Mazda3 MPS dead and buried
Want a high-performance Mazda3? You're more likely to get a "pie in the sky"We've written a lot about Mazda's performance sub-brand, MPS.
Ever since the previous generation Mazda3 MPS scorched us silly with its 2.3-litre turbo-petrol engine, a torque-steering, tyre-frying 190kW/390Nm hot hatch up until the late noughties, we've yearned for more.
But it seems like if you want tyre smoke with your Mazda3, you’re going to be hard-pressed..
We put the question of whether MPS cars were possibility of returning – short or long term – to Mazda Australia's PR specialist, Tony Mee, who all but said it's not going to happen.
"I think that's pie in the sky stuff. There has been no talk within the Mazda walls about the reintroduction of MPS."
It's been an on-again off-again relationship with Mazda's MPS performance brand depending on the Mazda exec you talked to, and although Mee's comments should put speculation about Mazda's performance sub-brand to bed, it's unlikely.
"The thing with the MPS is, because of its power and torque, everyone loves it. Everyone that owned one loved it. There's a lot of people who'd love to see the return of that particular car but there are no plans to re-introduce that to the Australian market," he stated.
Mee said that Mazda is currently focussed on its bread-and-butter models, like the Mazda3 and CX-5 SUV, and doesn't have the resources to develop a Ford Focus RS-rivalling Mazda3 MPS.
"Mazda as a brand is very focussed on the current range of passenger cars and SUVs. We tailor those cars to a large share of the market and they're very popular.
"To move the thinking and also the resources across to an MPS is probably seen as a waste of resources almost within Mazda. The focus will be maintained on the current range of SUVs and cars," he said.
"A CX-4 is more likely than an MPS," he added, though was quick to pour cold water on any Aussie-deliveries of the sleek BMW X4 rival, which is a China-only model at present.
"The CX-4 is a really nice looking car. I think it would resonate nicely with Australian buyers but unfortunately it's not offered to us."
It's understood the Japanese car-maker is currently preparing a 300kW turbo-rotary 1.6-litre Mazda RX-9 as its sole hero model, based on the RX Vision concept from 2015.
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