No more Mazdaspeed 3?

This popped into my head. If Mazda is stopping use of the MZR engines, that means no more Mazdaspeed3 unless they use their Skyactiv engine for it.

I'm a bit sad, because the alleged looks of the 2014 model have me really interested. I guess if it is lighter than the current car and it can handle, I won't complain.

That's the rumor and if it's true I'll be sad to see it go. I wouldn't mind seeing a tuned up turbocharged DI Skyactiv engine in the new one though they'd have to do a lot of work to get it up to snuff with the current model.

I don't particularly care of the looks of the new 3 in the spy shots. I sort of like the maniacal grin on the current one. It's stupid but it sure stands out and makes me grin every time I get in it.

I also wouldn't mind not having to wipe off the back end of my silver car so often because it's turned black from the way I drive it.

The beauty of using the SkyActive Di motor is that it will be used across many engines- which should make the MS3 healthier, financially. not that the motor it had was not used much, since it was in a few others.

I say that as what we are doing that- with the Focus ST, the motor is shared with the Fusion, MKZ, Escape, Edge, and Explorer. And the Fiesta ST, the motor is shared wit the Fusion, MKZ, Escape, and a few cars that are not sold in the US. That takes a HUGE amount of pressure off high performance cars when the powertrain isn't terribly unique.

So I think it's quite realistic to see a higher end Skyactiv engine in a 3.

I'm guessing there will be a bit of a break (2 years or so) from the point the new chassis is introduced before we see another hot version of the Mazda3.

I'm betting it won't be quite as powerful as the one we have today, but maybe they will make it into a handling machine. Or put the AWD configuration from the CX-5 on there.

AWD + 300+ hp engine and take down the STi/EVO market.

Certainly they could add AWD and keep it much cheaper than either of those two? I think when I bought my 2010, I paid $21k for the base model with no options. AWD add maybe another $3k?

The trick would be to have a robust enough AWD system to handle the power that wouldn't be super expensive due to licensing costs.

There's some WICKED rumors i'm getting from my inside contact at an undisclosed Mazda dispensary that has close ties to Hiroshima... can you say Skyactiv-D? As in, you thought the Mazdaspeed cars made retarded amounts of torque before......

The reveal got me interested, the latest issue of Zoom-Zoom got me thinking again.

Skyactiv-D AWD Mazda3 would be wicked.

alfadriver wrote: I say that as what we are doing that- with the Focus ST, the motor is shared with the Fusion, MKZ, Escape, Edge, and Explorer. And the Fiesta ST, the motor is shared wit the Fusion, MKZ, Escape, and a few cars that are not sold in the US. That takes a HUGE amount of pressure off high performance cars when the powertrain isn't terribly unique.

It's not even a new concept. "Hey guys, I got an idea. Why don't we take the engine from the Bonneville and put it in a Tempest?"

z31maniac wrote: AWD + 300+ hp engine and take down the STi/EVO market.

Is that like the Mazdaspeed 6 that people lined up none deep to buy?

I've heard rumors that a new MS3 will have a naturally aspirated high revving Skyactiv motor instead of having a turbo. It would move downmarket and compete with the Civic Si. Do not want!

I would much rather have a high performance Skyactiv-D car. There is so much potential there.... great performance coupled with long term durability and great gas mileage for people like me who would use it as an everyday driver. If that happens, I will be trading in my current 3 on one.

SilverFleet wrote: I've heard rumors that a new MS3 will have a naturally aspirated high revving Skyactiv motor instead of having a turbo. It would move downmarket and compete with the Civic Si. Do not want! I would much rather have a high performance Skyactiv-D car. There is so much potential there.... great performance coupled with long term durability and great gas mileage for people like me who would use it as an everyday driver. If that happens, I will be trading in my current 3 on one.

that was what the original MS3 was going to be, until someone said "hey, we could put a turbo on this and compete in the "silly power in a small car" race. i loved mine, kinda wish i hadn't sold it.

