Mazda3Revolution.com

Mazda Preps Monochromatic Mazda3/Mazdaspeed3 Duo For SEMA 2009

2009-11-03T05:50:52Z

Quick! What does Mazda’s top selling model look like if you blacked out the lights, added a gray graphic over a Crystal White Pearl Mica shell and slapped on a Tri-Point Engineering turbo kit? If you guessed a custom 250+ hp 2010 Mazda3 sedan then you were right (and possibly psychic?) Debuting at the 2009 SEMA Show alongside its slightly tuned 2010 Mazdaspeed3 sibling, Mazda’s newest bun out of the oven features the stunning 19×8 wheels and tires from the much lusted for Mazda RX-8 R3 and brakes/calipers pulled straight off the Mazdaspeed3 and Mazda5 assembly lines (front and rear, respectively).

The SEMA Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 both adorn a more stealthy look with bright black grille inserts, side mirrors, fog lamp bezels, roof panel, and front headlight housing. Check out all of the changes in our photo gallery below and by reading the following press release courtesy of Mazda USA:

LAS VEGAS – With the launch of the all-new 2010 MAZDA3 and MAZDASPEED3, a small team of designers and engineers at Mazda R&D in Irvine, Calif., decided to celebrate with a pair of special projects, debuting for the first time at the 2009 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show.

Figuring out how to commemorate the completion of the MAZDA3 was easy. Mazda’s line of exciting, fun-to-drive cars are born from the passion of the people who design them, so starting with a MAZDASPEED3 and a 2.5-liter MAZDA3s the team took its knowledge of the Mazda parts bin and its close relationships with MAZDASPEED Motorsports suppliers, looked in the mirror, and decided to build a pair of tuner cars that show its own vision of the MAZDA3.

Both cars are painted to mimic the new MAZDA3 World Challenge race car, but in a more subdued Crystal White Pearl base coat with soft gray tone graphics. The scheme is a modern twist on the famous Renown graphics used on the Mazda 787B that won Le Mans in 1991.

Exterior details, including grille inserts, side mirrors, fog lamp bezels, the roof panel, and the formerly chrome interior of the front lamps are all given a bright black paint treatment. Combined with tinted windows, and dark red taillight lenses, the dark details tighten the car visually, emphasizing the MAZDA3’s taught, muscular shape much like a tailored black suit on an athlete.

Both cars roll on 19×8-inch wheels with 225/40-19 Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tires straight off the RX-8 R3. The wheels are forged aluminum, giving them strength with exceptional light weight.

The sedan was sent to Tri-Point Engineering for a boost in power. Between World Challenge races, Tri-Point installed their turbo kit, utilizing a rugged cast iron turbo manifold feeding a high-efficiency Garrett GT2871R ball bearing turbo. At a mild 10 psi of boost, the 2.5-liter MZR engine is making well over 250 horsepower at the wheels (final tuning is still being finished).

To handle this extra power, the front brakes were replaced with rotors and calipers from a MAZDASPEED3, while the rear rotors and calipers were sourced from a MAZDA5. Double-adjustable coil-overs from KW Suspension, paired with a Tri-Point adjustable rear stabilizer bar bring the handling back into harmony with the engine’s higher output.

The MAZDASPEED3, already capable of 155 mph, was already nearly fast enough. An AEM cold-air intake bumps output about 20 horsepower, but otherwise, the powertrain remains untouched. Suspension is again KW coil-overs, but this time with modified top mounts on the front struts to increase camber and provide additional cornering grip. Four-piston Stoptech calipers and floating two-piece rotors nearly identical to those on the World Challenge car are used, since the car’s original brakes were transplanted to the 4-Door.

Celebrating its 40^th Anniversary in the United States in 2010, Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif. and 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; and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.

2009 SEMA Mazda3/Mazdaspeed3 Photo Gallery

[Show as slideshow]

Mazda Bringing Mazda2 To U.S. and Canada in 2010!

2009-09-17T20:41:46Z

The rest of the world knows the Mazda2 as the little car that offers big value; now it looks like the U.S. and Canada will too. The Mazda2 will be offered in the U.S. and Canada by the end of 2010 and, as a sub-compact, the Mazda2 will be slotted below the current Mazda3 and serve as the new most affordable option in Mazda’s car lineup.

