Mazda brings competition for EVo/STi

[GaryR]

Mazda is prepping its own entry for the Subie-Mitsu rally wars—a 276-hp, 265-lb-ft Mazda 6 scheduled for a mid-2005 world debut. Spotted during hot-weather tests in the California desert, this sizzling prototype gets a twin-turbocharged and intercooled 2.3-liter four that is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox and sends power via all-wheel drive to 18-inch tires.

Based on Mazda’s Mazda Performance Series concept shown in Paris in 2002, the production model should debut at this September’s Paris show, carrying either the MPS or MazdaSpeed moniker.

taken from
www.autoweek.com

 

[wdb]

I reckon this car could be another good one from Mazda... Though it's being compared to the Subaru and Mitsu rally-bred hero cars, it's closer to a Legacy B4 in concept... a bit bigger, probably heavier and a bit slower than the Impreza and Lancer.

I don't think the battle is going to turn into a three-way contest. I suspect this car will lack the hard edge needed for track outings. Still, it should be a goodie.

 

[RacyBacy]

I'm sure it will be a very capable car but will not have the rawness of all the Evo/Scoobie monsters. They have had time to evolve again and again. Mazda will have to play catch up.

BTW, it looks crap in white.

 

[pimp racer]

I still would rather take the subbie.

 

[6shifter]

I'm sure it will be a very capable car but will not have the rawness of all the Evo/Scoobie monsters. They have had time to evolve again and again. Mazda will have to play catch up.

BTW, it looks crap in white.

I agree. Subraru and Mitsu have been doing rallies for years and know what they are doing. I doubt that Mazda will be able to compete on par with them. As for a track/street car, I dunno. Unless they make a bunch of aftermarket parts, I doubt people will buy it. They would most likely go for the cars that have various extra parts available, so they could compete with other upgraded cars.

 

[Rx7Ownz]

I believe in Mazda ! They should slap on a 13B =D

they might not be able to match against Mitsu and Suba at the moment but im sure later on they'll catch up.

 

[Darin]

Its about time.

Good find GaryR 👍

 

[emad]

damn, it's about time they get into Rally.

I'm not too sure if the 6 is a good platform for them to use in WRC though. Isn't the car a bit big? I mean, compared to the subie and the evo, the 6 is a really big car. Their small size is what makes those suckers so quick around the stages.

 

[ND4SPD]

Its a cool looking car, but if they wanted to compete with the evo and wrx, they should have used the mazda 3 instead of the 6, the 3 would be similar in size and weight..I think.

 

[Sage]

It's kinda weird... imagine if Honda took its current Accord rallying. I fully realize the 6 isn't as boaty as the Accord, but I think you get what I'm saying. And a Mazda sedan with all wheel drive?

 

[super cirrus]

they should used the mazda 3. twin turbo I4!?

 

[1X83Z]

Is AutoWeek just pulling that horsepower number out of their collective ass? Or do they just assume 276bhp to compete? I think a large part of that article could very easily be almost pure speculation.

 

[Victor Vance]

[DaveChappelleLilJohn]Uhh... YEEEAAAAAAAAUUUUH[/DaveChappelleLilJohn]

This will rock 👍

 

[TheCracker]

Mitsubishi and Subaru have plenty of competition history with their cars, Mazda have very little competition history at all. The Mazda may be a rival on paper - but that means nothing really.

 

[RacyBacy]

Is AutoWeek just pulling that horsepower number out of their collective ass? Or do they just assume 276bhp to compete? I think a large part of that article could very easily be almost pure speculation.

All home market Japanese cars are officially limited to this figure and restricted to 112mph.

A Japanese gentleman's agreement also prevents any production vehicle producing over 280 PS (276 bhp). That's why a number of vehicles quote this as their standard output but usually produce_a lot_more!

I always hear roadtesters saying things like, "and this car is producing a little more than the 276 bhp figure" when in reality it could be a Skyline GTR which supposedly has 276 bhp in standard fettle but it's rumoured to be nearer the 340bhp mark!

HTH.

 

[MazKid]

First off, who said Mazda would go into the WRC? They won't. Why would they?
And why does it have to compete against the WRX STi and the Evo? Can't it be fun to drive on it's own little part of the market?
And Autoweek is speculating. "MPS or MazdaSpeed", get with the program AW, it's obviously going to be the MazdaSpeed 6.
Can't wait to see it at Fusz...see it, then take it for a spin around the parking lot.

