World Premiere : All New Mazda3 MPS

2009 MAZDA3 MPS

GENEVA : March 3, 2009 - The all-new Mazda3 MPS has various design details exclusive to the line-up – like a new air-intake in the bonnet, a larger floating rear spoiler and wider tyres – for a markedly more expressive look on the outside. On the inside, it is updated to deliver a sporty and premium feel befitting the new Mazda3 flagship model. It inherits the high-performance 260 PS MZR 2.3-litre DISI Turbo petrol of the current model updated to use about half a litre less fuel per 100 km. It is also cleaner running with the world’s first single-nanotechnology catalytic converter, and it has a stiffer body shell, newly-developed tyres and improved steering for even more predictable handling.

Introduction – The new Mazda3 Flagship
Sharing the spotlight on Mazda’s stand in Geneva is the next-generation Mazda3 MPS, one of the world’s most powerful front-wheel drive compact cars. It takes the all-new Mazda3 hatchback as its base and raises it to new levels of driving excitement with an updated MZR 2.3-litre DISI* turbo petrol engine, increased bodyshell rigidity and an evolved suspension. To this it adds exclusive design cues and materials to deliver a next-generation sporting compact flagship that is even more fun to own and drive than the current model.
On top of its high performance level – one of the best in the category – the all-new Mazda3 MPS was developed according to Mazda’s long term vision for technology development. Advanced Mazda engine and catalytic converter technologies mean the new model has an optimised power delivery, uses less fuel, and has cleaner emissions than the previous Mazda3 MPS model.

Design – More Expressive and More Dynamic
The design theme for the all-new Mazda3 called on the development team to evolve the model’s visual identity to create a sportier, more aggressive appearance. The end result is a more emotionally appealing design that takes the sporty, agile compact nature of the all-new Mazda3 hatchback to a new level of sporty refinement. That theme has been further extended with the Mazda3 MPS.

Exterior Design

Front end
A new air intake for the intercooler is introduced to the centre of the all-new Mazda3 MPS bonnet, hinting at the power house underneath. The front fender and front bumper designs are exclusive to the MPS, while subtle intonation added to the surface and character lines give the exterior an expressive and dynamic flair. The front grille and lower bumper sections share the same black metallic paint finish. These are framed by cylindrical bi-xenon headlamps and round fog lamps, to underscore the car’s premium character (standard or optional, depending on market).

Profile and rear end
At the sides, subtle wedge-shaped and curving character lines, along with a side skirt, accentuate the car’s sporty, lower centre of gravity. The view from the rear features a large floating rear spoiler (depending on market) that balances the tight look begun by the new front end and adds to the compact’s aggressive image. LED tail lamps have an inner lens that adds a sense of greater transparency when the lamps are not illuminated.

One the segment’s best for aerodynamic performance
The all-new Mazda3 MPS has an exterior design that continues the current model’s top aerodynamic performance. Beginning with the all-new Mazda3 5-door hatchback, which has one of the segment’s lowest coefficients of drag; MPS developers added a number of exterior features optimised for aerodynamic efficiency. These include the larger front and rear bumpers, a large floating rear roof spoiler and front underfloor spoiler. The result is aerodynamic performance that provides stability and easy control when travelling straight, changing lanes, or overtaking other vehicles at high speeds.
The shape of the A-pillars and door mirrors were also designed keeping aerodynamic efficiency in mind, while increased rigidity around the door sashes, delivers improved sealing of the doors to reduce wind noise.

Aerodynamic performance – All-New Mazda3 MPS

Cd value	Coefficient lift (front)	Coefficient lift (rear)	Frontal projection area
0.32	0.03	0.03	2.217m2

Wheels and tyres
With this new model, Mazda introduces all-new 18-inch (18 x 7.5J) aluminium alloy wheels designed exclusively for the Mazda3 MPS using the same design theme as the Mazda RX-8 wheels. These have a strong, three-dimensional form that helps the car look nimble and aggressive, especially when seen from the side.

Interior design

Front seat area
The dashboard of the new Mazda3 MPS is designed to give a roomy feeling at the front of the cabin. This is combined with a large centre console and a driver-orientated, wrap-around cockpit with just the right feeling of snugness. Exacting calculations were applied to designing the angle of the centre console towards the driver and in positioning the gearshift lever closer to the driver.

New turbo boost gauge
The hoodless independent blackout speedometer and tachometer express sportiness through their design. The tachometer features a red MPS logo and a needle that travels through 260 degrees as opposed to the 190-degree rotation on other new Mazda3 models. The instrument cluster for the all-new MPS also includes an LED turbo boost gauge positioned between the meters that heightens the car’s high-performance feel.

