Hot hatch wars: Mazda vs Volkswagen

The launch of the new Mazda3 and Volkswagen Golf ranges might only be around the corner but both companies will be keeping something up their sleeves. The new Mazda3 MPS and VW Golf GTI will be launched later this year, months after the rest of the new ranges of both cars go on sale.

The MPS is expected in the third quarter while the GTI is most likely in the last few months of 2009. That will set up a head-to-head battle between the latest turbocharged road rockets from both brands.

Mazda officially took the wraps off the MPS at the Geneva motor show this week. The company has gone for a more aggressive design approach on the new model with a large bonnet scoop designed to make the car stand out from the rest of the 3 range.

As expected the 2.3-litre direct injection turbocharged engine has been carried over from the current car and still produces 191kW and 380Nm. As with the regular models the MPS benefits from a stronger and stiffer chassis to take better advantage of the power.

Although the rest of the Mazda3 range will go on sale around Easter time MPS buyers will have to wait, according to Mazda Australia spokesman Glenn Butler, but when exactly remains a mystery.

"The MPS is currently down for a third quarter launch," Butler tells the Carsales Network. "It's hard to be a lot more accurate than that because we pulled the Mazda3 launch forward, so anything could happen. It's not a volume seller, so it's not likely to come any further forward, but we'll know better closer to the date."

That will put the car on a collision course with the new MkVI Golf GTI due in the last quarter of the year.

Volkswagen Australia will continue with the current special edition MkV GTI Pirelli until then and managing director Jutta Dierks is confident it will hold the fort until the new model arrives.

"We have current GTIs and they sell well for us," Dierks says.

Production of right-hand drive GTI models hasn’t started yet but Dierks says it is important to get the volume selling MkVI range established before introducing the halo car.

"I don’t think we need it yet," she says. "We need to bring in all the nice new engines for the Golf and get them settled in the market and then we come with something new."

The new GTI is expected to be powered by an upgraded version of the current 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder motor. Power will be increased to 155kW and 280Nm of torque will be available from as low as 1800revs.

VW has also worked on improving the chassis tune of the new hot hatch with a new suspension tune, adaptive damping and an electronic differential all anticipated.