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boss Akira Marumoto said last year
there’d be no Mazdaspeed version
of the new
because the hot hatch segment wasn’t a priority for the carmaker. Then
Mazda engineer Dave Coleman told Road & Track
that without “an engine on the shelf that would fit properly,” an MPS variant made no sense. The first reader comment on our Coleman post read, “
— you have it; cue up the 2.5T.” Mazda might have been listening. Program manager Kota Beppu told
he’d like a “hyper” Mazda3, the outlet figuring the 2.5-liter four-cylinder turbo would make the most sense for power.
Autocar
wrote “the project had not been officially signed off, [but] insiders suggest that is a formality.” When
queried Mazda and its sources about the report, the magazine realized “the company is seriously considering a high-performance hot hatch.” What’s more, “Drew Cary, senior manager for brand communications, said, ‘We encourage people to ask for it, though. Our planners and executives are watching and listening to fans.'”
The turbocharged 2.5-liter SkyActiv-G four-cylinder — which doesn’t sell in Europe — makes 250 hp on premium gasoline and 310 pound-feet of torque in the
,
and
. A
next-generation SkyActiv-G is predicted
on the way next year, bringing more boost and power. Even as is, we’re talking a chunky lump of power to send to the front wheels, and Beppu mentioned torque steer. The new Mazda3’s all-wheel drive would alleviate that bugbear.
Unlike the raw, fast-twitch reflexes of the last
from 2013, Beppu says a new model “needs to be responsible and friendly … more friendly than a
.” And, “It should be fast.” The polished looks and interior address the necessary perceptions.
CD
‘s done the math on the current 2.5-liter and predicts a five-second sprint to 60 miles per hour, which is
and
territory, so
comparisons could be a case of aiming low. Imagine a 300-hp engine with a touch more torque and a six-speed manual …
If Mazda follows through with such a product, it could take two years to get the green light. However, we’re told that Mazda’s Los Angeles research and development center has already built a proof-of-concept to encourage and anticipate that green light.
from Autoblog http://bit.ly/2UkqrRh