Spied: Mazdaspeed 3!

[RHAGEL]

I commute over Ortega Highway in So Cal everyday and saw a beautiful sight. As I was about to turn onto the road, some ass flips a b**** and cuts me off. But wait, that was a Mazda 3 5 door with a hood scoop! It was a make shift scoop that looked like it was just thrown together. Luckily I was right behind it so I could see that the car had Michigan manufacturer plates which makes me believe that this is definately a Mazda car. It also had LED tail lights, completely de-badged with 18" Mazdaspeed wheels (just like the ones on the Mazda website under the mazdaspeed 6 section) but had no center caps. It also had an exhaust that was a little bigger than stock and looked raw and unfinished. As I tried to follow it I could tell that he was testing the suspension, whipping it back and fourth across the lane. (not very smart on a two lane road) the car had excellent composure. It also had some crazy acceleration, especially since we were going uphill. After about 3 miles he pulled over to the side of the road to turn around. I almost pulled over to talk to him, but I didn't, and now I am kicking myself. I wish that I had a camera with me to show everybody but maybe it will be there again tomorrow.

 

[FrigginGLI]

Sweet, can't wait.

 

[Mr. Win]

nice... but that could just be someone with a modded car testing it out being a jackass. If not awesome find!

 

[RHAGEL]

I was thinking the same thing, but it did have a manufacturer licence plate form Michigan and I am in California, not to mention that Mazdaspeeds R&D office is about 30 min from where I saw the car.

nice... but that could just be someone with a modded car testing it out being a jackass. If not awesome find!

 

[M3 5MT]

How much do you guys think the Speed3 is gonna sell for? $25,000?
Depending on how my 3 treats me down the road, I may be returning to Mazda for this car, when it comes out (probably late 2006....?)

 

[mobomelter]

i'd say 25 sounds good. maybe a little more.

 

[TX Speed Demon]

I may get one too, if it comes in titanium. Still wish the first gen MSPs came in that color.

 

[RHAGEL]

A previous post suggested that it will probably be around $23k US. I know that the MS 6 & Miata were base priced at what a fully loaded non-mazdaspeed version would cost. So you figure that a fully loaded 3 w/o Navi, is about $22k, $23 is probably closer to what it will be. It will also depend on what competition there is going to be, such as a Civic Type-R, Sentra SER (or whatever the replacement name is going to be) and a new Neon SRT-4.) Mazda is going to want to stay competitive with price so they hold on to all these new customers that they are aquiring. The 3,6 & RX-8 have done great things for them, but they still have a long way to go before they are in the Toyota and Honda category.

 

[vindication]

Interesting that they went with the 5 door. if this was in fact the MS3 then they might be coming out with the sedan and 5-door. I highly doubt it though. I beleive only a sedan is in the works for MS not the 5-door. but I could be wrong

 

[Badger Biker]

I always thought that the Hatchback was the flagship model of the 3, the one that has the most sporty look to it.

I could be wrong, but I guess we'll know in the coming months.

GREAT find though, start bringing a camera!

 

[Swerny]

Praying it's a hatchback, i'll need one by the time it comes out!

 

[M3 5MT]

I'd say that it would be the sedan, as it was with the first MSP. I wouldnt consider the hatchback to be the "flagship", it's just that the "i" trim is only available in the sedan version...the 3s sedan and hatch are the same car. Maybe they'll offer it in both body styles, to make everyone happy.

 

[goldwing2000]

... the 3s sedan and hatch are the same car.

Not even close. The have the same powertrain but they don't share a single body panel. The 5-door has more agressive styling and the sedan is smoother.

It'll be interesting to see what they do.

Working for the auto companies, I have to agree with rhagel's assessment about the M-plate. The only way that an obviously experimental vehicle would have one is if it were going to be a new model or it's a test bed for parts for an unrelated car (aka "a mule").

Either way, it's fun to conjecture. (2thumbs)

 

[M3 5MT]

Not even close. They have the same powertrain

Not even close? Having the same powertrain is close, the body paneling has nothing to do with it. Body paneling does not make a car a flagship. (protest)

 

[goldwing2000]

Not even close? Having the same powertrain is close, the body paneling has nothing to do with it. Body paneling does not make a car a flagship. (protest)

When you're talking about making a special model, the body has everything to do with it. Look at the upcoming SP23 package. No changes to the drivetrain at all. Only cosmetic and creature comfort modifications.

Any way you look at it, the sedan and hatch are not the same car.

 

[Da 6]

Mazda 6 is also getting cosmetic body changes as well but we won't see them for a lil bit. 3 sedan and hatch has "similarities" of the other but thats about it. as for straight line racing the SRT-4 will be the most chalenging compeadater for the speed 3...Know a few SRT-4 owners who are pissing off wrx STi owners
(rofl2)
Hope Mazda takes a hint and learn from the speed 6 mistakes and extreme short falls!

 

[crossbow]

If the mazdaspeed 3 is a hatch...oh man, thats gonna be one bad ass car to own.

 

[NRRfrogmanP5]

thats cool

 

[mazdaowner123]

I hope it's a hatch.

~brian

 

[mobomelter]

i hope they make it rwd. lol.