazda models with an eye to environmental concerns, powering responsibly into the motoring future.”