#02#It's now afternoon at Mazda's 'fly-drive' event. After having spent the morning driving around the West Country roads in
Mazda's new oil-burner, we were treated to an exhilarating experience at the controls of an Extra 300 aerobatic aeroplane. The expansive view of earth through the all-glass canopy was breathtaking and not only because I was sitting upside down for much of the ride!
The variation of loops and rolls got the adrenaline levels pumping, and it's time for a seat behind the wheel of something that will equally stimulate the senses, albeit on
terra firma. The driver's seat of the MPS variation of the Mazda3 beckons.
While the
regular MPS is a wolf in sheep's clothing, a new and aptly named Sports Aero Kit transforms the otherwise subdued lines by adding a stiffer Eibach suspension (lowering the car 25mm at the front and 10mm at the rear), race-inspired door mirrors and a large wing affixed atop the tailgate to create downforce at high speed. So-equipped, the 3 MPS looks more purposeful, but still retains a degree of subtlety.
On the road to the Castle Combe race circuit, winding sections of B-road reveal a stiffened chassis, light steering, and a reasonably compliant suspension. Though the Eibach coil-overs and dampers are nowhere near as comfortable as the diesel's suspension, their fitment translates into 60 per cent less body roll; the car appears unperturbed over all but significant road irregularities.
It seems that Mazda's enhancements to control power to the MPS's front wheels has had only a modest amount of success. Simply put, the front wheels have a mind of their own and must be reigned in. Mazda engineers tried to sedate the massive torque steer by employing an engine management system to regulate torque delivery in the first four gears and a torque-sensing limited-slip differential to maximise traction, but a jab of the right pedal still sharply awakens the beast.
Power begins to be felt around 2500rpm (when the turbocharger spools up with conviction), through a peak 280lb.ft pulling power at 3000rpm and on to its maximum 256bhp at 5500rpm. Its redline is at 6500rpm and the MPS encourages you to nudge it occasionally. With this rather prodigious amount of torque on tap so early the front-drive setup simply cannot be expected to carry the car in a straight line and it's best to apply progressive pressure on the throttle pedal upon exiting a turn.
#p##05#
Through the first few corners at Castle Combe the car remained remarkably composed; the brakes grip well and slow the car down progressively, though the large 320mm vented front discs and 280mm solid rears started to experience slight fade after a few laps around the circuit.
Turn-in is crisp and the steering well-weighted (though it lacks in feel), but the 215/45 R18 tyres simply cannot curb understeer experienced at the limit. Eventually they are coaxed into breaking free from their grip on the tarmac and the18-inch wheels act like skis over less than immaculately dry road surfaces.
The Sports Aero Kit adds a little more presence for buyers that aren't afraid to admit that they are driving a fast hot hatch, for a reasonable price of £500. The changes to the suspension are worthwhile for keener drivers, though the experience is dominated by the power of the engine and at times, the chassis's inability to control it. The Mazda3 MPS is a viable (and powerful) alternative to the more common
Focus ST and
Golf GTi, but it's not quite as polished.
Mazda3 hatchback range overview
| Model | UK (£ on-the-road) | Ireland: (€ on-the-road) |
| Mazda3 1.4 5dr S | £11,400 | n/a |
| Mazda3 1.4 5dr TS | £12,700 | n/a |
| Mazda3 1.6 5dr S Diesel (90ps) | £12,900 | n/a |
| Mazda3 1.6 5dr Katano | £12,995 | n/a |
| Mazda3 1.6 5dr TS | £13,300 | n/a |
| Mazda3 1.6 5dr TS2 | £14,260 | n/a |
| Mazda3 1.6 5dr TS Activematic | £14,300 | n/a |
| Mazda3 1.6 5dr TS Diesel (109ps) | £14,800 | n/a |
| Mazda3 1.6 5dr TS2 Activematic | £15,260 | n/a |
| Mazda3 1.6 5dr TS2 Diesel (109ps) | £15,700 | n/a |
| Mazda3 2.0 5dr Sport | £16,330 | n/a |
| Mazda3 2.0 5dr TS2 Diesel 143ps | £16,730 | n/a |
| Mazda3 2.0 5dr Sport Diesel 143ps | £17,910 | n/a |
| Mazda3 2.3 5dr DISI Turbo MPS | £18,995 | n/a |
| Mazda3 2.3 5dr DISI Turbo MPS with Sports Aero Kit | £19,495 | n/a |
| Mazda3 1.4 5dr COMFORT | n/a | €19,645 |
| Mazda3 1.4 5dr COMFORT SE | n/a | €20,795 |
| Mazda3 1.4 5dr TOURING | n/a | €21,795 |
| Mazda3 1.6 5dr COMFORT SE | n/a | €21,995 |
| Mazda3 1.6 5dr TOURING | n/a | €22,995 |
| Mazda3 1.6D 90ps 5dr COMFORT | n/a | €24,245 |
| Mazda3 1.6D 110ps 5dr COMFORT SE | n/a | €25,995 |
