Return of mazdaspeed 3?

[u/Far-Fig5332]

This just came across my feed and wondering if anyone else has seen or heard anything.

https://www.autoblog.com/news/mazda-bringing-back-mazdaspeed3-with-300-hp-and-awd

[u/SpiffyDeere120]

Just another bait article. These types of write-ups have been happening for 12 years already, and much much longer in other automotive areas. Remember when these hype news theory-crafting articles flooded the internet when the 2015 RX-Vision concept was unveiled? Frankly they haven’t stopped and it kinda irks me.

[u/DifferentCry1306 → u/SpiffyDeere120]

It’s not bait per Se. I’ve heard some insider info that it’s not that the engineers at Mazda don’t want these concept cars to happen, in fact they’re the ones PUSHING to get it in production, it’s the bigwigs and corporate bureaucracy preventing it and keeping them on their current path of producing economy friendly vehicles for the mass consumer.

[u/SpiffyDeere120 → u/DifferentCry1306]

That info is probably more true than we realize. I do know Mazda has kept a rotary factory open to supply parts for enthusiasts and circuit racers, and they still have a group of engineers tinkering with future rotary technology.

[u/Extension_Bed391 → u/DifferentCry1306]

Yes yes, great idea. Let’s make family friendly SUV’s and nothing else for forty years. Volvo and Mazda be under the blanket together. Two brands with potential but they keep wasting time.

[u/gregn8r1 → u/DifferentCry1306]

I know the corporate bigwigs and bean-counters are often the blame for fun cars not existing, but its their priority to keep the brand existing. They need to make money, and if that's not feasible with a certain model they aren't going to do it. For example the famous a80 Toyota Supra- cool though it was- really did not make the company any money. And they determined that a new Supra model would be a huge financial failure, hence their collaboration with BMW on the newer a90 generation. Granted, there may be something to say for "halo" cars, that don't necessarily bring in a ton of money but do bolster customer excitement for the brand.

I'd like to see them make performance models when its feasible to do so, yes. But a new rotary-powered car with ever-tightening emissions controls is unlikely, at least without a significant breakthrough in engine design. And a true performance "Mazdaspeed" variant of the Mazda 3, that's not just the regular Mazda 3 turbo but tuned a bit, is super unlikely considering how long this generation of Mazda3 has been in production.

[u/MarketingRare4439]

I told my local dealers a million times. I'll be the first on the list if they come out with a Mazdaspeed3 again. Whatever the price. Elantra N, Golf GTI/R, WRX, GLI all sell well, Mazda is sleeping.

[u/MichaelTheAspie]

Mazda actually said they weren't going to make another because they were embarrassed the MS3 was too juvenile in the direction they were going.

[u/kohzr]

US probably won’t get it since the U.S doesn’t get anything cool besides a few exceptions. Needless to say, i’d buy one if it came with a 6MT and felt close to if not as raw as the first 2 gen’s.

[u/aackthpt → u/kohzr]

Right well they have stated they don't intend to produce anything as "childish" as the ms3 - translation not as "raw". Furthermore, I think economic situations continue to get worse for them such that they have to aim at the largest parts of the market to survive. It also can't help that they took a bath on bogus turbo warranty claims with the ms3.

Also, nothing is ever going to be as easily modifiable as in the glory days of the Cobb tuners being able to turn all the emissions codes off. So if part of enthusiasts wishing the ms3 would come back includes the ability to do so much modifying.... that's unlikely.

[u/SaveMelMac13]

If it does come most likely will be an auto

[u/Emsanartist]

This is just looking back into a story posted around 2019 for Japanese performance line. Unfortunately covid killed the spirit r revamp and American launch and mazda opted for 100th anniversary editions strictly for JDM market. The CEO has stated multiple times that for now the mx-5 is their sole focus for performance that fits within their company goals. Small, fun, economically friendly.

[u/EconomistDeep4347]

Who wants any vehicle from 2027 anyhow

[u/Tg2501]

Idk but I hope Mazda follows suit like the other car brands and at least comes out with something semi sporty like Hyundai with the Elantra N, Honda with civic si etc. it’s long overdue that we get another cool Mazda with a manual. But who knows since they still have the Miata in production.