Recent content by temolik

This might be old news to some of you and maybe its been posted before. If so, apologies on repeating old news. But I was just communicating with a Mazda dealer here in Calgary, asking if the Mazda3 hatch would possibly contain AWD. He said flatly no, but he did say with A LOT of certainty...

True, AWD systems do have a cost in terms of performance and fuel economy. And Mazda has hardly had the best record when it comes to making fuel efficient engines. But, if the new prelim stats regards the MZR 2.0L and 2.3L engines for the Mazda3 are correct, the fuel economy performance has...

I agree wongpres, it looks like the interior has been cheapened a bit in the production model (I assume the interior pictures shown, as they are different from the Sportif, are for the prod. version?) On the other hand, it looks to me like Mazda were moving towards the European, Golf-style...

There are a lot of aditional pictures on the US official website - Some are old, but most I haven't seen yet, and are a combination of concept and Euro production models. I must say, some look stunning. http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=upcomingMazda3 There's the...

THe best case scenario would be if Mazda relase and AWD Mazda3 later in 2004, just like Suzuki released an AWD Aerio hatchback almost a year after the debut of the basic FWD model. THe thing is Suzuki did it, and reasonably quickly and priced it cheap too. Mazda have gotta be competitive...

It would make sense to me if the MS XDport Tourer were seen as a bit ambitious to make it to production. Its just that Motor Trend is a fairly reputable source, not usually prone to wild accusations. And I've seen a lot of their predictions come true. Like for the Mazda3. Long before people...

Is there any news on whether the MX Sport Tourer hybrid concept car will ever make it to production and in the relatively near future? I hadn't thought they were contemplating production at all until I saw a prediction in Motor Trend that some vehicle based on the Sport Tourer will come along...

Yes, if its the 2.3L to which they add AWD, that would make sense. Haven't Mazda already released the AWD Mazda6 wagon in some places in Europe? If they've already done that, how hard would it be to simply put this AWD 2.3L engine to the Mazda3 wagon/hatchback as well as the Mazda6?? Anyway, I...

Your probably right - and the sites where I read about this Ford plan mentioned Volvo more than the Focus or Mazda3. But cost still isn't entirely satisfying to me as an explanation. I mean, Suzuki is able to get AWD into the Aerio and price it for $20,195 Canadian. THat's pretty cheap...

Does anyone know if there are any plans at any point to add AWD capability to any Mazda3 model? We all know the MX Sportif was FWD, but I have read in a few places a hint that Ford are interested in providing an AWD option in the Focus and shared C-Max platform with the Volvo and Mazda. So...