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Video: BMW driver loses his cool on trailing MazdaSpeed3Some drivers are just plain assholes. No other way to describe it than that. And if you wanted any proof as to how these people exhibit their displeasure on just about anything that they deem as threatening to their ride, watch this video of a BMW 335i whose owner can’t stand the heat of a nice little trail ride from a MazdaSpeed3. We don’t know what led to the uncalled-for outburst by the jerk in the BMW, but we’re guessing that he can’t stomach the fact that the high-powered Mazda could keep up with his precious ride. Good thing that the driver of the Mazda kept his cool during the whole ordeal because a hot-tempered fellow with a penchant for road rage would have probably taken the Mazda and rammed it into the BMW. Don’t think it’s far-fetched. We’ve seen it happen before. Mazda3 holds a razor-thin edge over the Honda Civic in year-to-date sales up in Canada 
Two cars are having quite a battle north of the border for sales supremacy. In one corner, hailing from Japan is the smiling zoom-zoom of a car known as the Mazda3 and in the other corner, also from the Land of the Rising Sun, is perennial top-seller and all-around Canuck favorite, the Honda Civic. OK, fancy introductions aside, the battle between the Mazda3 and the Honda Civic for the top spot in Canada’s top five sellers is as thin as a strand of hair with the Mazda3 outselling the Honda Civic by only 135 units (5,436 to 5,301). For the whole year, the gap between the two Japanese sedans is even smaller, with the Mazda3 leading the Civic with 17,198 units sold from January to the end of April, compared to 17,095 - a 103-unit gap. Rounding out the top three is the Toyota Corolla, which still has an outside chance of catching up to the two front-runners with 13,509 units sold. The race is interesting particularly because the Mazda3 and the Honda Civic are neck-and-neck with each other for the number one spot. So the next couple of months should an interesting period for the two companies, one in which we’re pretty sure they’re going to keep close tabs on, not just on their own sales, but on the other as well. Patrick Dempsey to race in Mazda3 at the Long Beach Grand Prix
Some of you may know Patrick Dempsey as Dr. McDreamy on the hit television series, Grey’s Anatomy, but, at TopSpeed, we all know him for his love of cars. Most recently, he was seen at the auction Ferrari hosted to benefit the relief efforts in Haiti, but we just got word that Patrick Dempsey’s next move will be racing in the World Challenge race during the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Dempsey will be speeding down the lanes in a Mazda3 fixed up by Tri-Point Motorsports while competing in the GTS class. He will be racing alongside Porsches, Corvettes, Vipers, Scions, and Acuras, among others. "I’m thrilled to be able to race near my Los Angeles home. With the Grand-Am series, I’ve been able to race at many of the great tracks in North America, but now I have a chance to race locally. The Tri-Point MAZDA3 really impressed me during testing. I’ve never driven a front-wheel drive racecar that handled that well before. I shouldn’t have been surprised though as my daily driver is a MAZDASPEED3. The weekend will also be personally rewarding to me as we’ll be carrying the colors of our Dempsey Challenge,” said Dempsey. The World Challenge race is just one of the many races held during the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend on April 16th-18th, 2010. You can see Dempsey and other racers battling for the win at the World Challenge race on Sunday, April 18th. Press release after the jump. Full story 2010 Mazda3 Sport 90th Anniversary Special Edition
This is what happens when you’re company is celebrating a milestone anniversary. Mazda Japan has revealed today yet another special edition vehicle - the Axela Sport 90th Anniversary, or as its more popularly known on this side of the world, the Mazda3. This special edition is based on the Sport 1.5 S Style trim and comes to celebrate the company’s 90th anniversary. The new Mazda3 Sport 90th Anniversary Special Edition is distinguished by 15- or 16-inch alloy wheels, side spoilers, LED rear combination lights and dark tinted glass and on the interior discharge headlights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a 4.1-inch multi-information display. Press release after the jump. Full story 2010 Mazda3 90th Anniversary Special Edition
On January 30 Mazda will celebrate its 90th anniversary, and to mark the event the automaker revealed a special edition Mazda3 for the Japanese market. Called Mazda3 90th Anniversary Special Edition, the model will feature the award-winning fuel saving i-stop system and will offer outstanding eco-friendly and safety performance. It will also be the first model to be painted in the new Gunmetal Blue Mica exterior finish. Press release after the jump. Full story 2010 Mazda3 5-doorPart of Mazda’s Zoom-Zoom theory behind automobile building is that every model in the lineup must have the spirit of a sports car. Thanks to this creed, the entry level Mazda3 is entering the 2010 model year refreshed, redefined, reengineered and restyled. Offered in both Sport and Grand Touring trims with prices ranging from $19,230 to $22,300 the compact people mover promises not to disappoint.  