Mazda details new performance cars

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

260bhp MPS 6 to arrive in January
240bhp MPS 3 arrives next summer
Key new rivals for Vauxhall VXRs

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Mazda will launch a couple of high-performance cars in 2006 to rival Vauxhall’s VXR range.

Both will be badged as Mazda Performance Series (MPS), with the first to arrive based on the Mazda 6 saloon.

Delayed from a planned launch this September, the Mazda 6 MPS is powered by a 260bhp twin-turbo straight-six engine with four-wheel drive.

The second is the 3 MPS, which has yet to be officially confirmed by Mazda, but is likely to arrive in July. It is driven by a slightly detuned 240bhp version of the 6 MPS’s engine, and retains the front-wheel drive of standard models.

That makes both MPS models direct rivals to the 252bhp Vauxhall Vectra VXR and the 237hp Vauxhall Astra VXR.

The Mazda 6MPS is likely to cost around £25,000, but as yet there is no hint to the likely price of the 3 MPS.

Mazda MPS estimates

Mazda 6 MPS
Power 260bhp
0-62mph 6.3secs (est)
Top speed 165mph (est)
Combined economy 27mpg (est)

Mazda 3 MPS
Power 240bhp
0-62mph 6.1secs (est)
Top speed 160mph (est)
Combined economy 27mpg (est)