When asked why Mazda planned to introduce the Mazda2 to the U.S. and Canadian markets in 2010 when it had never been offered before Mazda North American Operation’s President Jim O’Sullivan had this to say:

“As consumers’ tastes and attitudes toward small vehicles have changed, we now believe strongly there is a place in our lineup for a car below our current least-expensive car, the MAZDA3. MAZDA2 will be true to everything that makes our cars stand apart from the competition: it will be stylish, fun-to-drive and a heck of a value. In short, it will be Zoom-Zoom.”

With more than 50 awards and accolades under its belt, including 2008 World Car of the Year and Car of the Year in more than 20 countries, the Mazda2 will be a welcome addition to the Mazda family in North America.

Check out pictures of the international Mazda2 (known as the Mazda Demio in Japan) below:

[Show as slideshow]

Full Press Release

MAZDA CONFIRMS THAT MAZDA2 SUBCOMPACT CAR

WILL BE SOLD IN U.S. AND CANADA

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – Mazda North American Operations’ president and CEO, Jim O’Sullivan, confirmed today during a meeting of the company’s top dealers that the MAZDA2 subcompact, or B-Car classification, car will be sold in the U.S. beginning in late 2010. It was previously announced that the car also will be sold in Canada, beginning at about the same time.

“You’ve asked us for it for a while now, and we’ve been studying the market to make sure we can make a business case for it across North America,” O’Sullivan told the assembled dealers. “As consumers’ tastes and attitudes toward small vehicles have changed, we now believe strongly there is a place in our lineup for a car below our current least-expensive car, the MAZDA3. MAZDA2 will be true to everything that makes our cars stand apart from the competition: it will be stylish, fun-to-drive and a heck of a value. In short, it will be Zoom-Zoom.”

No further details were released at the meeting, other than notice that the final North American-specification MAZDA2 will be unveiled to media and the public at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show. Further information on specifications, content, pricing and on-sale timing will be provided closer to launch.

MAZDA2 has been a sales and media success in markets around the world, winning more than 50 awards and being named Car of the Year in more than 20 separate countries. Additionally, MAZDA2 was named the 2008 World Car of the Year, besting all other new cars around the world.

Celebrating its 40^th Anniversary in the United States in 2010, Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif. and 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; and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.

# # #

Will the introduction of the Mazda2 have you reconsidering your purchase of a Mazda3 or do you think it targets a different market entirely? Let us know in the comments below!

Special thanks to Tamara Mlynarczyk for the tip!

2010 Mazda 3 Scores Top Crash Safety Pick By IIHS (Videos Inside!)

2009-09-12T06:00:51Z

The 2010 Mazda 3 seems to be racking up awards like crazy lately with a five star rating by the NHTSA for crash safety and now garnering top safety pick by the IIHS. The second gen Mazda 3 received a ‘Good’ rating which is the highest mark available from the IIHS and also received the best marks possible in the structure/safety cage, head/neck, chest, restraints/dummy kinetics and leg/left foot categories of crash safety. Only the leg/right foot pulled a slightly lower award of ‘Acceptable’ due to potential force on the right tibia leading to possible injury.

In addition to a great safety rating for frontal impact the 2010 Mazda 3 also received a rating of ‘Good’ for side impact, the highest possible, and ‘Good’ for rear impact protection. This is a significant change from the first gen Mazda 3 which scored a ‘Marginal’ rating for rear impact protection and ‘Poor’, the lowest possible, for side impact. The newly improved crash safety ratings prove the 2010 Mazda 3 is a worthy successor to the popular first gen mazda 3 and the new changes made by Mazda are more than skin deep.

2010 Mazda 3 Frontal Crash Safety Test

2010 Mazda 3 Side Impact Crash Safety Test

91 New 2010 Mazda3 MPS Photos + Europe Gets CWP!

2009-08-31T19:36:16Z

Although we’ve known that the 2010 Mazda 3 MPS (Euro-spec) would be getting lots of cool stuff we were unaware of just how much they would have over the U.S.-spec Mazdaspeed3. U.S. based fans will be gritting their teeth once they find out Euro-spec MPS’ get bi-xenon headlights (standard or optional) and have four colors to choose from including Crystal White Pearl Mica.

Check out all 91 new photos of the 2010 Mazda3 MPS below and be sure to download the full press kit with all the gory details:

[Show as slideshow]

2010 Mazda 3 How-To Guides

2009-08-20T21:55:16Z

Have you ever looked at your shiny new 2010 Mazda 3 and thought “Hmm… I wonder what I can do with it now…”? We have a new 2010+ Mazda 3 forum loaded with how-to guides on things ranging from how to create your own rear window center LED brake light to upgrading your horn to a rear sway bar install. Check them all out by visiting our 2010+ Mazda 3 how to guide forum!

