2007 Mazda Mazda3 Sport 

On the outside, Mazda3 Sport’s build quality is instantly apparent by its excellent fit and finish, characterized by consistently small gaps between abutting body panels and components that give a high-quality finish.

For 2007, the Mazda3 Sport receives a new interior colour scheme and new upholstery fabric with an elegant feel conveying a more refined yet sporty appearance.

Mazda3 Sport developers created a comfortable and a pleasingly stimulating interior for four adults, making it one of the most enjoyable cars in its segment. From its excellent modular entertainment system, to seats with firm yet comfortable support, every aspect of Mazda3 Sport’s interior incorporates the lessons learned in the development of Mazda6 and Mazda RX-8, and takes them a step further to deliver even higher levels of driver and passenger delight.

A new carbon-grey finish on the instrument panel trim adds richness to the interior, while bright silver accents on the heater controls and gearshift knob bring a touch of sportiness and elegance.

Building on methods used to develop the flagship Mazda RX-8, Mazda3 Sport’s interior is far roomier than the car’s dynamic exterior indicates. It is sporty yet comfortable, with intelligent functionality and storage solutions so important to a vehicle in this segment. Material design touches include:

• Choice between two trim packages – each with distinct character – is offered, allowing customers to select the style that matches their taste.
• Metallic-look finish on door handles, shift lever gate and lever surrounds gives a satisfyingly mechanical look and feel.
• A decorative insert in the instrument panel with a hairline treatment conveys both a quality feel and refined sportiness.
• Mazda3 Sport’s front seat environment continues the sporty, wrap-around concept of the Mazda RX-8.
• Upholstery colors and fabrics are stylishly coordinated for a pleasingly modern impression.
• Door trim armrest, center console armrest and other often-used areas are made with soft-touch materials.
• Instrument panel upper and lower sections are covered with an advanced grain-finish material with a tactile sensation that evokes the vehicle’s technical quality.
• The top of the instrument panel and door trim feature a unified covering material with reduced sheen and improved continuity of grain.
• The seam on the airbag cover is eliminated to minimize the parting line and give a neater appearance.

Mazda3 Sport features an uncluttered instrument panel that combined with a clean-cut door trim, reinforce a feeling of spaciousness, comfort and quality. Adding to the refined look, the instrument panel and upper door trim use the same high-quality textured material for a stylish, coordinated look.

For 2007, the Mazda3 Sport features a black interior with a carbon-grey finish on the centre panel and blackout-type gauges that include a decorative insert finished with a new hairline treatment in the dash.

Other noteworthy features include:

• A dual-textured, leather-wrapped steering wheel conveys a sense of the vehicle’s sporty essence.*
• Instrument panel and upper door trim use the same high-quality textured material for a stylish, coordinated look.
• Design of the instrument panel’s central section has clear separation of meters and controls for safe and easy operation when driving.
• Interior lighting concept links changes in illumination to switch operations for improved visibility and adds an element of precision and control to overall vehicle functionality.
• Amber-red lighting of the instruments and console is softened by indirect blue illumination.

*Not available on all models.

Mazda33 Sport’s high quality audio features include:

• Modular construction offers easy system expansion with future media.
• Easy-to-use piano style-buttons and knobs can be operated without looking away from the road.
• A “light bar” of LEDs mounted on either side of the volume control knob responds to operations, giving a visual impression that the car is interacting with you.
• Steering wheel mounted audio switches provide easy, safe operation while driving.
• An auxiliary audio input and 12-volt power outlets provide the driver or passenger the option of bringing their own portable audio player to enjoy their favourite music in the car.
• Up to six speakers to deliver superior sound quality throughout the vehicle.

