Mazda to launch hot 3

The hottest hatch to ever wear the Mazda badge, the new car will be dubbed the Mazda3 MPS. It will debut at the Geneva International Motor Show which opens on February 28.

Though details are short on the new addition to the Mazda Performance Series (MPS) range, the 3 MPS will not use an all-wheel drive chassis, but rather will be front-wheel drive only.

The flagship of the Mazda3 range, the hatch will use a version of the same turbocharged 2.3-litre MZR DISI DOHC four-cylinder engine that features in the Mazda6 MPS and the yet-to-be released CX-7 crossover SUV.

The engine is rated at 190kW/380Nm in 6 MPS guise and will arrive with 170kW/350Nm in the CX-7. It's CarPoint's belief that the 3 MPS will go close to matching the output of its AWD sedan sibling.

Such an output (ie: close to 190kW) would put the Mazda3 MPS at the top of the front-wheel drive performance tree. The VW Golf GTI produces under 150kW, Renault's 2.0-litre turbocharged RenaultSport Megane Cup boasts 165kW, with the supercharged Mini Cooper S with John Cooper Works kit rated at 154kW and Alfa's 3.2-litre naturally-aspirated V6 147GTA an impressive 184kW.

The 3 is likely to better all of the above in torque as well. Expect maximum twist of around 360Nm!

The Mazda3 MPS will likely be the most expensive non-hybrid small Japanese hatch to boot. CarPoint expects the range-topper to be in the order of $3000-5000 more than the Mazda3 SP23 leather pack; the most expensive 3 offered currently at $34,080.

Mazda Australia would not comment on the 3's expected output or price but would confirm the hottest of Japanese hot hatches would arrive Down Under in the second half of 2006. Keep an eye on the Sydney Show for the debut, perhaps?

Joining the 3 MPS on Mazda's Geneva stand will be the Kabura concept which starred at Detroit's NAIAS and a Mazda5 Hydrogen RE Hybrid concept vehicle powered by a RENESIS rotary dual-fuel (hydrogen or petrol) combustion/electric hybrid. The 5 is Mazda's Europe-only people mover, known as the Premacy in some markets.