2007 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 

Based upon the Mazda3 Sport hatchback, the MAZDASPEED3 gives sports-minded consumers a double dose of Zoom-Zoom. With its compact, lightweight body and maximum power of 263 horsepower @ 5500 rpm and 280 lb.-ft. of torque at 3000 rpm, the MAZDASPEED3 is one of the highest performance sports compacts with front-wheel-drive on the road today.

MAZDASPEED3 dramatically reinforces the acclaimed dynamics of the original Mazda3 and delivers maximum driving pleasure through outstanding performance and a superior chassis. To create this new benchmark, Mazda looked to embody the following three requirements:

Driving Fun: Formidable performance from the MZR 2.3L DISI Turbo engine, along with sharply responsive handling achieved by capitalizing on the characteristics of the compact, lightweight body.
Ownership Delight: Exterior styling that gives an immediate impression of driving fun, and an interior with a quality feel that exceeds expectations.
Everyday, User Friendly Convenience: An exceptional balance of driving pleasure with everyday functionality and comfort.

As a result, the flagship of the Mazda3 range features a stylishly sophisticated look combined with performance levels that make it one of the fastest sports compacts with a FWD layout. MAZDASPEED3 offers truly exhilarating acceleration from a standing start, superior passing acceleration in the practical speed range and one of the highest top speeds in its class.

MAZDASPEED3 design – the harmony of refinement and sensuality

MAZDASPEED3 styling pursues a look of strength and solidity in a design that conveys the car's unmatched dynamic performance at a glance. Its form is characterized by boldly flared front fenders, and effective use of strong edges on the hood and other elements. These combine with the functional forms of the bumpers, spoilers and other parts developed for outstanding aerodynamic performance, to make a radical Zoom-Zoom statement in a front-wheel drive sports compact.

Overall, MAZDASPEED3’s design is sporty and strong, befitting a high-performance model, without exaggerated styling cues. Instead, the focus is on creating a refined presence.

The integrated form of the Mazda3 Sport was the starting point for the individualistic statement MAZDASPEED3 makes about the Zoom-Zoom spirit. Although it has the athletic form of a high-performance model, it also realizes a refined, supple look. Its front fenders are 20 mm wider than on the Mazda3 to provide clearance for the large tires and to evoke a well planted stance. And to forge a uniform identity for the MAZDASPEED series, two design elements are shared with the MAZDASPEED6 : strong press lines flowing back along the hood from the upper part of the five point grille used as the air intake for the intercooler, and the aerodynamically shaped front bumper and large lower grille serving as the air intake for the radiator. Additionally, the "floating image" angular fog lamps used here for the first time communicate the vehicle's unique personality. An athletic, yet elegant, side view is created by aerodynamic side skirts and 18 inch, 10-spoke aluminium alloy wheels.

The rear view is characterized by the design of the rear bumper, which suggests stable road hold, the tailpipe with a large diameter and the roof spoiler with integrated high mounted LED brake lights. These items add up to a tautly defined rear design that is instantly recognizable as the MAZDASPEED3 to other drivers as they see it pass.

A high quality black sets the tone of the interior, accented by red stitching on the seats, steering wheel, and the six-speed manual transmission shift knob to create a sporty yet refined ambience – the hallmark of a MAZDASPEED model.

The instrument panel includes a matte black decorative insert panel finished with a hairline treatment to underscore the vehicle’s aggressively modern personality. A leather wrapped shift knob, aluminium pedals and stainless steel scuff plates further contribute to the sporty, high quality ambience that distinguishes MAZDASPEED models, while semi bucket front seats provide firm support to match the uniquely sporty performance of the MAZDASPEED3. The front seats bear the MAZDASPEED logo on the seatbacks, a casual reminder that this is the highest performance model in the Mazda3 line up.

MAZDASPEED3 – A double dose of Zoom-Zoom

Under the hood of the MAZDASPEED3 is a version of the turbocharged and intercooled 2.3-litre, four-cylinder, direct-injection gasoline engine that powers the highly regarded MAZDASPEED6 and CX-7. Engineered to deliver high performance at all speeds, along with low exhaust emissions and excellent fuel economy, Mazda’s MZR 2.3 DISI (Direct Injection Spark Ignition) turbo-charged engine produces 263 horsepower at 5500 rpm and 280 lb.-ft. of torque at 3000 rpm in the MAZDASPEED3.

This not only makes MAZDASPEED3 one of the most powerful and responsive compact sports models with FWD, it combines this with a stiffer body shell and a suspension with a significant improvement in roll stiffness versus the current Mazda3 for superior Zoom-Zoom handling attributes.

MZR 2.3L DISI Turbo engine

In addition to delivering a high performance Zoom-Zoom driving experience, the MZR 2.3L DISI Turbo engine also exhibits good environmental compatibility with low fuel consumption. This powerplant is a direct injection turbocharged unit developed by Mazda to achieve three aspects of performance that are difficult to realize with conventional manifold injection engines:

good fuel economy and low exhaust gas emissions,
powerful acceleration thanks to the turbocharger, and
a full and flat torque curve throughout the rev range for exceptional engine response.

Mazda’s MZR 2.3L DISI Turbo injects fuel into the cylinders at pressures as high as 1,600 psi, which cools the combustion chambers (internal cooling effect) through latent heat of vaporization, thereby improving the charging efficiency. This can increase torque by up to 10 percent at certain rpm ranges compared to a conventional manifold injection type turbo engine, making powerful, easy to control torque available across a wide range of engine speeds. This high power and easy to use flat torque curve is attained by the use of a fixed geometry turbocharger.

