fzanetti Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 http://cwimg.us.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=CW&Date=20060912&Category=FREE&ArtNo=60911018&Ref=AR&Profile=1024&maxw=490 http://www.autoweek.com/graphics/zoom.gif Boy Racers Rejoice MazdaSpeed3 is capable of hyperspeed http://www.autoweek.com/graphics/aw_spacer.gif By ROGER HART http://www.autoweek.com/graphics/aw_spacer.gif AutoWeek | Published 09/12/06, 8:40 am et http://www.autoweek.com/graphics/aw_spacer.gif AT A GLANCE: 2007 MAZDASPEED3 ON SALE: October BASE PRICE: $22,835 POWERTRAIN: 2.3-liter, 263-hp, 280-lb-ft I4; fwd, six-speed manual CURB WEIGHT: 3153 lbs 0 TO 60 MPH: 5.9 seconds (est.) FUEL MILEAGE (EPA COMBINED): 23.6 http://www.autoweek.com/graphics/aw_spacer.gifhttp://www.autoweek.com/graphics/aw_spacer.gif http://www.autoweek.com/graphics/aw_spacer.gif Advertisement OAS_RICH('Middle1'); <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"> document.write('<a href="http://oas-central.realmedia.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/www.autoweek.com/news/latest_news/60911018/1545920271/Middle1/crain/AWO_CASTROLGTX_300X250_ROS_0706/castrol_300x250.html/38303662663864633435303630666630?1545920271" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://view.atdmt.com/MRK/view/twkxxgtx0030000005mrk/direct/01/1545920271" /></a>'); </script> <noscript> <a href="http://oas-central.realmedia.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/www.autoweek.com/news/latest_news/60911018/1545920271/Middle1/crain/AWO_CASTROLGTX_300X250_ROS_0706/castrol_300x250.html/38303662663864633435303630666630?1545920271" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://view.atdmt.com/MRK/view/twkxxgtx0030000005mrk/direct/01/1545920271" /></a> </noscript> Mazda didn’t invent the sport compact segment but it seems fairly intent on making sure those who care about pocket rockets pay attention to the cars coming from Hiroshima. Case in point: the MazdaSpeed3. With a turbocharged, direct-injected 2.3-liter four-cylinder making 263 hp at 5500 rpm and 280 lb-ft at 3000 rpm, the new Mazda will dust the VW GTI and Honda Civic Si—two of the Speed3’s major competitors—in a drag race. Mazda claims sub six-second 0 to 60 mph times, and in our first test of the car we found it to be a tire-smoking ball of fun to drive. Spool up the turbo, drop the clutch and it will smoke the 18-inch sport tires all the way through first gear, give you a loud chirp when you grab second and another when third is engaged. If you don’t like the short first gear, select second, rev up the engine, dump the clutch and leave your friends in a cloud of blue smoke. The car is electronically limited to 155 mph. To handle potential cornering speeds, Mazda engineers beefed up the chassis, adding supports to the front and rear suspension mounts to keep the wheels from changing camber during hard corners. Also, extra stiffness was added to the center tunnel. The extra steel adds 15 pounds to the MazdaSpeed3’s body-in-white weight over a standard Mazda3. http://cwimg.us.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=CW&Date=20060912&Category=FREE&ArtNo=60911018&Ref=V2&Profile=1024&maxw=490 http://www.autoweek.com/graphics/zoom.gif The Direct Injection Spark Ignition (DISI) engine is the same powerplant used in the MazdaSpeed6 and CX-7. The compact design has the intercooler mounted on top of the engine with ductwork beneath the hood routing cool air to the intake. The key to the engine’s power delivery, says Ruben Archilla, Mazda’s general manager for product development, is the direct fuel injection. “With fuel pressure of 115 bar [115 times atmospheric pressure] we get a precise injection of fuel close to where it will be ignited. As the fuel is injected into the cylinder there is a rapid drop in pressure which cools the fuel and gives a denser charge. A denser charge gives us more torque, a faster turbo spool-up and a faster catalyst heat up for better emissions,” he said. Running nearly 300 lb-ft of torque through the front wheels can be a recipe for torque-steer disaster. Coupled with an electronic torque limiter in first and second gears, Mazda engineers installed half-shafts of differing diameters to thwart the problem and it seems to work. You still want the front wheels pointed straight when you launch the car, but torque steer is managed quite well. http://cwimg.us.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=CW&Date=20060912&Category=FREE&ArtNo=60911018&Ref=V3&Profile=1024&maxw=490 http://www.autoweek.com/graphics/zoom.gif Our complaints are minor: Brakes are merely adequate; the clutch operates much like a light switch—all on or all off; and the booming exhaust was tiring after a long highway drive, although the kids will probably love it. Single-piston calibers grab ventilated 12.6-inch rotors in the front and solid 11-inch discs in the back. Lapping the hilly, 11-turn Laguna Seca Raceway the brake pedal started getting spongy on our second lap. Our test cars were fitted with stock brakes—some manufacturers install racing pads when lapping at tracks—and with a base price of $22,835, it’s hard to complain too much about the car’s stopping power. But with everything else on the car, from the direct steering, short-throw shifter and dynamite engine, we’d prefer better brakes. The interior differs little from a standard Mazda3 save for some MazdaSpeed trim pieces. It is a comfortable cabin with straightforward controls and an acceptable stereo. It is available in two trim levels; the base sport hatchback and grand touring hatchback that costs $715 more. Only 5000 cars head for the States this model year, and many already have buyers. Flavio Zanetti Boston, MA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBY Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 "Torque-steer is managed quite well" It better be. Small front wheel drive cars were never meant to have this much power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravisS Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 "Torque-steer is managed quite well" It better be. Small front wheel drive cars were never meant to have this much power. Not to mention it's managed by reducing torque. As it says, it actually has a torque limiter installed! Big power numbers are fun, but if you have to seriously cut that power just to make the car drivable... what's the point? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-TT- Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 i cant wait to wast one of those on the track Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jedi Pimp Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 My question: How come Mazda can put a direct injection twin scroll turbo engine on a $23K car and Subaru has no answer. Subaru needs to dip into the Toyota cash bin and get up to date on their turbo/engine technology for real. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John M Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 Twin scroll = overrated. Toyota did the same thing with the MR2 in the 90s. You're still pushing X amount of exhaust through Y sized turbo so it's going to spool within a few hundred rpm of the same thing no matter what you do. I don't want direct injection. That's one of the factors in Subaru's favor -- a platform with a known mod path. Leave the pioneering work for somebody else. They'll still be figuring out how to gain 50 hp while we run easy 11s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
godwhomismike Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 why not make it awd? they just had to borrow the system from the MS6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deimos Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 You watch itll be teh new fast4r1!1!111! In the non torque limited gears you know that thing will be a serious roller. Im certain the engine, like the ms6 is underrated too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wukindada Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 Yo......I herd dat MS6 putin down oer 300 hopar:rolleyes: Toyota 6EATS .........SUCK!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilh Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 Umm...aren't we torque limited in 1st and 2nd? Full boost isn't obtained until 3rd, no? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravisS Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 Umm...aren't we torque limited in 1st and 2nd? Full boost isn't obtained until 3rd, no? Somehow I knew somebody was going to bring that up Yes, but at least we're not further reducing said torque with a torque limiter. I don't know for sure, but I'd be somewhat willing to be the 'speed 3 also has reduced boost in 1st and 2nd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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