2010 Mazda 3 Engine, Options Revealed Early by Mazda

Posted on 17. Nov, 2008 by DeuxEx3 in Mazda3 Guide, What's Hot

In a surprising late day announcement today Mazda announced new details about the 2010 Mazda 3. Before jumping into the latest news, Mazda highlights the importance of the 2010 Mazda 3 to Mazda with nearly 1.8 million Mazda 3s sold worldwide since replacing the Mazda Protege in 2003 and garnering more than 90 global automotive rewards.

Mazda sells almost one Mazda 3 for every 3 vehicles they sell globally which further heightens the need for the 2010 Mazda 3 to be another success for Mazda in an automotive climate that has humbled even the biggest giants in the room.

The 2.5L will be…

Speculation on how much Mazda would pull out of its new 2.5L powerplant has put the number around 170 – 185 hp. Today we learned that the 2010 Mazda 3’s 2.5L motor will be rated at 167 horsepower which is an 11 – 17 hp increase over the current car’s 2.3L output.

In a Class of Its Own

The 2010 Mazda 3 will continue offering class leading options for drivers who want the latest in luxury and comfort. Among the new additions are Mazda’s Advanced Keyless Entry System with push button start, Hands-Free Bluetooth System with cell phone and audio system integration (silence the audio system when an incoming call comes in or outgoing call is placed?), Self-Leveling Bi-Xenon Headlights with an Adaptive Front Lighting System and a 10-speaker BOSE Centerpoint surround-sound system.

Adaptive Front Lighting System

The 2010 Mazda 3 is the first car in its class to offer an Adaptive Front Lighting System which works by taking into account both the vehicle’s speed and steering angle to automatically move the headlamps as the vehicle turns. This system is designed to make it easier to drive at night by angling the headlights around the turn as you turn.

10-Speaker Bose Centerpoint Surround-Sound System

The 10-speaker surround sound system from BOSE is new to the Mazda 3 and can be found on the Mazda CX-9 in addition to upper tier brands like Acura, Saab and Porsche. The first generation Mazda 3 (2004 – 2009) offers a 7-speaker 222 watt Bose Sound System which is being replaced by the new 10-speaker setup as an option. Mazda has not yet announced the wattage output for the new 10-speaker system but the Mazda CX-9’s 10-speaker Bose system is rated around 260 watts providing a substantial improvement over the current generation’s 7-speaker setup.

Information Display Above Dashboard

The purpose of Mazda’s information display that sits above the dashboard in the 2010 Mazda 3 (see photo above) has finally be revealed. The information display will important driver information such as audio settings, trip computer and navigation.

Smoother Outside, Quieter Inside

The 2010 Mazda 3 debuts an entirely new design that borrows many styling cues from the 2009 Mazda 6 and RX-8. The new design isn’t just for looks though as the 2010 Mazda 3’s drag coefficient has been reduced to just 0.29 which is expected to improve gas mileage over the first gen. To put the new drag coefficient into perspective, the current generation Toyota Prius has a drag coefficient of 0.26.

After test driving the 2009 Mazda 6 we were absolutely astonished by how quiet the ride on the inside was. A quick reveal by our dealer showed that Mazda made some subtle changes to the body of the Mazda 6 to greatly reduce road and wind noise inside the cabin. The same process was applied to the 2010 Mazda 3 giving it a class-leading level of audible comfort inside.

The worldwide debut of the 2010 Mazda 3 will occur at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19th at 12:20 pm PST. Mazda will be broadcasting the live event online and we will be updating our Twitter feed as well as the main website as news comes in.

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