Check Out What Mazda Has Done With the 2010 MAZDASPEED3

The 2010 MAZDASPEED3 comes equipped with a critically acclaimed 2.3 liter turbocharged MZR Direct Injection Spark Ignition (DISI) engine. Ward's AutoWorld has named it among the 10 best engines for 3 consecutive years, 2006 to 2008.

The MZR is a 2.3 L (2261 cc) dual overhead cam (DOHC), 16-valve, DISI with a compression ratio of 9.5:1. It produces 263 horsepower at 5500 rpm and 280 lb-ft of torque at 3000 rpm. A Warner-Hitachi K04 turbocharger produces roughly 1 bar of boost, equaling approximately 14.7 psi. It has a fuel economy rating of 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.

The 2008 and 2009 model MAZDA3 comes with the same engine but without the turbocharger. It produces 156 horsepower at 6500 rpm and 150 lb-ft at 4500 rpm with a fuel economy of 24 city and 27 freeway.

For a production car, the 2007-2010 Mazdaspeed3 is one of the fastest front-wheel drive passenger performance cars in the world. This is thanks to a lightweight chassis mated with Mazda's award winning 2.3 liter MZR DISI engine. The MAZDASPEED3 competes as one of only a few front-wheel drive (FWD), turbocharged vehicles and receives a best-in-class award for power-to-weight ratio. Coupled with a Warner-Hitachi K04 turbocharger, the MAZDASPEED3 is one of the highest performing front-wheel drive cars in its class. The MAZDASPEED3 can go from 0 to 60mph in just under six-seconds.

Mazda's revisions to the 2010 drivetrain include equal-length driveshafts and a cone-type limited slip differential (LSD). These changes were a remedy to previous models' propensity for wheel spin, wheel hop, and torque steer. Additionally, these modifications helped to realize the full performance potential of such a powerful and potent front-wheel drive powerplant.

Gearing for the MAZDASPEED3 has been optimized with taller gear ratios from second to fifth gear, fully taking advantage of the engine's broad torque curve. The fifth and sixth gears are overdrive ratios and fourth gear is taller than the previous year's fourth gear which allows the engine to stay within its peak powerband through the RPM range. Taller gearing would normally allow a higher top speed; the MAZDASPEED3 is electronically limited to 155mph.