New Mazda 3 MPS/Mazdaspeed May Borrow All-Wheel Drive from CX-5

MazdaMazdaJapan, 1920 > present80 models
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is being sneaky about the next generation Mazda 3Mazda Mazda 3 Gen.3Japan, 2013 > present56 versions
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MPS/Mazdaspeed. It says that it has not confirmed the car yet because it is focusing on getting mass-market cars on sale first. However, the plan for the car is to use the all-wheel drive system from the CX-5Mazda CX-5 Gen.1Japan, 2012 > present37 versions
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, which is the Mazda 3’s platform-mate, and a turbocharged engine.

Mazda insiders are clear that the car has not yet been green lit for production.

"It's difficult to answer. We have had many questions regarding the MPS. We need to watch the market requirements,” said Takeo Moriuchi, Mazda 3 project manager.

"It's still on our radar and the factory is still sort of considering it. The priority is to get all the base cars rolled out and set up and worry about the specialty models going forward,” Martin Benders, Mazda Australia managing director.

If it gets made, the latest model would get a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive.

"From a technical point of view it’s not difficult to install a four-wheel-drive system,” said Moriuchi.

The previous generation Mazda 3 MPSMazda 3 MPSJapan, 2009 > present2 photos
/MazdaspeedMazda MazdaSpeed3 SportJapan, 2009 > present2 photos
was criticized because its 263hp and 280lbf-ft (380Nm) turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine sent power to only the front wheels and was prone to torque steer. It used a limited slip differential and boost reduction in low gears to fight against torque steer, but it was still a problem. It was capable of hitting 60mph in 5.6 seconds.

Source: Drive