Semi-bucket front seats
The all-new MPS provides semi-bucket front seats for a great fit and exceptional torso and thigh support, a real must in a car that is designed to be driven hard. The front edge of the seat cushions is enlarged to improve the fit under the thighs, and the seatback height is extended to provide greater support. The MPS upholstery features an exclusive black base colour with a red graphic design and red stitching.

Materials and colour
Developers were careful in selecting materials and surface finishes for the interior that will excite the driver and passengers every time they take a seat in the Mazda3 MPS. Black is the keynote colour employed throughout the interior, while the seats and trim fabric have an organic red graphic design. This MPS-exclusive design is distributed throughout, with red stitching on the steering wheel, seats, door trim, shift lever boot, and centre armrest enhancing the sporty character of the cabin.

Powertrain – Exhilarating Driving and Euro Stage V Compliance
The generous power and easy-to-control torque characteristics of the new Mazda3 MPS turbo petrol engine are combined with an optimised gearbox that ensures smooth shift operation for sporty driving. This powertrain is matched to a stiffer bodyshell, a suspension system with greater damping strength and Mazda’s electro-hydraulic power assist steering (EHPAS), as well as specially tuned larger brakes. Together, they deliver a high-performance package with precise, controllable handling, and powerful braking that makes this car such fun to drive on a daily basis.

Engine – high-performance DISI technology
The all-new Mazda3 MPS is powered by Mazda’s MZR 2.3L DISI Turbo, a high-power inline 4-cylinder petrol engine. This acclaimed engine has been further refined and continues to deliver a maximum output of 191 kW/260 PS at 5,500 rpm and generous maximum torque of 380 Nm at 3,000 rpm – the same as the current model. This represents one the world’s highest levels of performance in a front-engine front-wheel drive sports compact.

High-performance compact
Pairing direct-injection with a turbocharger allows the engine to achieve performance that is on par with a larger displacement engine. To ensure that the Mazda3 MPS could handle such a powertrain, engineers realised the right balance between lightweight and high rigidity in the bodyshell through the effective use of high-tensile steel sheeting – including 1,480 MPa ultra-high tensile steel. As a result, the new MPS comfortably delivers a top speed of 250 km/h and acceleration of 0-100 km/h in just 6.1 seconds.

Reduced fuel consumption and Euro Stage V
Yet, the new Mazda3 MPS also delivers surprisingly good environmental performance and fuel efficiency for a car with this kind of power. Optimised aerodynamics help reduce fuel consumption from 9.7l/100 km on the previous model to 9.2l/100 km on the all-new Mazda3 MPS – a 5 percent improvement. Also newly introduced on this engine is the world’s first single-nanotechnology, fast-reacting catalytic converter, which delivers cleaner emissions and Euro5 compliance.

High torque from direct-injection
The latent heat of vaporisation generated by the MZR 2.3L Turbo when atomised fuel is injected directly into a cylinder at pressures of up to 11.5 MPa, reduces the temperature in the combustion chamber (in-cylinder cooling effect) and improves air-fuel mixture charging efficiency.
When compared to turbo engines injecting fuel via regular intake ports, this approach increases torque of the new Mazda3 MPS by up to 10 percent at around 3,000 rpm. This results in a smooth flat torque curve with plenty of power that is easy to control using a single-scroll turbo charger. The intercooler is the same size as on the previous model, but the new air intake mounted on the bonnet delivers a greater volume of cool air that better ensures stable cooling performance.

Advanced torque management
The stiffness of the left and right drive shafts, which are different lengths, is individually optimised to minimise torque steer. Engine optimisations help to make this powerful, high-torque front-wheel drive vehicle even easier to handle when enjoying a sporty drive. These measures include intake volume and boost pressure controls, linked to steering angle sensors that suppress sudden torque peaks for smoother, more linear torque characteristics in all gears.

Six-speed manual transmission
The transmission of the new Mazda3 MPS uses a compact, three-shaft design that keeps the overall length of the gearbox the same as a five-speed manual transmission. It uses a wide gear ratio setting that can fully exploit the wide torque band of the DISI Turbo engine, with a high sixth gear ratio (0.853:1) that contributes to a quieter ride and improved fuel economy when driving at high speed. Each gear ratio is a little higher than on the previous model. Of particular note is the natural feel of the shift between first and second gear as the car picks up speed, as well as the smooth feel of successive shifts while accelerating.

Triple-cone synchronisers for first, second and third gears and a double-cone synchroniser for fourth gear optimise the amount of strength required to make shifts and establish the right balance between a short, responsive stroke and pleasing feel to gearshift operation. In addition, the transmission is lubricated with low-viscosity hydraulic fluid, which greatly reduces the effort required for shifting when the engine and transmission are cold.

