Photo: Mazda
For a while the Mazdaspeed3 had the bragging rights in the hot hatch world, with more power than anybody else had to offer. That was a long time ago though, and the game has moved on significantly since that time.
A report from Drive sheds new light on the replacement model, which needs to work with a brand new platform. Australian brand manager for Mazda, Martin Benders, told them the Japanese automaker is now considering an all-wheel drive version of the MPS. "Considering" means absolutely nothing. They could just as well not make a new Mazdaspeed3, but AWD does sound like a good idea.
As far fetched at that might seem, the Mazda6 MPS was all-wheel drive all those years ago, despite its competitors, the Ford Mondeo ST and Opel Vectra OPC, being front-wheel drive.
Putting all-wheel drive in the hot hatch would give it a better chance of making full use of its available power.
Just like Honda, who is going to reveal the Type R hatch three years after the normal models came out, it seems Mazda is de-prioritizing its hot hatches.
As far fetched at that might seem, the Mazda6 MPS was all-wheel drive all those years ago, despite its competitors, the Ford Mondeo ST and Opel Vectra OPC, being front-wheel drive.
Putting all-wheel drive in the hot hatch would give it a better chance of making full use of its available power.
Just like Honda, who is going to reveal the Type R hatch three years after the normal models came out, it seems Mazda is de-prioritizing its hot hatches.
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