2.0L vs 2.3L

[wongpres]

The choice of blue for the MZ3sport in Canada is said to be "indigo". Compared to "winning blue", is it a darker blue?

According to my Canadian docs, the Mazda3 sedan will have only indigo blue whereas the Mazda3 Sport will have only winning blue.

For the US, my preliminary information is that both blues will be available for both bodystyles.

Winning blue is a light-blue (same colour code as the Winning blue on the RX-8). Indigo blue was actually renamed by Mazda Canada, and has the same colour code as Mazda's Strato Blue. Strato Blue is darker (like a navy blue) and can be found on the Mazda6 in various markets (e.g. Australia and Austria). The N. American Mazda6 lapis blue/sonic blue is not Strato blue.

 

[gib]

Thanks for the info wongpres. I'm happy to know that my future MZ3sport will be winning blue!!!

 

[3forme]

Now I need decide on 2 blues and titanium. Hmmm....choices.

 

[3forme]

I am not at all surprised that the 2.3 in the 3 will make less power than the engine in the 6. I mean if I had a 6i I don't think I would be to happy to see a "cheaper" car with more power. I am just happy we are getting a large I-4. Torgue is a great thing.

 

[cortez]

Well, the Mazda 3 should be about 300 pounds lighter than the 4 cyl Mazda 6, so 10 hp are not going to keep the 3 from being faster. They can keep the higher hp number in the 6 for marketing if they want to...

 

[70]

The Mazda3 2.3l will have 160hp and 150lb-ft in N. American-spec, it's official (well not EPA tested yet, but those are Mazda's final figures).

The 2.3l will be available in N. America, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. In each of these markets, the 2.3l will have slightly lower hp and/or torque figures than the Mazda6. The 2.3l in Japanese-spec will have 168hp (but requires premium whereas the N. American-spec 2.3l will take regular).

The Japanese market get's higher compression, hence the need for the "premium" gas...The get 10.6:1 v the North American 9.7:1...

 

[MidnightDreamer]

Concerning the 2.0l engine, I heard it was orginally a ford developed engine. But half way throught thier development of that engine, Ford was suffering financial problems at the time, and so they had to stop development. Mazda then took over the project, and completed the engine. I belive then engine outputs 150hp.

As for the 2.3l engine, I am told that it is the Mazda 6's i4 engine. I understand that they have tweaked the engine a little bit maximizing more of the full potential of the engine. I was told the engine would output 170hp. I truly hope they don't dimish performance by keeping with the 160hp format. The car also uses an electronic motor that helps with the hydraulic power steering which means less power will be stolen from the engine for the steering.

I have to admit, I was less than optimistic when I first saw the 3, but it is looking a whole lot better than it did before. However, the car is still unproven, and I am a bit weary of brand new cars as such. Especially the two new engines that are available on it. The FS-DE engine on the Protege's have been in use for almost 15 years and have been long proven for durability and reliability. These new engines however, have no record whatsoever. The 2.3l has been out on the 6's for a while now, but the 2.0 is totally brand new. But come on guys, it's a Mazda right? I'm sure we can expect a lot comming from them.

 

[TheMAN]

you should not count on logic alone to dictate the power differences between the variations of the same engine

for example... the GF/GW chassis 626 (whether european one or north american one.... let's exclude the japanese one because they get the best s***) had a 112hp and 125hp FS-DE engine (depending on markets), and the 323/Protege had a 130hp engine... the difference on the 3 of the same engines... mild cam, "agressive" cam, and then finally better intake manifold... following in respective order of the power figures I've given

so in otherwords, the bigger GF /GW626 had a weaker FS-DE, whereas the 323/Protege got the better stuff

I'm excluding the Japanese models because both the GF/GW Capella and the BJ Familia had the FS-ZE and the GW Capella Wagon had the KL-ZE

Yes, as I said, the Mazda3 2.3l will have less hp and/or torque than the equivalent market's Mazda6. But honestly, this makes sense, Mazda shouldn't be making the 3 better than the 6.

 

[MidnightDreamer]

I agree. I've been hearing around for so long that the 2.3l's being put into the 3's are rated at 170hp. If they want the 3 to compete in today's maket, that 10 extra hp will help. Well in my mind anyways. I think these dayz all people care about are the hp numbers... I'd like to know how these 3's are going to stack up against Celica's and RSX's. Like the Protege was in direct comparison to cars like Civics, Corollas and Sentras, but it looks like the 3 moved up a class from it's predecessors. I wonder how adversely that's gonna affect it's pricing. It'd be sweet to have this Mazda outperform an RSX... but somehow I have my doubts. The 3 probably won't be as agile, and even with 10 extra horses on the stock RSX I doubt the 3 could beat one in 1/4 mile. I'm just making an educated guess. 2.3l M3 is gonna weight more than the 2.0l RSX, not to mention the RSX engine is well refined, and not to say VTEC is a lot, but it sure does it's job... As for handling, I really don't know... I am just assuming that the RSX handles better... What do you guys think?

 

[tonkabui]

too bad the new 3 is an overweight opera singer.

 

[TheMAN]

so you're saying the *brand new* MZR engine isn't refined? :wtf:

I agree. I've been hearing around for so long that the 2.3l's being put into the 3's are rated at 170hp. If they want the 3 to compete in today's maket, that 10 extra hp will help. Well in my mind anyways. I think these dayz all people care about are the hp numbers... I'd like to know how these 3's are going to stack up against Celica's and RSX's. Like the Protege was in direct comparison to cars like Civics, Corollas and Sentras, but it looks like the 3 moved up a class from it's predecessors. I wonder how adversely that's gonna affect it's pricing. It'd be sweet to have this Mazda outperform an RSX... but somehow I have my doubts. The 3 probably won't be as agile, and even with 10 extra horses on the stock RSX I doubt the 3 could beat one in 1/4 mile. I'm just making an educated guess. 2.3l M3 is gonna weight more than the 2.0l RSX, not to mention the RSX engine is well refined, and not to say VTEC is a lot, but it sure does it's job... As for handling, I really don't know... I am just assuming that the RSX handles better... What do you guys think?

 

[tonkabui]

dude, midnightdreamer, you're comparing a sedan and sport hatch to coupes. there's no way a protege or any of its successors will ever be able to compete with cars like the celica or rsx. that's like saying the mazda6 was produced to go up against a bmw m3. ain't gonna happen. EVER. the mazda3 will still be competing with the honda civic can toyota corolla and the nissan sentra. now it's the other companies' turn to up their ante.

 

[wongpres]

Concerning the 2.0l engine, I heard it was orginally a ford developed engine. But half way throught thier development of that engine, Ford was suffering financial problems at the time, and so they had to stop development. Mazda then took over the project, and completed the engine. I belive then engine outputs 150hp.

The 2.3l has been out on the 6's for a while now, but the 2.0 is totally brand new. But come on guys, it's a Mazda right? I'm sure we can expect a lot comming from them.

The 2.0l is also on the Mazda6 (just not the N. American Mazda6). It came out with the 2.3l and is of the same engine family.

Ford gave Mazda the basic engine block for this engine family.

 

[MidnightDreamer]

Yea, my apologies, I didn't mean to be talking about things I don't know about. I wouldn't expect the 3 to compete directly with Celica's or RSX's, but then again, it doesn't seem to quite fit in its own class, seems a bit further up. As for engine refinement, I didn't mean to say the new MZR's aren't refined, I just think Honda has probably designed, a somewhat better engine.