New hot hatch from Mazda
Mazda3 MPS heads for the Astra VXR
  Mazda3 MPS |
Mazda is pinning its credibility in the hot hatch market on the new Mazda3 MPS, describing it as "the fastest, best handling, best braking model in the Mazda3 range" when it goes on sale in the UK next February.
Priced from £18,995 on the road, Mazda reckoned the hatch occupies a similar space in the hatch market as do the Mazda6 MPS, RX-8 PZ special edition and the MX-5 in theirs.
Powered by a 2.3-litre 256bhp four-pot motor with 280lb-ft of torque that propels the car to 60mph from rest in a respectable 6.1 seconds, it's going head-to-head with the likes of the Vauxhall Astra VXR, Renault Megane RenaultSport 225, and the Honda Civic Type-R.
There'll only be one version of the car, which will be limited to 1,000 examples only, but it's reasonably well specced.
Equipment includes xenons, rain sensing wipers and automatic lights, global window closure, aircon, cruise control, a seven-speaker Bose stereo with a six-CD changer. It also comes with branded sports seats with black leather side bolsters and centre sections in black sports cloth. Four exterior paint colours are available with mica or metallic finish along with 18-inch diameter, 7-inch wide 10-spoke aluminium alloy wheels as standard.
Marketing man Mark Cameron said: "The Mazda3 MPS is designed for a global market and annual production will be more than 10,000 units in 2007.
"In the UK, the sports hatchback market is both well established and more demanding in terms of styling. For this reason we have developed a Sports Styling Pack, which includes a larger rear spoiler, two-spoke sports door mirrors and lowered suspension, to enhance the vehicle’s sporting prowess.
"Priced at £500 fully fitted, the Sports Styling Pack will be available in Mazda showrooms from March 2007, and we expect around 70 per cent of Mazda3 MPS buyers will opt for this pack. Over time we expect all Mazda3 MPS models in the UK to feature the Sports Styling Pack as standard." The pack consists of a larger rear spoiler, two-spoke sports door mirrors and lowered suspension.
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