 

[1X83Z]

All home market Japanese cars are officially limited to this figure and restricted to 112mph.

A Japanese gentleman's agreement also prevents any production vehicle producing over 280 PS (276 bhp). That's why a number of vehicles quote this as their standard output but usually produce_a lot_more!

I always hear roadtesters saying things like, "and this car is producing a little more than the 276 bhp figure" when in reality it could be a Skyline GTR which supposedly has 276 bhp in standard fettle but it's rumoured to be nearer the 340bhp mark!

HTH.

Duh. But this vehicle is not destined solely for Japan, I'd bet its primary target (like with the rest of the 6 line) is North America. I'd bet my life AutoWeek made up that horsepower number.

 

[RacyBacy]

Duh

Sorry, was just trying to help. How was I meant to know that you knew this?

I'd bet its primary target (like with the rest of the 6 line) is North America. I'd bet my life AutoWeek made up that horsepower number

You're betting quite a lot (even your life)! I don't think Autoweek is pulling the bhp figure out their collective ass. Here's a link to the same 276 bhp figure from a different source.

 

[phreakypat]

Better than the SRT-4 at least. And a twin turbo charged car is not bad at all!

 

[SkylineR35GTRx]

hey didnt u guys know the gentlemen's agreement ended already? i found this on one of www.i-club.com's new's, its an impreza club, anyways, the link to the headline is here http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20040611-00000017-san-bus_all ..its in japanese though

 

[The359]

Mazda's been toying with this idea for a little while now...doesn't anyone remember the Mazda 626 MPS Concept?

280hp Twin Turbo 2.5L V6.

 

[MazKid]

The 626 MPS would have never made it to the US anyway, first off the 626 used was the European/Japanese(Capella) model, not the US, and I believe that the 2.5 V6 used was not the US's KL but Japan's KL-ZE high-output that put out 200hp in naturally aspirated form. Plus, the MPS concept came just 2 years before the end of the 626. It was doomed from the beginning. But it did forshadow the MazdaSpeed 6.

Look at the Miata MPS concept and the Protege MPS - They became the MazdaSpeed Miata(actually the MS Miata is merely Australia's Miata SP Turbo from '01 with some different styling and wheels, still an excellent car) and MazdaSpeed Protege(an overall "meh" car, needed more power and better options).

Japan has all of the MazdaSpeed stuff down, with concept models of the 3(well, Axela), Premacy, RX-8, Demio, and I think MPV. A MazdaSpeed 3 would be ideal for the US, something that would be able to beat the SRT-4. Since a twin-turbo 2.3 is going in the 6, a single turbo 2.3 in the 3 could produce 220hp, even 200hp would be great in a car like the 3, since it's light wieght. Though I think putting that in the 3 hatch would be ideal...there's already too many tuned sedans around(SRT-4, Corolla S, etc.).

 

[JrunkenC]

I agree with MazKid that a turbo 3 would make me a happy little boy. I wonder what other cars can be made in the house of the blue oval with parts sharing? The Volvo S40R? The Ford Focus Cosworth? AWD with turbos.... yummm Any of these small cars with AWD and turbo would be sexy.

BTW, Mazda did rally a little in the 80s-90s with a 323 and they did make a homologation model (i think it was the 323 GTX) with AWD and turbo.

 

[vat_man]

I reckon this car could be another good one from Mazda... Though it's being compared to the Subaru and Mitsu rally-bred hero cars, it's closer to a Legacy B4 in concept... a bit bigger, probably heavier and a bit slower than the Impreza and Lancer.

Think you've nailed it there - this thing's more designed to play up in the Legacy GT/B4 market. The Legacy, 6 and the Accord Euro (Acura TSX) are very close to one another in exterior dimensions. If Mazda were to play in that market you'd be more likely to see the 3 front up, methinks.

Didn't Honda show an Accord concept car based around the Accord Euro/TSX a year or so ago? I'm sure I recall an AWD Accord concept car from them.

Also, to say they rallied a little is probably understating it a bit - they had 3 wins in the late eighties.

 

[McLaren]

Looks like Mazda's version of the Evo 5. With the spoiler though. It is a great looking car though.

 

[Joecool593]

I'm sure it will be a very capable car but will not have the rawness of all the Evo/Scoobie monsters. They have had time to evolve again and again. Mazda will have to play catch up.

Maybe they aren't going for all-out raw performance....like maybe a few extra luxury goodies...