Knurled wrote:

z31maniac wrote: AWD + 300+ hp engine and take down the STi/EVO market.

Is that like the Mazdaspeed 6 that people lined up none deep to buy?

The MS6 wasn't really targeted properly at the STi/EVO market. It was more of a "grown up Evo," closer to the Legacy GT in terms of overall experience.

Funny thing is... NOW people are all in love with them. I love the MS6. I'd rather have one than an STi/Evo for my purposes.

Went to ImportAlliance in KY last weekend, huge (1000+) car meet. I saw so many speed3's in one place...

Swank Force One wrote:

Knurled wrote:

z31maniac wrote: AWD + 300+ hp engine and take down the STi/EVO market.

Is that like the Mazdaspeed 6 that people lined up none deep to buy?

The MS6 wasn't really targeted properly at the STi/EVO market. It was more of a "grown up Evo," closer to the Legacy GT in terms of overall experience. Funny thing is... NOW people are all in love with them. I love the MS6. I'd rather have one than an STi/Evo for my purposes.

I think the MS6's are very cool. They went toe to toe with the Subaru Legacy GT Spec B, which is also very cool. Neither sold a lot, and both have been long discontinued.

I got offered one by a coworker on the cheap last week, but it needs a motor and possible transmission work. It threw a rod at two years ago 57k miles and has been sitting ever since. After looking up prices on those components, I passed. Big bucks!!!

Yeah, there's no sense rebuilding an ms6 stock. DISI's have glass rods, at least by comparison, and if you fold one, you're better off going built block out of the box.

mndsm wrote: Yeah, there's no sense rebuilding an ms6 stock. DISI's have glass rods, at least by comparison, and if you fold one, you're better off going built block out of the box.

ya know i heard that for the longest time, but the only people who blew stuff up were "mickey-mousing" their tuning and mods. I ran Cobb stage 2+ intake for 30k miles or so and didn't blow stuff up, the guys trying to run meth injection, and CPe mod boxes tuning themselves on the backroads were the guys that ventilated blocks.

I love my 2013 model. It's a real fun and spunky DD.

Strizzo wrote:

mndsm wrote: Yeah, there's no sense rebuilding an ms6 stock. DISI's have glass rods, at least by comparison, and if you fold one, you're better off going built block out of the box.

ya know i heard that for the longest time, but the only people who blew stuff up were "mickey-mousing" their tuning and mods. I ran Cobb stage 2+ intake for 30k miles or so and didn't blow stuff up, the guys trying to run meth injection, and CPe mod boxes tuning themselves on the backroads were the guys that ventilated blocks.

The car in question was bought used and was probably hammered and returned to stock. The dealer they bought it from doesn't have the best reputation for selling clean used cars, let alone clean used performance cars.

The only MS3 I've driven or been in was fellow GRM'er MA$$hole's old 2008. That car had an Accessport Stage 1 tune, a solid rear motor mount, and that's it. The car blew the doors off of my modded "stage 2" 2002 WRX and my mostly stock 2009 WRX. It was put together well and was a fun car to drive.

If I could go back in time, I'd make myself get a 2009 MS3 instead of a 2009 WRX. I kinda wish I did the same with my 2012 regular Mazda 3 too.

I really miss my '10 Speed 3. It was an awesome car. I kinda wish I'd kept it and fixed what I perceived as it issues.

FYI

In reply to SilverFleet:

mine was a 2007, i had corksport motor mount inserts, cobb intake, cpe downpipe (threw CEL even with the cat, which was annoying), upgraded fuel pump internals, accessport stage 2+ with a couple tunes that I did some tweaking to the throttle and boost curves to get closer to stock driveability, and the cobb rear sway. on the stock bridgestones i managed a 13.8 @ 104.5mph.

there were some early models that had teething issues, but i think a lot of the "stock is crap" mentality is driven by the car mod culture that dominates the "tuner car" scene.

Any Mazda insiders heard anything yet?