Simplicity can steal the most of anyone looking at it. This is a line that is justified by Mazdaspeed 3. The interior and the exterior design of this car may not be as extravagant as Toyota, Honda and other Japanese car manufacturer. But Mazdaspeed 3 is a revelation for owners who chose to loosen themselves in this car. Because of settling for the simpler one, they became the owners of one of the world's best cars among other known manufacturers. Now, the Mazdaspeed 3 is believed as the fastest Hatchback in car industry.
This car was first introduced by Mazdaspeed in 2007, but was first unveiled in February 2006 at the Geneva Motor Show. Since then, Mazdaspeed 3 received several awards like multiple times as Car and Driver's 10 best, Automobile Magazine's 2007 All Star, Auto Week's Best Economy Car, three consecutive years on the list of Ward's 10 Best engines, a score of 95% positive review on seven car garage and a lot more.
Mazdaspeed 3 comes in two variants, the Sport and the GT. Both cars include front and side driver and passenger airbags, air curtains, logo-embroidered racing seats, signature red-stitched seams, logo dill-plates, aluminum GT-style pedals, steering wheel audio and cruise controls, automatic climate control and 18 inch wheels. Done with the introduction, let us move on to the more amazing part. Why Mazdaspeed 3 is named as the fastest hatchback and FF layout car?
During a series of road tests, Mazdaspeed 3 attained 0-60 mph under 6 seconds with skidpad numbers in the .87g to .91g range. With the presence of Car and Driver's Magazine, it recorded its quickest acceleration times, completing the 0-60 mph just within 5.3 seconds. This made them earn a name in the May 2007 issue of the said magazine as one of their 10 best.
This 5-seater hatch from Mazda feels lightweight during driving weighing only less than 3,300 pounds. You can also keep moving faster than speed limits allowed. On the open road, you can go 6th at 80 mph, stab the throttle without downshifting and arrive at 120 mph in a flash. Mazdaspeed 3 has a 2.3 liter four cylinder that generates 263 horsepower and 280 foot-pounds of torque at 3,000 rpm. To limit wheelslip, boost in the first gear will be limited to produce a maximum of 230 hp (170 kW), boost in 2nd gear is also limited. This is something that is definitely better than Honda Civic Si's 197-horsepower, non-turbo four cylinder and can only produce 139 foot-pounds of torque at 100rpm.