The internal cooling effect within the combustion chamber increases the cylinder charge volume under initial acceleration and hence the exhaust-gas flow, causing a linear increase in rotation speed of the turbocharger's compressor wheel. As a result, the turbocharger provides boost effect soon after the accelerator is pressed assuring excellent response at low to mid-engine speeds.

High-pressure direct injection of fuel into the cylinder also results in an optimized air fuel mixture forming in the vicinity of the spark plug, reducing the risk of misfire. This allows earlier ignition, making it easy to raise the temperature of the exhaust gas. Moreover, use of a lightweight, fixed geometry turbocharger dramatically reduces the thermal capacity of the exhaust system, minimizing the loss in temperature of exhaust gas. As a result, the catalytic converter reaches its activation temperature faster after the engine is started.

Because the internal cooling effect within the combustion chamber reduces knocking tendencies and boosts fuel economy without sacrificing low end torque, the MZR 2.3L DISI Turbo engine has a relatively high compression ratio for a turbo engine of 9.5:1 which contributes to improved fuel economy.

For MAZDASPEED3, the development team fine tuned both the engine and exhaust system to produce a sporty sound that enhances driving pleasure. Tuning of the exhaust system focused on sounds in the low frequency range, while tuning of engine sound focused on the mid frequency range produced at high engine speeds to deliver an enjoyably sporty sound. A powerful exhaust note is hit the moment the engine is started, and a pleasurable sound sustained in sync with accelerator pedal input as the car gains speed.

High-level torque management

A wide range of optimizations give this high power, high torque front-wheel drive vehicle greater ease of use with more comfortable driveability and handling. Intake volume and boost pressure control sudden torque peaks, assuring smooth, linear torque delivery. Additionally, torque characteristics from first through fourth gears are optimized to deliver appropriate drive power from take off.

Torque control is also linked to the steering angle, and the stiffness of the left and right drive shafts is balanced with the angles optimized to control torque steer. A newly-developed limited slip differential is also adopted to provide ample torque to the inner wheel during hard cornering for smooth, predictable driving in the curve.

Six-speed manual transmission

The new MAZDASPEED3 employs the six-speed manual transmission introduced with the MAZDASPEED6 that provides the driver with the pleasure of having full control over the vehicle’s high power, while contributing to a quiet ride and better fuel economy.

A compact three shaft design made it possible to keep the overall length the same as for the five-speed manual transmission used in the base model. In addition, MAZDASPEED3’s six-speed transmission uses wide gear ratios to fully exploit the wide torque band of the direct injection turbocharged engine. The transmission’s high-ratio sixth gear contributes to a quieter ride and improves fuel economy during high-speed cruising. Triple cone synchronizers for first through third gears and a double cone synchronizer for fourth gear assure ample sync capacity to enable a short, clean action shift stroke and comfortable shift feel.

High body rigidity and specially tuned chassis

The new MAZDASPEED3 features a body with greater rigidity than the original Mazda3 model. The MAZDASPEED version is based on the Mazda3 Sport, with local reinforcements added to realize a body sufficiently stiff and robust to stand up to the extra demands of sporty driving. Suspension and brakes have also been specially tuned for the MAZDASPEED. These improvements assure a body and chassis capable of easily handling the extremely high power delivered by the MZR 2.3L DISI Turbo engine.

Body rigidity has been increased by several features, including a reinforced front cowl member that is joined directly to a plate in the top section of the front damper mount, assuring the same rigidity as a car fitted with strut tower bars. This prevents deformation of the front suspension towers and maintains correct suspension geometry. In the lower body, a large closed section member is employed to reinforce the floor tunnel which improves the torsional rigidity of whole body. At the rear, the gusset introduced at the bottom end of the rear suspension towers restrains the tendency of the towers to displace inwards which maintains the correct suspension geometry in the rear.

Specially tuned suspension gives 60 percent improvement in roll stiffness

Special suspension tuning was conducted to support the high power output of MAZDASPEED3’s engine. Both the MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension have higher coil spring rates and larger diameter stabilizer bars than the Mazda3. Dampers also have a higher damping force on the MAZDASPEED3. Damping force on both jounce and rebound is approximately 6 times better at low piston speed, and about 1.3 times better at moderate piston speed. Combined with the reinforced coil springs

Focus on safety – upgraded brake system to match the high power

The starting point for MAZDASPEED3 safety package was to preserve the accurate, predictable handling of the original Mazda3. Large diameter 4-wheel disc brakes, ventilated 320 mm discs at front and solid 280 mm discs at rear, 8+9 inch tandem brake booster and a large 1 inch diameter master cylinder yield powerful and stable braking.

Standard equipment includes 4-wheel ABS, emergency brake assist, and dynamic stability control (DSC), all of which provide active safety for the MAZDASPEED3 in a range of driving scenarios. In addition, a rain-sensing wiper system and auto light system are also standard to give the driver a clear view of the road and help prevent accidents.

For protection during collision from any direction, MAZDASPEED3 employs the unique Mazda Advanced Impact energy Distribution and Absorption System (MAIDAS) to deliver a robust and safe body structure. Inside the cabin, front dual airbags are fitted as standard, along with side and curtain airbags. A collapsible brake pedal and revised steering column structure reduce the risk of injury to the driver's lower legs, while a seat belt reminder system, which confirms whether seatbelts are buckled or not, is also included to support the safety of the front and rear occupants.

S = Standard     O = Optional       LP = Leather Package

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