The ‘ballistic’ Mazda3 MPS
Mazda have built and over engineered their new Mazda3 MPS. The car is brutal and packs a punch even at standstill. The concept of Zoom-zoom is a definite in this one!
Do not be fooled by its front wide grille as this car will leave you standing at the lights; dazed, confused and astonished! The car guns from 0-100kmph in 6.1 seconds! It goes like stink, and is not your regular pedigree car. From a jam packed street to an open road, this car tames the wild like a dolphin at sea, a fish in water, or a race car on a race track!
The Mazda3 MPS with 256HP under its hood is powered by the 2.3L MZR DISI engine. A giant air scoop sits on the bonnet, sucking in frontal air where it is flows downwards directly to its huge intercooler that sits on top of the engine bay. The chassis has been reworked with a 41% increase in stiffness, a reduction of 50 plus kilos, and geometry has been tweaked with up-rated springs, shocks and antiroll bars. Gunning the car at the straights, the car is feels like a bullet punching through the air. This car is seriously fast and it is close in being a ballistic missile. The surge when the turbo kicks in is immensely frightening at some points. Only within a few minutes of driving, you will get acquainted to it and wished that every car gave you this sort of buzz.
Mazda engineers have outdone it this time ( I wonder what they were smoking ! ), bridging the gap and closing it up with their ‘Zoom-Zoom Philosophy’, never have I seen a car being Front Wheel Drive break the 200bhp threshold on gaining tire grip. Anything beyond 200bhp on a FWD is slated to be a cat running on its claws on an ice ring. Amazingly this car manages the power well, and tire grip is still there! Approaching corners with the Mazda3 MPS, the steering gives you a very controlled feeling towards the road somehow. Possibly attributed to much re-engineering of the chassis to handle the much added horsepower in comparison to the NA version. The car is equipped with 18” alloy wheels, an Electro Hydraulic Power Assist System, a 6 speed Manual Transmission and completed with a Super LSD from Mazda. If you expected torque steer, it is evident but not to a stage where it is denying you the ability to go flat out round corners. It is also enhanced with a Dynamic Stability Control coupled with a Traction Control which can be switched off for the more adventurous driver.
The car is pretty posh on the inside with refinements on its interiors. Equipped with a 10 speaker BOSE system and a 6 In-dash CD Changer with MP3 pods; the car is a plus on the ICE section. The seats are leathered with the steering wheel and gear knob cover detailed in red stitching. Side door trims and dashboards have the red livery theme all around, to give it a complete look and feel of a fast car! Other added goodies include Bi-Xenon Lights, body kit, Dual Zone Climatic Control, Side Airbags, Automatic Adjustable Rain Sensor Wipers, Cruise Control, Aluminum Pedals and a Boost Gauge! It is also RON95 compliant which is good for the people that want to save on petrol prices. To fulfill the need as a possible family ‘sports’ car package, it also has the ISOFIX child safety feature compliance.
Anyone wanting to loan this car to a friend for a spin around town, should give tutorial lessons before letting it out loose. This car will define a whole new level of driving for people out there as it is designed for men and not for boys! One would need to hold the steering firmly round bends, and also know ones limitations. People out there who tend to drive with only one hand on a steering wheel will learn to hold with both hands after driving the new Mazda3 MPS. Retailed at Rm179,895.20 on the road for private registration is available in Velocity Red, Crystal White Pearl, Celestial Blue, and Aluminum Metallic. For more information on this awesome car, do log onto www.mazda.com.my.
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