2010 Mazda 3: Power and Safety
Posted on 19. Nov, 2008 by DeuxEx3 in Mazda3 Guide, What's Hot
The 2010 Mazda 3 will see major enhancements in both power and safety with Mazda announcing updated engines for both the Mazda 3i and Mazda 3s trim levels and a slew of new safety features.
Mazda 3i Gets 2.0-Liter 148-hp Motor
The 2010 Mazda 3i will receive an updated 2.0-Liter four-cylinder engine producing 148 horsepower at 6500 rpm and 135 lb-ft of torque at 4500 rpm (144 horsepower/132 lb-ft of torque in PZEV states).
Mazda used aluminum for the engine block and head construction to reduce weight and will operate four valves per cylinder through dual overhead camshafts.
Gearbox options for the Mazda 3i will come with a standard five-speed manual transmission while a five-speed electronically controlled sport automatic transmission will be available as an option.
The 2.0-liter in the Mazda 3i sips gas and achieves a 25 mpg city/33 mpg highway rating with its manual transmission. Automatic drivers can expect gas mileage of 24 mpg city/33 mpg highway from the Mazda 3i.
Mazda 3s Gets 2.5-Liter 167-hp Motor
2010 Mazda 3s drivers will be the lucky recipients of the brand new 2.5-Liter four-cylinder motor previously found only in the 2009 Mazda 6.
In Mazda 3s form the 2.5-Liter will deilver 167 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 168 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm. PZEV states will receive the same motor but the factory output will be 165 horsepower with 167 lb-ft of torque to accommodate tougher emission standards.
The 2.5-Liter can be paired with the standard issue six-speed manual transmission or the optional five-speed electronically controlled Sport automatic transmission.
In six speed transmission form, the Mazda 3s is rated at 21 mpg city/29 mpg highway. Five speed automatic drivers will see city mileage improve slightly at 22 mpg city and 29 mpg highway.
Both powertrains saw refinement in the noise department with Mazda engineers tuning the intake and exhaust system. Mazda added resonance chambers to better control select sound frequencies and enhance others. The Mazda 3s will be the only trim level to receive the dual tailpipe configuration with specially tuned mufflers that reduce mid-range boom and “objectionable” high-frequency noise at high rpm.
New and Improved Safety Features
The first generation Mazda 3 offered a host of safety features and accident avoidance through its tuned handling. Mazda went back to the drawing board and carefully tuned the electro-hydraulic power steering system to work in concert with the agile suspension system to help avoid accidents in the first place. Mazda is also including disc brakes as a standard feature on the 2010 Mazda 3.
Other optional safety features include ABS, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and traction control. All Mazda 3s GT models will include Mazda’s new Adaptive Front Lighting System as a standard feature.
Should the unforeseen happen and an accident to occur, Mazda has constructed the Mazda 3 with a Triple-H unibody design using H-shaped steel reinforcements in the floor, side structures and roof. By strengethening these areas and using H-shaped steel the Mazda 3 is able to better protect occupants from the strong forces incurred during rollover, frontal side, angled, rear and other collision types.
The 2010 Mazda 3 will include six airbags and active head restraints as standard equipment.
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