MS3 at Geneva

[Mace Windu]

I'm a sedan driver, but this car can easily take me over to the Hatch side. I mean the thing is awesome looking. AWD would have made it own the auto-cross, but it'll still have the best torque and handling in its class. I think the critics and naysayers are gonna fall in love with it. I can't wait to drive one.

And them saying it's the Euro-spec one, does anyone know the current differences between the Euro 3 and the NA 3?

P.S. you can answer that question or not. I just thougt of it and will be doing a search now.

 

[theice]

Its seems to me this is aimed more toward cobalt SS, Dodge SRT-4 line, and things like that but if it comes with a handling package like the MSP/MP3 came with and the 2.3 DISI engine then it has the potential to blow both those cars out of the water

It should easily handle the cobalt, but the new srt-4 will have 300hp.

 

[wongpres]

And them saying it's the Euro-spec one, does anyone know the current differences between the Euro 3 and the NA 3?

Only very minor visible differences between Euro-spec and N. American-spec from those pictures:

- N. American-spec will not have headlight washers
- N. American-spec will not have MPS badge at bottom-right of hatch (replaced with a single Mazdaspeed3 badge at bottom-left of hatch)
- N. American-spec will not have rear fog-lamp. That's why you'll notice the left-rear taillight in the picture has a red light housing where it's a clear reverse taillight on N. American-spec - the Mazda3 in Euro-spec has non-symmetric taillights (inner left taillight is foglight, and there is only a single reverse light on the right taillight - and these positions are swapped for UK since UK is righthand steering)

 

[Mace Windu]

Yeah, the Cobalt SS will get dusted by the MS3. Shoot the current 2.3 is so torquey that a compentent driver can take an SS off the line right now. I know cause I've done it

I was referring to the current differences between the 3 here and the 3 in Europe. Not the MS3 which we don't know anythig for sure about yet. Other than what Mazda has released.

 

[Rock]

Yeah, the Cobalt SS will get dusted by the MS3. Shoot the current 2.3 is so torquey that a compentent driver can take an SS off the line right now. I know cause I've done it

I was referring to the current differences between the 3 here and the 3 in Europe. Not the MS3 which we don't know anythig for sure about yet. Other than what Mazda has released.

Both the SS cobalt and SRT-4 have TERRIBLE handling charactaristics. They both sit WAY too tall, they aren't very wide, and lastly are using ANCIENT suspension components. My stock ATX 3 with 18's outhandles both of these cars EASILY(both of my friends have one of these cars and I compete with them ALL the time). When I think of Mazda, I think handling first, then hp/torque, etc etc. These cars are going to own up the FWD segment of autocross and time attack competition, simply because it has gobs of Torque, LSD, 6spd manual, large brakes, wider stance(wider than the current 3's), and a relatively low ride height.

 

[Antoine]

Trying to trim down the amount of MS3 related threads. This one will continue below:

Geneva: Mazda3 MPS and Mazda3 refresh press release and pics