New Mazda3 hot hatch requested for Australia
But SUVs and SKYACTIV-X compression-ignition petrol engines are far more important for Mazda than a Golf GTI rivalToyota is talking about it, Hyundai has done it and Volkswagen is nailing it.
Naturally, Mazda wants a hot hatch in Australia but there's still Buckley's chance of it happening.
That's the word according to the top brass as Mazda Australia, who confessed they'd love to see a resurrected Mazda3 MPS hot hatch – ostensibly powered by the brand's 2.5-litre turbo petrol engine – but that it's just not a commercial reality.
Instead the brand says it must focus development resources on upcoming SUVs like the mooted Mazda CX-4, a vehicle that can guarantee a return on investment.
A new computer-generated render of a Mazda3 hot hatch from Tomi-X Design's Facebook page has hit the web and visualises what many customers – and indeed Mazda employees – would love to see.
Mazda Australia managing director Vinesh Bhindi says he won't stop asking for a car to rival the Volkswagen Golf GTI, Hyundai i30 N and upcoming Toyota Corolla GR, but that it's not a priority.
"From a Mazda Australia point of view we always represent back to the factory that our consumers are asking about this. It would be nice. If I had to prepare a Christmas list, yes it would be there," stated Bhindi.
"But the official line from the factory is 'the resources are limited' and they will do things that are priorities. One of them was SKYACTIV-X [engine technology], before EVs and hybrids come," he added.
There was faint hope that new SKYACTIV-X engines available on the upgraded Mazda3 from late 2019 could fill the hole of a hot hatch. But the 2.0-litre engines are unlikely to assuage Mazda buyers eager for a tyre-frying hot hatch, expected to pump out more torque but less power compared with turbocharged equivalents.
Mazda3 SKYACTIV-X prototype review
The SKYACTIV-X engine is primarily designed to reduce emissions and is crucial to the brand's US and European exports, whose markets will require cleaner-burning powertrains from 2020 as emissions restrictions come into effect.
Indeed, dreams of a resurrected Mazda3 hot hatch similar to the scorcher from the late 2000s, which even had a WRX-inspired bonnet scoop and a lusty 190kW/390Nm turbo-petrol 2.3-litre engine, appear to be just that.
Mazda Australia's marketing director, Alastair Doak, told carsales.com.au that a high-performance small car to take on the Honda Civic Type R and Renault Megane RS is "…something we'll continue to ask for and we understand there is a market for these things".
But he explained the Mazda's small size means it doesn't have the development resources of its rivals.
"Yes, Mazda brand in Australia is big, it's the second biggest seller here, but globally it is a very small player. We have limited resources because of that.
"Really we're putting our money where we see the best return on that investment and that really is replacing and expanding our core car and SUV lines."
Doak added that a hot hatch is "…something we'd like to add to the portfolio but at this point there's nothing in development".
The next new model for the Japanese brand is the Mazda CX-4, which is expected to be shown in production form in March at the 2019 Geneva motor show.
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