Hotter Mazda 3 With Turbo Engine Might Take On VW GTI
Mazda is reportedly keen to put a bit of zoom-zoom back into the Mazda 3. A hotter version of the latest 3 hatchback may arrive in the near future to do battle with the Volkswagen GTI. A hotter Mazda 3 hatchback may arrive before 2021, according to a Thursday report from Autocar. Kota Beppu, project manager for the new 3, said he personally wants to do a "high-performance Mazda 3" and added he will do his best to make it happen. According to the report, the project hasn't been given the OK yet, but the car is still far along in development. The Mazda research and development center in Los Angeles is rumored to have built a proof-of-concept model that top executives in Japan have studied. It's unlikely such a car would receive the Mazdaspeed name. Last November, Mazda CEO Akira Marumoto ruled out a new Mazdaspeed 3 and explained it has everything to do with the brand focusing on its more premium image. From what we can gather, this car could instead be a premium Mazda 3 with the brand's 2.5-liter turbo-4 under the hood. The engine makes 227 horsepower (250 hp on 93-octane gasoline) and 310 pound-feet of torque in the CX-5 crossover SUV and 6 mid-size sedan. Motor Authority reached out to Mazda USA for comment and Drew Cary, senior manager for brand communications, said that a turbo model hasn't been confirmed yet. Beppu underscored the notion that a hotter Mazda 3 would not be a track machine, but rather something performance oriented and comfortable鈥攆riendlier even than the Golf GTI. But, "it should be fast," he added. The project manager added front-wheel drive is likely a non-starter, so expect a hotter 3 to feature the new all-wheel-drive system to channel power to all four wheels. While we'd love to see the return of a Mazdaspeed 3, the idea of an AWD Mazda 3 GTI competitor is music to our ears. Let's hope it happens.
A caterpillar removes debris of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, Italy, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018. Italian authorities have lowered the death to 38 from 39 in the collapse of a highway bridge in Genoa. Genoa Prefect Office official Raffaella Corsaro told AP that there had been a "misunderstanding" about information from ambulance dispatchers. Earlier, Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said that as rescuers comb through the rubble for more bodies it will be "inevitable" that the death toll will eventually rise. Dozens of vehicles plunged into a dry river bed after the collapse Tuesday. Firefighters remove debris of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, Italy, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018. Italian authorities have lowered the death to 38 from 39 in the collapse of a highway bridge in Genoa. Genoa Prefect Office official Raffaella Corsaro told AP that there had been a "misunderstanding" about information from ambulance dispatchers. Earlier, Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said that as rescuers comb through the rubble for more bodies it will be "inevitable" that the death toll will eventually rise. Dozens of vehicles plunged into a dry river bed after the collapse Tuesday.
Firefighters remove debris of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, Italy, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018. Italian authorities have lowered the death to 38 from 39 in the collapse of a highway bridge in Genoa. Genoa Prefect Office official Raffaella Corsaro told AP that there had been a "misunderstanding" about information from ambulance dispatchers. Earlier, Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said that as rescuers comb through the rubble for more bodies it will be "inevitable" that the death toll will eventually rise. Dozens of vehicles plunged into a dry river bed after the collapse Tuesday. A firefighter look at caterpillars as they clear debris from the collapsed Morandi highway bridge, in Genoa, Italy, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. Officials say 38 people are confirmed killed and 15 injured. Prosecutors say 10 to 20 people might be unaccounted-for and the death toll is expected to rise. A view of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge, in Genoa, Italy, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. Officials say 38 people are confirmed killed and 15 injured. Prosecutors say 10 to 20 people might be unaccounted-for and the death toll is expected to rise.
A man touches the coffin of one of the victims of the Morandi highway bridge collapse, in Genoa, Italy, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. Officials say 38 people are confirmed killed and 15 injured. Prosecutors say 10 to 20 people might be unaccounted-for and the death toll is expected to rise. Mourners sit by the coffins of some of the victims of the Morandi highway bridge collapse, in Genoa, Italy, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. Officials say 38 people are confirmed killed and 15 injured. Prosecutors say 10 to 20 people might be unaccounted-for and the death toll is expected to rise. An undated photo showing 33-year-old Davide Capello. One survivor of the Genoa bridge collapse was in his car as it plunged 45 meters (150 feet) to the ground along with falling sections of highway and concrete. He says he immediately understood that the structure was collapsing. 33-year-old Davide Capello, a firefighter and soccer player who walked away traumatized but physically unharmed from Tuesday's disaster. Capello told The Associated Press on Friday that he was at the midpoint of the bridge wearing a seatbelt when it collapsed.
Caterpillars remove debris from the collapsed Morandi highway bridge, in Genoa, Italy, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. Officials say 38 people are confirmed killed and 15 injured. Prosecutors say 10 to 20 people might be unaccounted-for and the death toll is expected to rise. A firefighter looks at caterpillars as they clear debris from the collapsed Morandi highway bridge, in Genoa, Italy, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. Officials say 38 people are confirmed killed and 15 injured. Prosecutors say 10 to 20 people might be unaccounted-for and the death toll is expected to rise. A view of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge, in Genoa, Italy, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. Officials say 38 people are confirmed killed and 15 injured. Prosecutors say 10 to 20 people might be unaccounted-for and the death toll is expected to rise. A view of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge, in Genoa, Italy, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. Officials say 38 people are confirmed killed and 15 injured. Prosecutors say 10 to 20 people might be unaccounted-for and the death toll is expected to rise.
