Mazdaspeed 3: New-level Of Versatility And Power

Put a powerful engine to an elegant lightweight car and watch it fly. That is the vision of the automaker in manufacturing Mazdaspeed 3. Modifications made by Mazda paved way for a luxury car with a superb performance.
Mazda Motor Co. has added a more powerful member by the name Mazdaspeed 3. The automaker has applied its magic touch in the production of its one-of-a-kind member. Powerful Mazda Miata parts as well as that of Protégé’s were further improved to come up with a car that does not only spell stunning.

Mazdaspeed 3 is luxury and more. It is based on Mazda 3, one of the best-sellers of the automaker. To make a remarkable deviation, the latest vehicle from Mazda is given a turbocharged and intercooled 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine that is capable of creating 263 hp at 5500 rpm and 280 lb-ft of torque at 3000 rpm.

Mazdaspeed 3 packs six gears into the same overall length as the Mazda3's five-speed version. The car uses an electronic torque management system that decreases torque in first and second gear and monitors, the vehicle speed and steering angle for maximum traction, along with a limited-slip differential. Further, Mazdaspeed 3 also comes with a six-speed manual gearbox with compact three-shaft design.

According to Ruben Archilla, Mazda Group Manager, "There's an absurd amount of torque in first. This system doesn't make it easier to drive - it makes it possible to drive. It'll still spin the wheels, but without it, it would spin even more."

The engine is a DSI for Direct Injection Spark Ignition. Gasoline is spayed into the cylinders under high pressure where it rapidly cools from the pressure drop as it enters the cylinder. Then, along with a dense air-and-fuel mixture near the spark plug, the same increases torque and lessens turbo lag. The aftermath is a car with improved fuel mileage and emissions.

To finish it all off, Mazdaspeed 3’s hatchback body is reinforced with gussets at the strut tower tops and rear wheel wells. It also has a brace across the cowl, a thicker front crossmember and an underbody plate. Aside from that it is given self-leveling Xenon headlamps, LED taillights, rain-sensing wipers and stereo, which are not found on the regular model.

By Kimberly Meyer
Published: 9/30/2006
 
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