Mazda Could Make A 3 Hot Hatch, But It Isn't Going To
It seemed all but certain that Mazda was, at last, going to make the 3-based hot hatchback it’s denied us for all these years. It was all-but confirmed by a company exec at the launch of the standard 3 earlier this year, and we couldn’t wait for Mazda to build its Golf GTI rival.
As it turns out, our excitement was for nought - at the launch of the SkyActiv-X-engined 3, Mazda global development and planning chief Hiroyuki Matsumoto quashed earlier reports of a go-faster version of the hatch.
According to Cars Guide, Matsumoto-san said: “We are capable of creating engine to answer such demands for more power, but at the moment we have no plan to do it”. So, Mazda could do, it’s just that it doesn’t want too. Boo.
It’s a shame, because even the 120bhp version of the 3 we tested recently drove beautifully, with natural-feeling steering, nicely placed pedals, a slick gearshift and surefooted handling. Mazda’s whole product range fares well in this regard, so we’re certain that a pokier 3 would be especially brilliant.
Let’s cross our fingers and hope the company changes its mind.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
They want to make sure the car sells and performs well and then do it.
By being sure of these things they can develop the car, fix the little mistakes found with the daily drivers and have an easy marketing strategy.
That or they are thinking about an hybrid system like Renault.
Or, more probably, they straight up aren’t going to make one. A manufacturer has to watch his image, a hot hatch might be a great way to make yourself appear more youthful and modern, but it can also hilariously backfire. Just look at the Hyundai i30N, it was built to get the general public away from believing Hyundai is a brand for poor people, old people and insurance salesmen. That whole thing didn’t go as planned, the image of Hyundai as a whole didn’t change, but the i30N is now associated with vaping Supreme fuccboys. All the boys in my hometown who used to drive around in their obnoxiously loud lowered GTIs and Focus RSs now drive Hyundai i30N. You don’t want to be associated with these kind of people if you are trying to sell normal cars to normal people.
Reeee
The current 3 is, in my opinion, one of the best looking cars on the market.
Let’s hope they do change their mind and give us a more aggressive 3 MPS!
The weirdest thing for me was how massive it looked next to a MX5
Dont forget about this variant, this will be the one to have! 180bhp and a fuel efficient engine backed up by the handling. This will be quite nippy!
https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-japanesecars/180hp-and-52mpg-from-skyactiv-x-mazda-3/40319
I’m confused, are you a very friendly individual or just a bot?😂
they already made a 3 hot hatch though
Mazda:We want to sell driver focused cars.
Also Mazda:We won’t make sports cars.
PS:pls make MS3 pls