Geneva 2009: 2010 Mazdaspeed3 (MPS), grin and bear it
by Damon Lavrinc on Mar 4th 2009 at 12:30PM 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Mazdaspeed (MPS)
The outgoing Mazdaspeed3 had a lot going for it. The combination of a turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four, six-speed manual, LSD and a practical hatch solidified its place in our hearts when it spent a week in the Autoblog Garage. While the aforementioned good stuff carries over to the redesigned 2010 model, any amount of stealth has been gobbled up by the new MPS' gaping maw.
Output is now rated at 256 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, and the new rear fascia with its Mazda6-inspired tail-lamps and darkened lower bumper looks great in person, but the Cheshire Cat grin and bulbous hood-scoop could give pause to buyers looking to fly below the radar while hunting WRXs and GTIs.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
why not the LS2LS7? 12:37PM (3/04/2009)
Wow, that's the worst angle yet.
Reply
trevor 5:06PM (3/04/2009)
I agree man, this car may have a stupid grin/smile, but i am sure the designer wont be grinning when they fire him
AZZO45b 8:43PM (3/04/2009)
Perhaps ordering a black one would help hide the Joker-like grill???
Also styling is a GROUP exercise... Numerous concepts are pitched & the Design VP & other execs chose the production direction. If its a big enough flop one of the big boys will be booted... with a nice fat Golden Parachute!!!
KA 11:18PM (3/06/2009)
Didn't their design director leave to join Tesla?
Sektor 5:23PM (3/07/2009)
OMFG look at the front! LOL
Bwahahahahahahahaha
*catches breath*
ahahahwahahawhah
Rhawb 12:41PM (3/04/2009)
I really like the back, but I'm luke warm on the front. The smile is pretty terrible, but the Mazdaspeed bodywork along with the "gills" in the mouth seem to make it a little better than the non-Mazdaspeed version.
Reply
travisty 12:41PM (3/04/2009)
So bigger, heavier, "looks" more aggressive, yet less hp. Awesome.
Reply
I3ziko 1:12PM (3/04/2009)
this is european spec version, north american should still be rated at around 270hp
havoc 2:29PM (3/04/2009)
is there any news on the scoop being functional?
still not liking the new front. the minor (expected) bump in power is negligible.
i got my 07 ms3 sport, for less than 21k, an excellent buy.
sjd 2:38PM (3/04/2009)
The scoop is functional since the 2.3 litre DISI has a top mount intercooler.
naggs 3:42PM (3/04/2009)
i dont understand why automakers bother making a new product that is not demonstrably better than the old one. that is the whole point.
such a shame, they are replacing the best car in its class with something heavier, slower, and more controversial in appearance.
Jared 7:32AM (3/05/2009)
+1 Naggs.
You think with as big of a boom as the MS3 was, they would redesign it from the ground up like Subaru did with the newest STI. Although it wasn't "better" then the older STI's, it was a complete evolution of the design.
Riaf28 12:51PM (3/04/2009)
It has the same amount of torque but less hp, I don't get it. I hope that the area under the curve has improved at least.
Also the seats look like they have the silver cloth in the middle like the 07 and 08 models, I think this is a downgrade from the Alcantara used in the 08.5 and 09 models.
I hope it's faster at least.
Reply
Egon 12:49PM (3/04/2009)
I keep hoping that the new schnozz is going to start looking better with time. Hold on, let me check my watch...
Nope, not yet.
Reply
Kitko 12:47PM (3/04/2009)
If you don't like the front... nobody, ever will tak a look at the car from the height of the "grin". To me, Mazda3 MPS is the best looking hot-hatch on the market - Europe, Asia, US. Ever. It screams agility, it screams being playfull and, more importantly, it actually can do all of it - it's a perfect and best balanced package available.
Desgn-wise - Focus is too linear, Scooby looks like 1990s Daewoo, and VW is so bland and sterile, that it begs a question, whether its shape can be called "design".
Reply
ugg.tryptophan 1:11AM (3/05/2009)
Dieter Rams 10th principle of design: "Good design is as little design as possible"
If the design screams performance, but does not live up to the expectation, it is a failure. VW's have always had great, simple design. I think what your talking about is style, this Mazda has tons of it, but it is a poor design because its polarizing.
JDMlover 12:50PM (3/04/2009)
GOD.
DID ANY ONE EVER NOTICE THAT THE GRILL IS BELOW THE LOGO......THE LOGO IS ALWAYS IB THE GRILL....THE GRILL IS SO LOW.......WHY DID THEY DO THAT....and oh yea ITS UGLY AS HELL.
Reply
Rhawb 1:04PM (3/04/2009)
Corvettes.
Curtis 1:11PM (3/04/2009)
The mx5, mx6, rx7, rx8 all have the logo well above the grills...
Erik Tomlinson 2:14PM (3/04/2009)
Did *you* notice your caps lock key is stuck or broken?