Performance-oriented Mazda 3 not coming any time soon

KUALA LUMPUR: The petrol SP25 models along with the short-lived XD Astina diesel were the fastest Mazda 3 we have ever seen around. They were warm hot hatchbacks at its best that we now miss. While the traditional hot hatches are getting hotter with every update say for example the Golf GTI, there are also new ones like the Hyundai i30 N.

The return of the Mazda 3 performance hatch was under plans, as was clear from the car’s local launch report that took place on April 2019. Even Kota Beppu, Mazda 3 Programm Manager in the UK, showed his desire to see the performance version back on the roads. Similar sentiments were also seen echoing in Mazda Australia staff room.

Hiroyuki Matsumoto, Mazda global development and product planning head, was asked about the faster Mazda 3 at the worldwide launch of Mazda 3 Skyactiv-X. His reply left everyone in the room with smiles and chuckles. He said, “We are capable of creating engine to answer such demands for more power, but at the moment we have no plans to do it.”

It was only a while back the news about Mazda 3 entering the TCR motorsport series came out, and it would have been an ideal fit for the hot hatch.

It seems like this model is nothing but a mere distraction, as Mazda is preparing for the return of the rotary-engined sports vehicle. And we hope to see it at the brand’s 100th birthday that’s fall in 2020.