Filed under: LA Auto Show, Sedans/Saloons, Mazda
LA Preview: 2010 Mazda3 gains 167-hp 2.5L
Click above for three high-res gallery of the 2010 Mazda3
Mazda has let loose a few more details on its 2010 Mazda3 just two days ahead of its official unveiling at the LA Auto Show. As before, there will be a base 2.0-liter engine that comes standard along with an optional larger unit, now enlarged to 2.5 liters. The displacement bump comes with a power increase, naturally, up to 167 galloping ponies from 156. Both engines sit under a newly-domed hood and gulp air from a smiling front grille that seems to be the new car's most controversial styling feature. As before, both a four-door hatch/wagon and a sedan will be offered, though we're only scheduled to see the trunked model this week in LA with the five-door set to debut shortly thereafter. Here's hoping that the zoomy Mazdaspeed3 sees additional improvements beyond the new digs, as well. Check out the official press release from Mazda that arrived today for all the details we know so far.
Gallery: 2010 Mazda3
[Source: Mazda]
PRESS RELEASE:
ALL-NEW MAZDA3 SEDAN TO DEBUT AT 2008 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW
LOS ANGELES, Nov 17, 2008 - On November 19, 2008, at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, Mazda will unveil the all-new 2010 MAZDA3, the much-anticipated successor to the company's best-selling car globally.
The new MAZDA3 is perfectly positioned for the rapidly changing auto market. It offers a mix of quality, styling, power, dynamics and fit and finish that hits the bulls-eye for today's customers. In typical Mazda fashion, MAZDA3 will offer standard and optional equipment simply not found on other cars in this class - exactly what buyers looking for more value and less bulk want.
Environmental and safety features, based on Mazda's long-term "Sustainable Zoom-Zoom" vision, aim to balance fun-to-drive with what's right for the environment. Add in bold, expressive styling incorporating Mazda's dynamic design elements, and the all-new MAZDA3 is everything a driver could ask for in a compact sedan.
Since its launch in 2003, the current MAZDA3 has sold nearly 1.8 million vehicles in over 100 countries and has won more than 90 global motoring awards to date. The MAZDA3 accounts for almost one in three Mazdas sold.
Highlights of the 2010 MAZDA3 sedan include, either as standard or optional:
* Available new 167 horsepower MZR 2.5L engine
* Self leveling Bi-Xenon headlights
* Adaptive Front Lighting System
* Mazda's advanced keyless entry and push-button start
* Hands-free Bluetooth® cell phone and audio player integration
* Class-leading levels of reduced wind and road noise
* Class-leading aerodynamics - 0.29 coefficient of drag
* A strategically placed Multi-Information Display (MID) that displays important driver information such as audio settings, trip computer and navigation
* Power driver seat with memory
* 10 speaker BOSE® Centerpoint surround-sound audio system
Following the world debut of the North American-specification four-door sedan at the
show, the five-door hatchback version will be revealed in line with Mazda's global sales schedule.
The balance of Mazda's full 2009 lineup will also be on display at the show, including the all-new 2009 MAZDA6 sports sedan, CX-9, CX-7, MAZDA5, RX-8, MX-5 Miata, Tribute and Tribute HEV. All attending media are invited to the company's press conference on the Mazda show stand at 12:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008. Those not attending the Los Angeles Auto Show can watch the live reveal at http://www.mazda3reveal.com/ on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 12:20 p.m. PST. The Los Angeles Auto Show is open to the public November 21-30, 2008, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario, Canada, and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Frank 3:43PM (11/18/2008)
good chick car.
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Xcountryflyer 3:54PM (11/18/2008)
A chick car? What makes a Mazda3 a chick car?
Frank 3:56PM (11/18/2008)
the new front - dude it smiles. reminds me of an eclipse.
Judy Zik 4:25PM (11/18/2008)
I think it is absolutely adorable. The Neon sold in droves because it looked cute as did the Bug so I don't think this is a bad thing and I would like to point out it wasn't just women buying them. Not that it is anywhere near as over the top as either of those two. I would buy one of these. So yes it does have appeal to this woman's taste. But unless it only comes in pink I doubt women will be the only ones buying it. I'll take mine in blue.