Chassis – Safe and Predictable

High body rigidity and specially tuned suspension
Based on the highly rigid bodyshell of the new Mazda3 5-door hatchback, the all-new MPS version adds several reinforcements – inside the front cowl member gussets, to strengthen the joints between the rear suspension towers and rear floorpan, and employs a larger longitudinal centre tunnel member. These and other local reinforcements effectively increase body rigidity and greatly improve the new model’s dynamic robustness.

Suspension system
The coil spring rates for both the MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension are modified exclusively for the MPS. Special tuning to support the high power of the MPS and provide satisfying driving performance also includes the introduction of larger diameter stabilisers than on the new Mazda3 base model, and an increased span for the stabiliser mounts to achieve greater roll linearity. Special dampers for the MPS increase damping strength and combine with the special coil springs and stabilisers to achieve higher roll stiffness than on the base model.
Newly-developed tyres
The new Dunlop 225/40R18 tyres for the MPS are wider and of lower profile than on the previous model – up from 215/45 R18. By improving the grip of the tyres, the rigidity of their sidewalls and damping strength – along with the systems that bear the input from the tyres, including body rigidity, suspension rigidity, and steering support rigidity – the new Mazda3 MPS delivers sharper responses with a more direct feel, and a stronger sense of oneness between the driver and car, Mazda’s famous ‘Jinba Ittai’.
The result is a sporty drive that is more precise than on the previous model, even at high speeds. It delivers better response, greater stability and a flatter ride with fewer undulations, even when entering sharp curves or traversing wavy road surfaces. To ensure this, extensive high-speed test drives were conducted around the 14-mile Nordschleife at Germany’s famous Nürburgring.

Steering updates and EHPAS
The new Mazda3 MPS now employs three highly rigid steering gear mount bushings instead of the two used on the previous model. The system also features electro-hydraulic power assist steering (EHPAS), which adjusts the level of assistance in accordance with vehicle speed and steering angle to realise precise, firm responses for an outstanding steering feel. The steering system’s control is set for more accurate response to vehicle speed, providing a lighter feeling at slower speeds and a firmer, confidence-inspiring feeling at higher speeds. Steering is direct and sharp at just 2.7 turns of the steering wheel from lock to lock.

Robust brakes and new electronic brake assist
Large diameter 320 mm ventilated disc brakes in the front and 280 mm solid discs in the rear combine with an 8+9 inch tandem brake booster and 1-inch large diameter master cylinder to ensure powerful and reliable fade-free braking at all times. Electronic Brake Assist (EBA) replaces the previous mechanical system, and four-wheel ABS and DSC are also standard equipment on the Mazda3 MPS.
* DISI = direct-injection spark ignition

New Mazda3 MPS dimensions and specifications for EU
(Subject to homologation)

Model name		Mazda3 MPS
Dimensions
Overall length	mm	4,505
Overall height	mm	1,460
Overall width	mm	1,770
Wheelbase	mm	2,640
Track (front/rear)	mm	1,535 /1,520
Luggage capacity	l	340 (300 with Bose® System)
Drive train		FWD

Engine		MZR 2.3-litre DISI Turbo
Displacement	cc	2,261
Bore x stroke	mm	87.5 x 94.0
Fuel tank capacity	l	60
Max. output	kW/PS	191/260 at 5,500 rpm
Max. torque	Nm	380 at 3,000 rpm

Fuel consumption *
Combined		l/100km	9.2
Urban		l/100km	13.5
Extra urban		l/100km	7.5
CO₂ emission (combined)	g\km		217
Emission			Euro Stage V
Exhaust system			single-nanotechnology
Transmission			6-speed manual transmission
Differential			Torque-sensing Limited Slip Differential

Performance
Max. speed	km/h	250
0-100 km/h (EU)	sec	6.1
Steering		Electro-hydraulic power assist system
Turn lock-to-lock		2.7
Min. turning circle	m	11
Suspension, front		MacPherson strut
Suspension, rear		Multi-link
Coil spring rate, front	N/mm	26.8
Coil spring rate, rear	N/mm	29.9
Dampers, front		Twin tube
Dampers, rear		Mono tube
Stabiliser diameter, front	mm	26
Stabiliser diameter, rear	mm	25
Front brake type, diameter	mm	Ventilated discs, 320
Rear brake type, diameter	mm	Solid discs, 280
Brake booster		8” + 9” tandem booster & large 1” diameter master cylinder
Tyres, wheels		Dunlop 225/40 R18, 18 x 7.5J