That’s one happy car – the 2010 Mazdaspeed3. Or is it the 2010 Mazda Mazdaspeed3? I can never get it straight. Either way, this rubber-burning hatchback has one heck of a big ol’ smile on it’s face. Mazda also included a pretty big hood scoop, and a handy hook to hang up the car in the garage when you’re done terrorizing other sport compact owners. You might love it or hate it – but the performance will surely speak for itself.
The powerplant is still going to be the familiar turbocharged 2.3 liter 4-cylinder that we know and love. In the current Mazdaspeed3, it produced 263 front-tire destroying horsepower. Mazda may very well have found some extra ponies lying around, but it’s not certain either way. 
Pricing is also unannounced so far, but we don’t expect a big increase given the current economic climate. Some folks are speculating about an AWD option, but I wouldn’t count on it. Available as FWD only, the current Mazdaspeed3 has been quite the performance bargain. Handling is solid, and torque steer is as under control as one could reasonably expect. Adding AWD will just drive up the cost beyond the target market, and also add unneeded weight.
Specs and pricing should be forthcoming in March, when the 2010 Mazdaspeed3 is officially unveiled at Geneva.
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OMG, I am sad that they ruined the mighty MS3! Why did they change the grill to something that looks like a smiling frog with a mouth guard? The proportions are way off! The new curvilinear lines makes it totally feminine…like what they did to the Subaru. The rear looks like some aerodynamic spaceship, the wheels look terrible, the scoop is acceptable. However, the new specs are a huge let-down. Seems like they gave up in improving the performance and took the easy way out…by window dressing. This is truly sad, because this is what American cars have been doing for decades! Detroit simply gave up on quality, performance, and design. I can’t believe the Japanese forgot the US auto industry’s history…one that has proven to be doomed for being lazy.