• Body pressure distribution of Mazda3 Sport’s seat is superior to competing models, assuring greater posture support and comfort.
• Cushions and seatbacks have shapes and pressure distribution patterns similar to those of the larger Mazda6.
• Front seats feature suspension springs in the back-frame to conform to the occupant’s body for increased support and comfort.
• Springs supporting the pelvis are especially firm, while springs in the side-frame have a higher spring-rate to assure support and orthopedically-correct posture.
• Lower cushion is mounted on a molding that is shape-optimized to fit the lower body.
• Shoulder support is designed to be comfortably snug during normal driving conditions and to give confidence-inspiring hold during spirited driving.
• Rear seats are designed according to a similar concept to give rear passengers excellent posture stability and a snug fit.
• The long wheelbase and optimal shaping of the front seats assure generous knee clearance for rear passengers.
• Steering column offers tilt (up to 40mm) and telescope (up to 50mm) adjustment.
• Driver seat provides up to 55mm of vertical and up to 250mm of horizontal adjustment to allow drivers of practically any size to find their optimum driving position.
• Parking brake is located beside and behind the gear lever allowing smaller drivers to operate it more easily when the seat is in a forward position.

• Eight-litre, 260mm-deep glove-box offers space for a two-litre beverage bottle or up to 16 CD cases.
• Double-bottomed centre console box features an upper tray with space for a mobile phone or other similar-sized items, and a lower box with 3.6-liter capacity, sufficient for 13 CDs.
• Front section of the console box has two cupholders (for one large-size and one medium-size cup) with a flip-back lid.
• Rear armrest with integrated cup holders for rear seat occupants (GT model).
• Rear seatbacks and cushions are optimally shaped to give a flat floor when folded forward (60/40).
• The location of rear coil springs under the floor result in greater cargo width and capacity (484.2 litres).

Mazda3 Sport's 2.3L engine offers linear, lively power combined with low fuel consumption and emissions. Coupled to a smooth and sporty-shifting electronically-controlled five-speed Sport mode automatic transmission, or the standard five-speed manual transmission, the engine contributes to that spirited driving experience that epitomizes Zoom-Zoom.

The range of quiet-running, in-line four-cylinder DOHC engines with ample low-end torque provides agile response in city traffic and on the motorway. This incredible engine line-up offers:

• Linear engine response to accelerator-pedal input for immediate acceleration and a lively driving feel.
• Low flow-resistance air cleaner, intake manifold with long (600mm) equal-length runners and high-flow ports for robust torque across the speed range.
• Sequential Valve Timing (S-VT) optimizes valve open/close timing according to engine speed and air intake for more efficient engine operation throughout the rev range, while maintaining optimal driveability and power delivery.
• Variable Induction System (VIS) controls intake manifold length by opening a valve at higher engine speeds to optimize intake efficiency and boost torque.
• Stainless steel exhaust manifold with long, equal-length runners (4-2-1 configuration) optimizes exhaust gas flow for enhanced power and torque, and for a sporty engine note.
• Rigid aluminium-alloy engine block, and deep-skirt construction to give superior transmission coupling stiffness, combined with lightweight pistons and con-rods for lower overall engine noise.
• Cams and shimless tappets have a low-friction finish which, combined with lower valve-train inertia and valve-spring weight, minimize valvetrain noise for a clearer engine note.
• Lightweight pistons, low-tension piston rings and shimless tappets contribute to minimal friction loss and improved fuel economy.
• The 2.3-litre engine’s balancer shaft rotates at twice the crankshaft speed to cancel noise and vibration and deliver smooth, quiet operation.

• Responsive linear deceleration, enhanced by exceptional robustness and controllability, for some of the shortest stopping distances in its class.
• Robust front discs and rear discs are larger and thicker than the previous-generation model yielding greater braking effectiveness, consistency, rigidity and response.
• A 10-inch single vacuum booster enhances brake effectiveness and response by ensuring linear increase in deceleration as pedal travel increases.
• Brakes are tuned to shorten pedal travel for more instantaneous response.
• Newly developed low-expansion brake hoses, reduced master cylinder travel loss, and optimized brake pad friction characteristics further optimize braking performance.

• Electro-hydraulic power-assisted steering combines the merits of an hydraulic system with those of an electronic one.
• An electric motor, not the engine, is used to drive an hydraulic pump to better respond to vehicle speed and steering input for more precise control of steering assist.
• Short turning circle (10.4m curb-to-curb), gives excellent manoeuvrability, allowing any driver to handle the car with confidence.
• Turning radius is at the same level as competing vehicles with shorter wheelbase and narrower tread.