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Karl Marx said:
Looks legit to me...
Mazdaspeed 3
- Thread starter Kenp1972
- Start date
Looks legit to me...
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70
Sounds cool!
Definately sounds cool, but I doubt that mazda will go AWD, the car would be too expensive, I dont think that Mazda has caught that audience yet. We will have to wait and see how the success of the # does against the base model Lancer and WRX then see if the MS3 could tap into the EVO/STI market. I hope if the MS3 does churn out 200hp, I hope it is with a six speed and can put down about 6 seconds from 0-60. That would make for an awsome car. I am holding off on buying a 3 until the MS is introduced, I hope (and Doubt) that they wont dissapoint us. Oh yeah I hope that there is no ricey spoiler on it like the MS Protege, just a lip spoiler would be good.Karl Marx said:
here's my question: why would mazda bother with an MS3 after the poor sales of the MSP? MSPs are still sitting unsold on dealers' lots with huge rebates. i don't understand it, but it doesn't bode well for a MS3 production decision.
regardless, the european Focus RS is FWD.
don't count on an AWD MS3...i mean, the car is already 3000+ lbs, and it's FWD!
an AWD version would be mucho heavy. and i'd bet the power would be limited to whatever the hotted-up focus is producing -- just like the MSP.
mikeyb said:
regardless, the european Focus RS is FWD.
don't count on an AWD MS3...i mean, the car is already 3000+ lbs, and it's FWD!
an AWD version would be mucho heavy. and i'd bet the power would be limited to whatever the hotted-up focus is producing -- just like the MSP.
BinaryRotary
Member
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- 03 MSP, 85 RX-7 GS, 90 RX-7 TII
Notorious said:
Lol, well put bro.
MP3racer said:IMHO, I don't think the "source" was lying. The info is not ready for official release.....therefore there are no official plans for a 4 door Mazdaspeed release at this time
Right. They aren't throwing around details of multi million dollar discussions about future models in casual conversations with the general public at auto shows. That kind of carelessness (dropping a scoop before its time) has killed many cars in the past because a competitor will beat it to the punch with a better product.
In fact, this timing has been an issue with the recent performance Mazdas. I would bet (and hope) that if Mazda had early enough knowledge of the SRT4, the MSP would have had more juice. I think they were too far into the production cycle to give it what it needed to be competitive...and that is likely why they are still sitting in showrooms.
As for AWD, as Mazda's supported rally driver, I can only hope! The platform (M3/FutureFocus/MiniVolvo) was engineered specifically to accept a 4wd system (unlike the Protege...the Sport-20 has a whole different floor) and I hope they use that capability. In other parts of the world, people go down to their dealer and buy WRXs and EVOs to start a rally car project the way people here buy Corvettes to start an SCCA race car project. It is finally happening here now, with folks able to buy STIs and EVO8s in the states. I currently know of more than 10 new 2003/4 WRXs and EVOs being built right now here in the states for American Rallying.
As rallying continues on its upward swing, I think it is a natural for manufacturers to build rally-inspired cars. The sport celebrates BOTH technology AND durability. Speed, power, and agility are all the hallmarks of a good rally car. One that stands up to the abuse is what gets you to the finish. Mazda builds cars that meet this criteria.
Saab is releasing a mild rebadge of the WRX as a new model and I suspect Dodge isn't far behind with their little car...soon to lose the Neon name. VW finally got in the game with AWD hothatch after their cars were favorites in 2wd rallying for years. I anticipate that GM will steal the WRX innards for a model as well and Volvo will surely see this new platform through with the AWD goodies. The rally car feel is the future of performance...in my admittedly biased opinion.
That makes the Imprezza, the Lancer, and the Golf all subjects who have already been transformed from econobox to 4wd rallyweapon. The Neon is likely close behind as DCX's small car platform converges with Mitsubishi's. I hope these cars are sought after and continue to balance on that tightrope of value for performance so that they are accessible to their target audience. (Surely the Golf, Saab, and Volvo will be a bit pricier than their downmarket brothren.)
I will continue to pray for a 2500# 380hp-480ft/lb AWD 6spd. Mazda3, but I think it will be a compromise.
sunlight_guy
Member
of course he said there'd be no 4 door mazda's getting the mazdaspeed treatment. he's not stupid, he wants people to buy the cars that are out now, not wait around for a few years to wait and see.............. the same thing happened to me when i was looking at getting a toyota tundra. i told the salesman that i think that i'd wait to see the new double cab when it came out. he actually said, "i don't think toyota is making a double cab pickup, at least not for a few years anyway" that was about 4 months before they started advertising it. these bastards are master manipulators, even the ones at the top! (that's probably how they got there)
tuckerware
Member
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- 2004 Mazda 3 5-door (for sale)
Certainly some people are liars. In the same token, some are not. Others are hopeful, some just ignorant. For the most part though, I just don't think that everyone in the auto industry is dishonest. Most people just aren't privy to big stories before the public is informed.
