Generally speaking, we’re less than enthralled with car manufacturers’ teaser photos, largely because they frequently don’t show very much that’s relevant. We’re willing to make an exception here because the vehicle in question sounds like something that’s going to boast a strong measure of coolness. The subcompact Mazda3, to use current model nomenclature, was extensively redone for 2019 and thus captured the juried World Car Design of the Year Award, for its Kodo – it’s Japanese for “soul of motion” – styling themes. Nice car, very appealing to look at, but as with many two-box economy cars, standing to benefit greatly for additional horsepower and grip. Mazda says firmly that it’s now fixed those issues.
For 2021, the fourth-generation Mazda3 is being reintroduced, in a manner of speaking, with a major influx of new performance credibility. Mazda has announced that its turbocharged 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G four-cylinder engine will be extended to the Mazda3 for 2021 in a new series model called the Mazda3 2.5 Turbo. That’s 2.5 liters of displacement, a heck of a lot for a car of this size. The builder assures that the turbo engine will bring the Mazda3 to a rated 250 horsepower, with up to 320-lbs.ft of torque on 93-octane fuel. Perhaps more importantly, the 2.5 Turbo will also have Mazda’s i-Activ all-wheel-drive system. A raft of driver aids and infotainment connectivity, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, will be part of the package, including 12-speaker Bose audio and a heated steering wheel. The new model will be in Mazda showrooms by the end of the year, and you can get more information on the impending launch by going here.
Jim Donnelly On Wheels 