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MazdaSpeed3

Published 8:33 am Friday, June 20, 2008

Rumor on the street has it that the 2008 MazdaSpeed3 is the fastest four-banger, front-wheel drive, mass-produced car in the world.

That, my friends, is a rumor that sells — and one the folks at Mazda have not gone out of their way to discredit.

My guess is the more accurate statement would place the MazdaSpeed3 “among” the fastest. At the very least it’s safe to say that with a 0-to-60 time under six seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155 miles per hour, MazdaSpeed3 is valedictorian of the sports-compact, pocket-rocket class.

At the heart of the MazdaSpeed3 ticks a 2.3-liter, four-cylinder DISI (direct injection spark ignition) turbocharged engine that delivers 263 horsepower. That converts to wicked power, whether it’s from a standing start or in passing gear traversing Stevens

Pass on the way to Apple Blossom.

Plus, the MazdaSpeed3 is family-friendly with four-doors and a hatchback that — along with a split-folding rear seat — accommodated three golf bags and assorted sundries on a weekend trip to Lake Padden Golf Course in Bellingham.

MazdaSpeed3 takes everything that made the Mazda3 the company’s best-selling model globally – and, to pilfer a phrase from one of my favorite chefs, Emeril Lagasse – kicks it up a notch. That literally means spicy hot, but in the case of the Speed3 means more style, more power, more handling and more value.

The MazdaSpeed3 was made for the performance buyer who wants it all for a price that doesn’t take it all. That’s why it comes with a race-inspired, six-speed manual transmission, sports-tuned exhaust, 18-inch alloy wheels, unique roof spoiler and a racy interior to boot.

Engineers, apparently, even paid close attention to the sound the car’s engine produced. I can say it was music to my ears, emitting a throaty timbre from standing starts to a mid-level roar when the engine hits 4,000 rpm.

Since “Speed” is the car’s middle name, I’ll attempt to wax poetic about its engine.

Key components include aluminum block and head construction with forged steel internal components — crankshaft and connecting rods — for long-lasting durability.

Balance shafts help eliminate noise and vibration. A large air-to-air intercooler and direct fuel injection cool the temperature inside the cylinder.

Shifting gasoline’s change from liquid to vapor from the intake manifold to the cylinder provides a substantial cooling effect. This low charge-temperature permits use of a high 9.5:1 compression ratio, which boosts low- and mid-range torque by approximately 10 percent over conventional turbo engines. This compression ratio also contributes to the car’s relatively frugal use of fuel: 18 mpg city, 26 mpg highway are its EPA ratings.

With this much power in the hands of unseasoned rookies (present company excluded), Mazda engineers did their darndest to minimize torque steer to keep this bad boy between the white lines. They were quite successful.

Large diameter four-wheel disc brakes, vented in front, and a large diameter master cylinder provide powerful and stable braking.

Standard equipment includes dynamic stability control with traction control, and anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist — all of which instill driver confidence.