I cant wait. In my opinion Mazda 3 is the best car in this class. I just dont understand why Ford wont put the blue oval on it and sell it as the Focus?I sure hope that blue oval doesn't end up on the 3.
It's looking good so far...a displacement increase to 2.5 liters and no increase in weight even though dimensions will be larger. Don't care for dual exhausts on a normally aspirated 4 cylinder. A 6 speed manual transmission (like other parts of the world have been getting) and direct injection would be like icing on the cake.
2.5 liters and ~200 horses seems unnecessary in a car that's already plenty fun to drive and does 0-60 in the 7s, but I'm sure the folks here won't complain...
Nice to see Mazda isn't resting on its laurels. I recently had a succession of rental compacts--a 3, Focus, and Sentra--and it reminded me how far ahead the Mazda is of everything else in that class.
I've driven the current-gen Civic four times, and haven't found it a better car than the 3.
It rides marginally smoother, gets better mileage, and has a more stylish interior, but I'd personally take the 3's firmer steering, torquier engines, simpler dash layout, and more accurate shifter any day of the week.
I don't disagree that the Civic is an excellent economy car, but the 3 tries harder to appeal to enthusiasts (and succeeds).
If the 2.3 is being bored & stroke (to match Nissan's QR25 89x100mm) maybe there can be a 'new' 2.0, a shorter stroke verion of the 2.5. 89x80.
Mazda could still 'get away' with omitting balance shafts on the smaller engine. The current 2.0 is 87.5x83.1mm.
So 2.5 I4 hopefully 175hp@6000, 175ft-lbs@4000. & 2.0 150hp@6300, 140ft-lbs@4000.
and throw in 6 speed automatics & manuals.