The Luigiian 5:14PM (11/18/2008)
Looks better than the Ford Focus its former shareholder makes.
Luis 6:15PM (11/18/2008)
For those who may be interested, Mazda is doing a live unveil on the 19th here:
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=MAZDA3Reveal&referrer=http://www.mazda3reveal.com&campId=4741&bhcp=1
ugg.tryptophan 11:18PM (11/18/2008)
i think you mean, good, chic car
Asusguy 3:48PM (11/18/2008)
Proof in concept that small cars can look hip too, without resorting to Scion weirdness.
Also, center ridge theme (on the hood) can look good without ending in an ugly beak-shield like the disputed Acura execution.
Kudos to Mazda styling team.
A thought just crossed my mind: how come Nissan guys can't come up with something like this instead of the absolute abhorrence called the Sentra?
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Tim 3:50PM (11/18/2008)
Cool tail-lights
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Gomi 4:28PM (11/18/2008)
You can see the furai concept in them. pretty cool.
Flea 3:55PM (11/18/2008)
I'm sorry, 11 hp from .5 added liters? that's pooor. the 2.4 Alfas have 210 hp...
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HeyHuub 4:07PM (11/18/2008)
First off, the 2.4 Alfa's you're talking about are turbodiesels.
Second, it's not all about peak horsepower, especially not in a family car like this.
rodro 4:27PM (11/18/2008)
11 hp more than the actual 2.3 engine !!!
CityWok 4:40PM (11/18/2008)
That's .2 that was added, it's being compared to the 2.3 (the bigger engine from the current model).
Flea 4:52PM (11/18/2008)
fair enough, I misread.
djSyndrome916 5:08PM (11/18/2008)
No, from .2 L of added displacement. The previous engine was 2.3L. Reading - it's what's for breakfast!
inteller 5:37PM (11/18/2008)
2.5? and 167? man that's weak. It better have a buttload of torque to make up for that anemic hp. If it was 167/167 THAT would be nice. But hell, there have been 2.0ls putting out 170 for a while now.
BoxerFanatic 3:55PM (11/18/2008)
At least it is better looking than the US Market 6...
I am still unconvinced of Mazda's zoom-zoom credentials lately.
The Miata gaining weight but not a turbo, and looking like a bar of soap.
Mazda 6 getting screwed up for the US, while the rest of the world gets the good ones.
No coupes, except the uglier re-fresh of the RX8... No RWD sedans, either.
(I still think RX8 should be come a 4-door 4-seater, and get a companion 3-door fastback real coupe, rotary and/or piston driven.)
and a lot of focus on SUVs...
Lots of Nagare-style, or whatever they call their show-car styling language, but hardly any good looking production cars...
Furai as a tease of how brutal a mazda could look, if they actually delivered something...
The Mazda3 is alright, but the Mazdaspeed was still FWD, and not offered in the better looking sedan format, just like the old mazdaspeed6 wasn't offered in hatchback or wagon bodystyle.
Now Mazda is pulling from Ford's playbook, and pulling the manual transmissions out of the premium V6 models, like the new 6...
I really like my NB Miata... but it might be our last Mazda, or at least the latest model year, if I decide to work up an FC or FD RX7...
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ASEVENSEE4 4:36PM (11/18/2008)
Plain and simple the Mazdaspeed6 and Mazda6 got what they needed because they both didn't sell nearly as well as Mazda wanted them to, one got axed and one got supersized. They dropped the V6 manual because it doesn't sell! It doesn't warrant the tooling costs or R&D costs to drop in a transmission that makes up MUCH less than 10% of overall model sales. I also think the US 6 is much better looking than the one across the way, I've seen it, driven it and sat inside of it, I love it.
The MX-5 is at it's best. Some don't like the styling and so what, that doesn't make it any less of a winner.
Styling is subjective and most of the hatchback 3 owners HATE the way the sedan looks. FWD and it still rocks. What's your point? Everything doesn't need AWD.
They came out with two awesome crossovers-- Period, the Tribute wasn't cutting it at ALL.
