2005 Mazda3...

[LW3]

I read from a Hong Kong version Car and Driver, it said in 2005 Mazda is going to release a Mazda3 with new engine or engine upgrade (I'm not sure what's the proper way to say it cuz it's in Chinese), anyway the point is the C&D said this 05 Mazda3 would have around 280hp and it's probably 4WD. (boom01) Anyone heard anything about this? or it's sold only in Japan again? if not, I'll wait till next year and get this 05 version instead.

[Dexter]

280HP ...

and it has 160 now?

so a 120 HP increase? hard to swallow.

[tonkabui]

wasn't there talk of a 250+ hp mazdaspeed 6 based on the 2.3L powerplant? perhaps this is the same engine but for the mazda 3 body?

[PhatTrax]

possible.. 2.3 from what i know is the same block used on the focus rs in europe

[Black Majik MSP]

I'll believe it when I see it...the 280 # sounds made up because that's the JDM hp cap & would make sense if someone was trying to make it sound like it could realistically be sold in Japan.

Think about it though...do you honestly think Mazda will make a 3 with more hp than the RX8?

[Brian MP5T]

Sign me up!!

[harrison888]

I can read Chinese, you can scan it and let me see and I can translate. I doubt they will make a 280hp version of the 3, but they may turbocharge the car with say 200hp called Mazdaspeed3.

[dugrant153]

If there's an AWD version, I doubt we'll get it.

[Maz3sportGT]

280HP is right! I heard that it will have a turbo and the torque will be pretty amazing.

[LW3]

Sorry guys I don't have a scaner... but I do have a D. Cam... but is really hard to read the text so ... sorry.... but for those who can read chinese... I think they can still figure out what the article is about.

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=13306&stc=1
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=13307&stc=1
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=13308&stc=1

[vyse12012]

yeah right .. and the car will be 2 times more expensive ? lol

280hp is almost the double of the 3 gt so unless this version is the turbo super charged mazda3 speed 2005 .. it's BS

lol (hand)

[LW3]

I don't know much about engines nor turbos... that was why I post this message to seek for answers. But how come it's BS ? if I'm not mistaken, the Lancer only get 160hp (same as Mazda3), but the Lancer EVO got 280hp after turbo... so how is it impossible or BS? do you mean Mazda can't make the 3 the gain the same power like Mitsubishi??? or there are other reasons?

[wangan_x]

the lancer is a completely different car... different engine and everything else...
however i will also pull the bs flag....
1 mazda is not going to make a car with more hp than its rx8
2 mazda will not make AWD platform
3 if mazda does come out with this car it will not be in the price range of mazda's potential buyers for this car because it will be well over 25k

[PhatTrax]

anyone seen that small suv type concept that mazda came out with? i believe it's on the miata's subframe.. looks pretty schweet! kinda like a scion, possibly affordable, hopefully that's released, would be a good vehicle for college people. doesn't need alot of power, but needs to be in a good price range.

[dugrant153]

the lancer is a completely different car... different engine and everything else...
however i will also pull the bs flag....
1 mazda is not going to make a car with more hp than its rx8
2 mazda will not make AWD platform
3 if mazda does come out with this car it will not be in the price range of mazda's potential buyers for this car because it will be well over 25k
Why would you guess no AWD platform?... oh, maybe it's to make sure that they don't compete with their Volvo cousins?

And yeah, 25k for a car like this sounds about right.

[cycoutMSP03.5]

phattrax, whats up with the picture and the msp crossed off

ry

[LW3]

Well I think it's not going to happen in US/CDN too, but just to see if it do make a difference. I also read from the same C&D, it said Mazda is redesigning the RX-7 and they are considering rather or not to use Turbo or N/A. But the min. HP it will gets is 280. so, the Mazda3 won't be faster than the Top Class car of Mazda (RX-7/8).... But anyways, I'm not saying the above is true.... just want to share what I read and have someone to tell me the truth.

(Sorry if I asked stupid questions)

[digi168]

But is there not a turbo version of the RX8 coming out with 350hp? That is just rumor but I don't see why not.

260 for a Mazda 3 might be optimistic, but my friend Brendan who bought my old MSP has had it worked on and dyno's at 195hp at the wheels, so math wise it should be around 250ish at the crank.

[RHAGEL]

anyone seen that small suv type concept that mazda came out with? i believe it's on the miata's subframe.. looks pretty schweet! kinda like a scion, possibly affordable, hopefully that's released, would be a good vehicle for college people. doesn't need alot of power, but needs to be in a good price range.Yeah, I saw it in the new issue of SCC. It looks pretty dope except that it is not my cup of tea. Mazda in general is the shit and I have a hard time disliking anything that they make.

[PhatTrax]

phattrax, whats up with the picture and the msp crossed off

ry
i hate msp's, cuz i can't have one, lol. I was bored, so i made an anti-msp sig.

[Liquidturbo2000]

Hey will there be a 2004.5 refresh modeL? Anyone know?

[wangan_x]

they will not have an AWD model more than likely because mazdas are known for being light weight... and they wouldn't want to compete with their cousins it would be over 25 more likely around 30k and then the 3 would no longer be their target audience younger adults 20-25 because most of them can not afford 30k cars

digi you msp would be putting around 220 at the fly due to a 12% d/t loss in front wheel drive

i would not be very optimistic about a mid year refresh

don't get me wrong i love the idea of a sub 3k lbs awd car i just don't think it is likely, and if it does happen it will be a very small number probably less than 3000

[ZoomZoomH]

i just read the little chinese blurb on the Axela/3, here's a quick summary of what it said (translated as best as I can)

1. in June '05 there will be a high performance version of the Axela/3
2. it will use the '02 MPS model's 2.3 MZR system, putting out 280hp and 36.7kgm torque

(I'm guessing it meant the 2.3 turbo engine from the '02 Atenza/6 MPS concept car)

3. It is believed that once it's finalized, the engine will be tuned to meet ULEV emission standards (read: lower power output than concept numbers)
4. It is believed this high performance version will have a 6 speed manual transmission
5. the POSSIBILITY of AWD is quite high (read: NOT DEFINITE)
6. specialized suspension tuning setup
7. according to sources, this high performance setup will only be applied to the 5-DOOR body version, the sedan body is NOT in the consideration for this upgrade version.

can we say the return of the 323 GTX (in spirit at least)???? lol

[ZoomZoomH]

and IMO, i would only take what that blurb says as only a somewhat reliable RUMOR, and I hope i don't have to explain what the word RUMOR means :)

[slkt]

Hong Kong and Japan use ps, but U.S. uses hp. I think that's why the #'s seem big. I think 280ps should be around 250hp???

[PhatTrax]

Hong Kong and Japan use ps, but U.S. uses hp. I think that's why the #'s seem big. I think 280ps should be around 250hp???
i thought they used bhp.

[ZoomZoomH]

1 pferdestarke (ps) = 0.9863201 horsepower (hp)

this is according to www.onlineconversion.com (http://www.onlineconversion.com)

[slkt]

HongKongnese use this method to read the Hong Kong car magazines:
If they see the publishers just tell you the horsepower and toque, but no engine model or other real spec's, that's just a FAKE news to them. Those news are mostly from some Japanese car magazines or some Japanese car web sites:)