Don’t let the understated looks fool you – with 190 kW surging through its front wheels, the Mazda3 MPS is a serious contender in this year’s hot hatch shootout.
Mazda has dubbed this car the “wild child”, despite its somewhat conservative styling.
The Mazda 3 MPS looks pretty understated as you approach it in the car park. At the rear, a huge 95 mm tailpipe protrudes from a revised rear fender, while a “floating” roof spoiler houses a high-level brake light. Side on, 18-inch wheels are linked by slightly flared side skirts while, up front, a 20 mm wider front fender and raised bonnet complete the package. The understated theme is continued in the paint shop as there are only four colours available, red being the most “in your face” option.
With its intercooled, turbocharged 2,3-litre engine, featuring Mazda’s DISI (Direct Injection Spark Ignition) this latest MPS model boasts 190 kW @ 5 500 r/min and 380 N.m of torque at a low 3 000 r/min, the effects of the latter figure allowing for welcome push, even in taller gears, from nice and low on the rev band.
The Mazda3 rushes from standstill to 100 km/h in just 6,62 seconds, but perhaps more impressive are figures of 50 km/h to 100 km/h, in third gear, in just 4,2 seconds, and 80 km/h through the 120 km/h mark, in fifth gear, in 5,4 seconds. It maxes out at 242 km/h.
One might anticipate having to hold on tight to the steering wheel while all this power is transferred through only the front wheels, but the car does, in fact, track perfectly straight with the lightest of grip. This is thanks to a limited slip differential, combined with a torque control management system, which control the amount on power shoved through each wheels.
Traction control is fitted, but the nanny effect of this is toned down somewhat and does not detract from the overall driving experience. Huge 320mm ventilated disc brakes up front, and 280mm solids at the rear are fitted with ABS and EBD, while the car is fitted with a eight airbags, including curtain bags.
You can read South African circuit racing stars Hennie Groenewald and Philip Kekana’s track appraisals of the Mazda3 MPS in the January 2009 issue of CAR magazine, in which we put 18 of South Africa’s hottest hatches to the test at Killarney.
Listen to hot hatch exhaust notes.
Download wallpapers from the Track Shootout here: Batch 1, Batch 2 and Batch 3, or Batch 4.
Watch two Ultimate Hot Hatch Shootout videos
You can also view the behind-the-scenes or the Franschhoek Pass Shootout galleries.
