New car - Mazda 3 MPS
Discussion
The ultimate sleeper hatch for a dry day, pretty darn cool. The only thing that puzzles me about them is the frankly ludicrous intercooler placement right on top of the engine, when the older generation like yours did not have a bonnet scoop. Surely between the top of the engine and the bonnet there cannot be a lot of air flow!
I wonder whas Mazda's brief was when they made these? The facelift model with the scooped air intake on the bonnet is more in line with the rest of the hot hatch category, but the mk1 is a real puzzle!
What are they, 265bhp? So about in line with the Focus RS mk2 (which Ford over-quote on it's power, was it Mountune who said they'd never seen a 300bhp one from the factory and most were between 260 and 270bhp?). Other than that, there isn't much else in the hot hatch category to challenge these for power! All the more puzzling then that it should be given the Q-car look it has. It's more 'Grandad on a shopping trip' than 'Nurburgring challenger'. Much like the Corolla T-Sport, it makes you wonder who they were selling it to!
That said, I bet it's quick in a straight line. Great for showing those whippersnappers in the Corsas what pulling away from the traffic lights should look like!
What are they, 265bhp? So about in line with the Focus RS mk2 (which Ford over-quote on it's power, was it Mountune who said they'd never seen a 300bhp one from the factory and most were between 260 and 270bhp?). Other than that, there isn't much else in the hot hatch category to challenge these for power! All the more puzzling then that it should be given the Q-car look it has. It's more 'Grandad on a shopping trip' than 'Nurburgring challenger'. Much like the Corolla T-Sport, it makes you wonder who they were selling it to!
That said, I bet it's quick in a straight line. Great for showing those whippersnappers in the Corsas what pulling away from the traffic lights should look like!
+1
Baryonyx said:
I wonder whas Mazda's brief was when they made these? The facelift model with the scooped air intake on the bonnet is more in line with the rest of the hot hatch category, but the mk1 is a real puzzle!
What are they, 265bhp? So about in line with the Focus RS mk2 (which Ford over-quote on it's power, was it Mountune who said they'd never seen a 300bhp one from the factory and most were between 260 and 270bhp?). Other than that, there isn't much else in the hot hatch category to challenge these for power! All the more puzzling then that it should be given the Q-car look it has. It's more 'Grandad on a shopping trip' than 'Nurburgring challenger'. Much like the Corolla T-Sport, it makes you wonder who they were selling it to!
That said, I bet it's quick in a straight line. Great for showing those whippersnappers in the Corsas what pulling away from the traffic lights should look like!
What are they, 265bhp? So about in line with the Focus RS mk2 (which Ford over-quote on it's power, was it Mountune who said they'd never seen a 300bhp one from the factory and most were between 260 and 270bhp?). Other than that, there isn't much else in the hot hatch category to challenge these for power! All the more puzzling then that it should be given the Q-car look it has. It's more 'Grandad on a shopping trip' than 'Nurburgring challenger'. Much like the Corolla T-Sport, it makes you wonder who they were selling it to!
That said, I bet it's quick in a straight line. Great for showing those whippersnappers in the Corsas what pulling away from the traffic lights should look like!
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