Hanging out for the return of the Mazda3 MPS hot hatch? According to a fresh report, Mazda has a new one – or rather something similar – waiting in the wings.
Citing leaked screenshots of MY21 product details from a Mazda dealership’s extranet system, Jalopnik reports the Mazda3 will soon get a turbocharged engine option for the first time since the MPS was discontinued in 2013.
But the new flagship will forge its own path by being exclusively all-wheel drive, helping to mitigate its front-wheel-drive MPS predecessor’s prolific torque steer.
A manual transmission also won’t be on offer, with a six-speed automatic, likely a torque converter, pencilled in instead.
And unlike in the past, this new combination will be available in two body-styles: hatch and sedan.
No other details have been confirmed at the time of writing, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the turbocharged engine in question ends up being the 2.5-litre four-cylinder unit from the Mazda6 mid-size car and CX-5 mid-size and CX-9 large SUVs.
Under their bonnets, it produces 170kW of power and 420Nm of torque, which would put the Mazda3 in the same conversation as the soon-to-be-facelifted 202kW/353Nm Hyundai i30 N and yet-to-be-revealed 200kW/370Nm Toyota GR Corolla.
When asked about the turbocharged Mazda3, a local Mazda spokesperson told CarsGuide "we are always monitoring vehicle options for Australia, however we have nothing to announce at this time".
Stay tuned, because if the report is accurate, we’ll be seeing the real deal in the metal very, very soon.
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