From a standing start, it reaches 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds and the car's standard six-speed manual gearbox ensures a very intensive driving experience beyond this speed as well.

Luckily the engine is frugal at the gas pump thanks to a relatively high compression ratio for a turbocharged engine of 9.5 : 1. Its high pressure, 115 bar injectors use only 9.7 litres of fuel (combined) per 100 km.

To keep this power under control without all-wheel drive, chassis engineers developed sophisticated engine torque control that, among other factors, monitors the car's gearshift and steering angle. A limited-slip differential provides optimal power distribution to the front wheels during fast cornering.

Hardly any Roll When Cornering Besides increasing body stiffness even further, engineers also meticulously fine-tuned the chassis of the Mazda3 MPS. Stiffer coil springs, thicker anti-roll bars and better perfor- ming dampers reduce roll by 60 percent. Aerodynamic tuning, especially of the underbody, lowered the car's coefficient of drag (Cd) value to 0.31, which made the top speed target of 250 km/h possible.

10 The car's braking system was upgraded to match its prodigious power output. Four large disc brakes - in the front they are ventilated with a diameter of 320 mm - decelerate the car dependably even at high speeds.



Mazda3 MPS at a Glance

- Second model in the Mazda Performance Series (MPS)
- Design based on Mazda3 hatchback
- Transverse-mounted, front-wheel drive with limited-slip differential standard
- 2.3-litre petrol from the MZR engine family with direct- injection spark ignition (DISI) technology and exhaust-gas turbocharging
- Maximum power output of 191 kW/260 PS at 5,500 rpm
- Maximum torque of 380 Nm at 3,000 rpm
- Top speed of 250 km/h
- Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds
- 9.7 litres fuel consumption per 100 km (combined); Euro Stage IV
- Six-speed manual transmission standard
- New front end design includes larger air intake, "floating image" fog lights and 20 mm wider fenders
- Rear end with 102 mm diameter tailpipe and a roof spoiler
- 18-inch wheels with 215/45 R18 tyres
- Four exterior colours: black, silver, red and blue/gray
- Black interior with semi-bucket sports seats; optional leather interior with red stitched seams
- Local body reinforcements at the front cowl member, rear wheel housing and the floor tunnel
- Stiffer suspension reduces roll by 60 percent
- Coefficient of drag (Cd value) lowered to 0.31
- High-performance brakes with dynamic stability control (DSC) standard

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