Under the hood Mazda offers a choice of two engines. Mazda3i models will be powered by a 2.0 Liter engine that makes 144 HP and 132 lb-ft of torque, while Mazda3s models will receive a larger 2.5 Liter power plant complete with variable intake valve timing and a two mode composite intake manifold to make the most of the power plant’s 167 HP and 168 lb-ft of torque that gets 21 MPG around town and 29 MPG on the highway with a manual transmission and 22 MPG in the city and 29 MPG at speed with the new automatic. The Mazda3 comes with a host of creature comforts like heated front seats as well as an 8 way power adjustable driver’s bucket and key fob that automatically opens up the doors. The Japanese automaker also offers Bluetooth hands free conectivity, dual zone climate control and the most intricate multi function steering wheel of any new economy car on the market today. Press release after the jump. Full story 2010 Mazdaspeed3The fun to drive front wheel drive turbocharged Mazdaspeed3 is the Japanese automaker’s high performance variant of the award winning Mazda3 has just entered its second stage of life with an all new Nagare insired hot hatch that also packs in a new engine and improved handling into the sport compact performance package.  The new Mazdaspeed3 is powered by a 2.3 Liter four cylinder MZR DISI Turbo engine that produces a total output of 263 HP and 280 lb-ft of torque shifted via a six speed manual transmission capable of reaching a top speed limited to 155 MPH, making the MazdaSpeed3 is the fastest hatchback under $25k. Distinguishing the high output version from the standard fun faced economy car, the Mazdaspeed version features a larger front air dam with two large round fog lights on either side framing a metallic black grill with a very organic design as well as a functional hood scoop to feed lots of cold air onto the engine’s intercooler and a pair of flared front fenders to house the wider 18x7.5 inch lightweight high performance wheel and tire package. Full details after the jump. Full story 2010 Mazda3 SedanThe last generation 3 shared a platform with the Ford Focus, and so now that the (European) Focus has upgraded its chassis, so will the 3. The new look of the 3 takes cues from the Mazda6, and continues what Mazda says will be the base of its future design language.  On the North American market, the new Mazda3 will be launched as a sedan only, with the hatchback version arriving at a later date. 2010 Mazda3 is offered with two engines: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 148 hp at 6500 rpm and 135 lb-ft of torque at 4500 rpm; and Mazda3 s powered by a MZR 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 167 hp at 6000 rpm and 168 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm. The i version gets a five-speed manual transmission while the s version gets a six-speed stick-shift transmission.  The Mazda3 i achieves 25 mpg in city driving with the manual transmission and 24 mpg with the automatic. The highway mileage with the 2.0-liter engine is 33 mpg with either transmission. The Mazda3 s also tops 20 mpg in all conditions. Equipped with the six-speed manual transmission, its city rating is 21 mpg, rising to 22 mpg with the 5-speed automatic. The highway rating is 29 mpg with either transmission. Press release after the jump. Full story 2009 Mazda3 and MazdaSpeed3 SEMA Editions
Mazda came at SEMA Show with two customized models: a Mazda3 and a MazdaSpeed3. Both models are painted in a Crystal White Pearl base coat with soft gray tone graphics to mimic the new MAZDA3 World Challenge race car.  The pearl white is combined to a black paint on the grille inserts, side mirrors, fog lamp bezels, the roof panel, and the formerly chrome interior of the front lamps. Besides that the cars get tinted windows, dark red taillight lenses and 19x8-inch wheels. The Mazda3 uses a 2.5-liter MZR engine with a Tri-Point turbo kit and a rugged cast iron turbo manifold. This way the output was raised to 250 hp. On the other hand, the Mazdaspeed3 is already using a AEM cold-air intake that is increasing the output with 20 hp. Press release after the jump. Full story
2010 Mazda3
The automaker from Hiroshima dropped a bomb on the automotive market when they came up with the new Mazda3, styled heavily with Nagare inspired lines and bulges this was truly an economy car that you would aspire to own. The exterior of the Mazda3 is interesting to say the least, made up of a multitude of complex curves and detailed lines evidence that the Japanese design team put a good amount of their own blood, sweat and tears into the economy car car’s design. Starting at just under $16,000 for a sedan and closer to $20,000 for the hatchback, the Mazda3 packs a whole lot of car into an affordable package. If you upgrade the sadden to the touring model, not only do you get wave mesh grills, Bi-Xenon headlamps and sporty front and rear bumpers complete with a lip spoiler, but you also get the wonderful 2.5 Liter four cylinder that makes 167 HP and 168 lb-ft of torque to go along with your beautifully sculpted people mover.  The exterior is highlighted by a sense of depth added by the hollow emblem on the front bumper and our car’s Crystal White Pearl Mica paint covered the wide wheel arches that housed a set of stylish 17 inch rims. The Mazda screams style, filled with playful bodylines. When compared to another automobile that we recently tested based on the same platform. We liked the Focus Coupe, and it reminded us of a serious Ford of the past, but the Focus is as plain Jane as sporty can try to be, but the Ford’s exterior was just flat. There was no depth like the Mazda, whereas the Focus is definitely for the person who wants the most car for their buck, while the 3 screams fun for a few dollars more. Continued after the jump. Full story | Mazda 3 latest reviews:Find us on Facebook | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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