BoxerFanatic 6:53PM (11/18/2008)
I am not saying that they are the worst company out there...
But "The soul of a sports car" is being let down.
FWD doesn't rock, and not everyone likes the 5-door wagon-wannabe look, either, so why not offer Mazdaspeed as both? AWD is better, but so is RWD, and the "sports car" company doesn't have a two seat sports car with a fixed roof anymore, and the Miata is the only sports car they have at all.
Thanks, but I think I would buy either a Mazdaspeed NB Miata, or a used porsche boxster before a new NC Miata.
Their crossovers might be fantastic, but they are nowhere near sports cars. Maybe they can call themselves the zoomy-box company or something. I don't deny that the CX series are better than the tribute, but that doesn't make them sports cars, it seems to make mazda almost ignore sports cars.
That is unfortunate when they were one of the very few truly affordable ones, back in the FC RX7 days. FD got a bit expensive, but very good, and now they are gone, if you want a stiff chassis with a fixed roof. The RX8 is not as light, pure, or attractive as the hatchback RX7 was, nor as powerful as the turbocharged rotaries were.
And what about the 10% of people who DEMAND a stick shift in a car other than an econo-box or Miata? The "soul of a sports car" company is not wanting to sell them a Mazda6. That used to be the REASON I considered getting a previous 6, but would never consider a Fusion or Milan without one.
Now ALL THREE are in that non-consideration camp for both automatic transmission AND FWD. Deal breakers BOTH for this sports car guy, who also owns a sport sedan.
I nearly bought a 6 5-door sedan, but Subaru edged them out on power, and drivetrain, despite the 6 5-door practicality, and the MS6's Direct injection and other features. Mazda lost my sale by || that much. It isn't my job to play existing favorites, it is my choice to choose my new favorites.
But if I were to re-visit that, the stick shift, and the 5-door hatchback are both gone, even if I were to overlook the FWD drivetrain. Let alone the turbocharged engine and semi-AWD drivetrain.
Mazda has the history and they have the chassis setup to DOMINATE the affordable sports car market up to 30, or maybe even 40 thousand dollars. But no.
The Miata is nicer inside, but less powerful than the Sol/Sky turbo cars, and there is no coupe, and RX8 is too compromised as either a 4 door, or a sports car. It lives in limbo between the two, and it's new looks, and existing fuel consumption to torque ratio, don't help it any.
Nissan and Subaru/Toyota/Scion are going to bring front engined, RWD 2+2 cars to market, with light weight. The Hyundai Genesis is here, albeit not as light. RX8 is not the competitor that Mazda needs.
Mazda needs to be dominating this segment, even if it is a more focused 2 seat coupe. But Kabura showed that they could do 3+1 in a compact little coupe, which with the DISI Turbo 2.5 engine, could be an amazing little car. Purer than RX8, and possibly more powerful, and more secure and versatile than Miata can be, and WAY more powerful, since they won't/can't put the turbo engine in that car without some clearance for the cam-driven fuel pump for the direct injection. A revised rear-drive car could make that sheet-metal change EASILY, even if they don't want to change the sheetmetal on the existing Miata.
But nothing. darkness and crickets. Just automatic sedans, CUVs, and under-powered 2.5 engines... There is NO REASON AT ALL that the Mazda 3's new 2.5 liter engine should make less power than the 2.5i non-turbo boxer in the Subaru lineup, which is tuned for economy model use, and still makes over 170 horsepower without the full dual cam-timing AVCS system, nor direct injection or high compression, if I am remembering right.
Subaru/Toyota are rumored to be bringing a 200hp 2.0 liter boxer for their upcoming coupe in about a year. Why is Mazda's 2.5 not beating that figure already with half a liter more displacement, without bringing turbos into this?
Sorry, Mazda is good, but it isn't doing everything it could be doing to fulfil that "soul of a sports car in everything we make, Zoom Zoom" tag line.
I want Mazda to do well, better than they are right now. Maybe with less ford stock-holding influence, they can be less of an import-marque Ford, and more of what Mazda used to be, and should be again.