Mazda 31.6 Sport - 21.1.09, Palma, Majorca Mazda targets greater refinement on revised Focus and Golf rival

摘要

MAZDA'S CURRENT 3 has always been a decent steer, but now the firm is aiming to rub off a few of the car's rough edges with a more polished, refined model. The new 3 uses the same Focus-based platform as its predecessor, but Mazda has made greater use of high-tensile steel to increase bodyshell rigidity, and tweaked the rear suspension for improved refinement. The car is 15kg lighter then the outgoing model, although this weight loss does fall short of the drastic diet adopted on the 2 and latest 6.The engine line-up is altered, too; the 1.6 and 2.0-litre MZR petrol units stay (with reduced CO{sub}2 emissions), but the base 1.4 has been axed. Diesel options are a PSA-sourced 1.6-litre unit and Mazda's recently launched 2.2-litre motor, in 148bhp and 182bhp states of tune.