Mazda goes sports extreme

It may just be a concept, for now, but the Mazda3 MPS hints at the potential of the turbocharged four-cylinder hot hatch.

Following its RX-8 turbo and Mazda2 rally cars of recent years, Mazda today unveiled the third in its line of ‘extreme’ cars, a tuned, tweaked and turned out Mazda3 MPS.

Based on the top-selling Sports Pack luxury specification, the Mazda3 MPS Extreme has received engine, suspension and exhaust upgrades that improve the performance of the world’s quickest hot-hatch by about twenty per cent.

Modified by Mazda Australia Motorsport Manager, Allan Horsley, this extreme makeover involves an ECU retune that takes power from the standard 190kW up to 210kW at 5300rpm, along with a flood of 425Nm at 4400rpm, about the same as the new Evolution X.

“And there’s even more potential in the engine,” says Horsley.

Other mods include a free-flowing two-inch exhaust system and a sports muffler that free up the turbo and offer a slightly sportier note.

The car’s suspension system has been redesigned by one of Australia’s best suspension tuners, Murray Coote, lowered 25mm for improved handling and a sportier look, and to also help put that increased power down. Zero to 100km/h is expected somewhere around 6.1 seconds.

The lowered body drapes over one-inch larger 19-inch matt finish BBS motorsport alloys with MPS logos, red rim striping and wrapped in 225/35 Dunlop tyres.

Cosmetically, its aggressive look is created by a True Red body colour with matt black stripes, mimicking the white stripes seen on Mazda’s Targa racing cars, and a black roof and rear spoiler. Front MPS stickers on the front accent lines emphasise the bulging bonnet.

Inside the Mazda3 MPS Extreme’s Sports Pack brings black leather trim is accentuated by exclusive red leather trimming. The red theme continues with red highlights in the dash, gear-shift knob and steering wheel and doors trimmings.

“Creating an extreme version of our signature hot-hatch really is a case of making a great car even greater,” says Horsley, the brains behind Mazda Australia’s RX-7 SP and MX-5 SP variants.

“As proof of the standard car’s abilities it finished a stunning tenth outright at this year’s Targa Tasmania rally and first in the event’s Showroom category, needless to say the Mazda3 MPS Extreme lifts the performance bar on an already outstanding vehicle.”

Also making its Australian premiere today was the next example of Mazda’s second generation Zoom-Zoom product, the all-new Mazda6 which will go on sale in April 2008 at a price around $30,000.

Mazda’s first seven-seat crossover CX-9 also made its first Sydney motor show appearance with a 3.7-litre V6. It will be on sale by year’s end around $50,000.

Check out Mazda video at the Australian International Motor Show