2010 Mazdaspeed 3 Review: Auto123 Takes The Speed3 For a Spin

2009-08-08T21:28:34Z

Bertrand Godin over at Auto123 had a chance to toss around a new 2010 Mazdaspeed3 and among his first impressions he loved Mazda’s revisions like the controversial new styling but didn’t like the noisy engine and lack of AWD. There are some cool new pics of the 2010 Mazdaspeed3 sliding sideways in water so head over to Auto123 and check out the full review!

First 2010 Mazdaspeed3 Delivered In California!

2009-07-31T06:10:41Z

The first 2010 Mazdaspeed3 delivered in the state of California and our first member to pick up his new speed3, DrumminJ219 just might be the luckiest Mazdaspeed owner on earth. Drummin posted up some killer pics of the blazing red Mazdaspeed3 which you can see by checking out our 2010 Mazdaspeed3 forum!

Congrats on the new ride DrumminJ219!

How To: Upgrade Your Wimpy 2010 Mazda 3 Horn

2009-07-28T19:39:56Z

Now that new 2010 Mazda 3 owners have settled into their rides, a couple quirks have been discovered. Long a thorn in the side of first generation Mazda 3 drivers, the wimpy sounding horn that comes with the Mazda 3 from the factory just doesn’t have enough oomph to get noticed in traffic. Forum user glennk decided to change that and wrote a very helpful, easy to use how-to guide on our forums detailing how to upgrade your stock horn.

Check out glennk’s guide here!

2010 Mazdaspeed3 Pricing & Information Update

2009-07-09T15:09:12Z

Earlier this week we received pricing speculation in the forums regarding the 2010 Mazdaspeed3. One of our observant subscribers followed up to give us the full scoop on the 2010 Mazdaspeed 3’s correct pricing and estimated delivery time. The 2010 Mazdaspeed 3’s are currently on the water and heading to U.S. shores, as evidenced by the Tacoma Port video, and should be arriving at U.S. dealerships in August 2009!

Check out what our dealer friend had to say:

The 2010 Mazdaspeed3 will have a MSRP of $23,945 for the base model and $25,840 for the speed3 with the tech package.

2010 MAZDASPEED3

Product Information Bulletin

July 6, 2009

Mazda is pleased to announce the all new, all that 2010 MAZDASPEED3 � a compact

performance sports hatch that continues the strengths of its 263hp DISI Turbo�d predecessor: off-the-charts fun-to-drive handling and performance; class leading interior and exterior design;�superb quality and craftsmanship; and innovative standard and optional equipment.�Key changes for 2010 include: all new exterior and interior styling; three new exterior colors; new�wheel design; an exclusive new front fascia; and a whole host of new options and standard�features not typically found in the hot hatch segment.

The 2010MY MAZDASPEED3 is available in Sport trim with 6-speed MT at only $455 more than the 2009MY and includes among the standard equipment Bluetooth phone/audio; Multi Information Display (MID) / trip computer; dual zone automatic climate control;�high bolster sport seats; turbo boost gauge; MAZDASPEED gauges, pedals, scuff plates, and floor mats; side mirror turn signal lamps; dual exhaust with bright tips; 18 inch wheels and

225/40R18 tires; Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and Traction Control (TCS).

Finally, a new MAZDASPEED Technology Package offers the �SPEED3 customer compact navigation with full color MID, Bose Centerpoint 10-speaker surround sound audio system with 6-disc CD changer, advanced keyless entry, push button start, Sirius satellite radio with 6 months of�service, and a perimeter alarm.

Thanks for the tip 0D!

Video: 2010 Mazdaspeed3 Caught Arriving at U.S. Port!

2009-07-07T00:59:21Z

Wondering if the 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 will ever arrive stateside? Check out the pic above and the video below posted by forum user lmnt of the U.S. 2010 Mazdaspeed 3s arriving at the U.S. port of Tacoma. Further fuel has been added to the U.S. fire with forum user igotzzoom stating that the 2010 Mazdaspeed3 will start with a base MSRP of $23,195 and will be available with the $1,895 tech package. We have been unable to independently verify the pricing for the 2010 Mazdaspeed3 but the price does seem to be in line with the previous generation Mazdaspeed3.

Check out the video and three new pictures of the 2010 Mazdaspeed3 (in Mazdaspeed Axela form) below:

[Show as slideshow]

Want to see more breaking 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 news? Check out our 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 forum!