We bet that it would be faster if there was a clear path.
Although the Mazdaspeed3 (or MPS in the US) is no longer available, it was a very powerful hot hatch at the time. It had a 2.3-liter turbocharged four cylinder that produced 263 horsepower (196 Kilowatts) as well as 280 pound-feet (382 Newton-meters). The one AutoTopNL has access to in this video is much more powerful. Tuning increases the power output to 562 HP (419 kW) & 511 lb/ft (693 Nm).
The car accelerates effortlessly. The engine revs at nearly 8,000 rpm. It is more difficult to keep the steering wheel in control. To maintain control, torque steer is a problem and it requires constant corrections.
The autobahn isn’t clearly visible during this run so the driver can’t reach the tuned Mazdaspeed3’s maximum speed. Although the GPS shows 245 km/h (152.2 miles/hour), the car is still accelerating at this point.
The Mazdaspeed performance brand is likely to be discontinued. “We don’t have any immediate plans to bring back Mazdaspeed3 as our move into the premium area,” Drew Cary, a spokesperson, stated in 2020 at a roundtable interview .
Mazda’s goal to build a better reputation on the market is to improve vehicle quality. Mazda knows that there is only so much money available to buy products. This goal is more important than creating performance-focused versions of its vehicles.
This strategy worked. Consumer Reports ranked Mazda the best automotive brand in 2020, up three places from the previous year. It came in second place, beating Subaru and BMW.
Mazda will offer rear-wheel drive models starting in 2022. They will get power from new inline-six engines, which will be available in 3.0-liter and 3.3-liter displacements.