For the most part, until Autospies has a shot of a car in cladding, I wouldn't hold your breath. Last year, as an intern at Toyota Motor Sales, I met with the David Danzer, Group VP of Product Planning. Of course I was dying to hear the latest on a new Supra. Rumors have been persisting for several years of an upcoming V10 supercar or next-gen V8 Supra. What was his answer?
There was not a single engineer working on a new Supra in Japan. If anyone would know, he would. And I did believe him. So despite rumors and concept drawing in the car mags, nothing was founded on any solid information.
So here is my long-winded point:
1. Salesman don't know an iota more about future products than a resourceful kid with the internet.
2. Car companies keep R&D under strict lock & key. If they want something known, they will let it leak. Until a manufacturer has a running prototype or semi-formal release of information, it is all speculation.
For the most part, until Autospies has a shot of a car in cladding, I wouldn't hold your breath. Last year, as an intern at Toyota Motor Sales, I met with the David Danzer, Group VP of Product Planning. Of course I was dying to hear the latest on a new Supra. Rumors have been persisting for several years of an upcoming V10 supercar or next-gen V8 Supra. What was his answer?
There was not a single engineer working on a new Supra in Japan. If anyone would know, he would. And I did believe him. So despite rumors and concept drawing in the car mags, nothing was founded on any solid information.
So here is my long-winded point:
1. Salesman don't know an iota more about future products than a resourceful kid with the internet.
2. Car companies keep R&D under strict lock & key. If they want something known, they will let it leak. Until a manufacturer has a running prototype or semi-formal release of information, it is all speculation.
StarvingRussian
Member
RHAGEL said:
all they would have to do to capture that audience is make a high hp car, then people would want it.
7
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Mazda has never really been about huge horsepower cars though. And Mazdaspeed is about a well balanced car, not SRT-4 like power and cruddy handling.
They build cars with a ton pontetial though. The 323/Protege has been Mazdas car fro rally since who knows when. Except for the few RX-7s that ran in rally too.
So, I can see the Mazda3 falling itno that role as well. Now, if they do an all-wheel drive version, that would certainly be something.
What I'm interested in seeing, is how well the new MZR motors stand up to abuse.
They build cars with a ton pontetial though. The 323/Protege has been Mazdas car fro rally since who knows when. Except for the few RX-7s that ran in rally too.
So, I can see the Mazda3 falling itno that role as well. Now, if they do an all-wheel drive version, that would certainly be something.
What I'm interested in seeing, is how well the new MZR motors stand up to abuse.
I agree with lurch. The MSP suffers from being beat to the punch. Although I still think its a great car.
To add to this we have all heard more than once that Mazda wants to be the Japanese BMW. I think they are well on their way to this. But it means very HIGH HP on the MS series machines in addition to track ready handling. As proof of this the current 6's have 1/4 numbers and 0-60 numbers neck and neck with the MSP. That is Mazda's new baseline for performance.
That said I think that it is stating the obvious to say that Mazda will continue on the path of producing well handling and powerful base line cars. And while doing so will garner TV time, magazine coverage as well as generall buzz by introducing MS versions of their already well performing baseline cars. Just like BMW...
To add to this we have all heard more than once that Mazda wants to be the Japanese BMW. I think they are well on their way to this. But it means very HIGH HP on the MS series machines in addition to track ready handling. As proof of this the current 6's have 1/4 numbers and 0-60 numbers neck and neck with the MSP. That is Mazda's new baseline for performance.
That said I think that it is stating the obvious to say that Mazda will continue on the path of producing well handling and powerful base line cars. And while doing so will garner TV time, magazine coverage as well as generall buzz by introducing MS versions of their already well performing baseline cars. Just like BMW...
Kenp1972 said:
This wont happen since ford owns Mazda they wont want to be throwing mazda in there and take away from the focus WRC team.
Also the focus sedans are the only ones getting a renovation for the 05 model year and yes it is still on the 1st gen focus platform.
There are no plans on currently changing the hatchback foci's at the moment, heard rumors about it coming back for 06 as a 220hp turbocharged 2.3L but one can only hope.
As for the new platform is already in production in the focus c-max in europe but from what I have heard ford is not planning on using it in North America until 06 which adds more fuel to the rumor of a turbocharged version from svt.
And ford did make an AWD turbocharged focus in the focus cosworth which supposedly had over 300 hp but that was just a concept made in 99 to show the tunability of the focus.
eting_pro5
Member
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- '03 Pro5
While Mazda has never been about "huge horsepower" the fact the the new 6 wagon will only be offered with the V6 to disspell the "stodgy wagon" image is proof that they're moving toward higher horsepower...
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