Hot on the heels of Mazda Mexico’s early
unveiling of the 2021 Mazda3 2.5 Turbo, we can now bring you official
information from Mazda North America. While the automaker refrained from
slapping the Mazdaspeed / MPS badge on this car, the 2.5-liter turbocharged
four-cylinder engine produces up to 250 horsepower and 433 Nm)of
torque when fed premium 93 octane fuel.
That’s more than many hot hatches,
including the latest VW Golf GTI which makes 242 HP and 370 Nm of torque in standard guise. On regular 87 octane fuel, the Skyactiv-G
2.5T engine will still deliver a solid 227 horsepower and 420 Nm of
torque. Mazda says the engine is “specifically
calibrated to the Mazda3 so as to deliver the unique driving dynamics expected
by our most passionate drivers.” However, there’s no manual transmission on
offer, with the only choice being a six-speed automatic hooked to a standard
i-Activ all-wheel drive system.
Unfortunately, Mazda does not reveal
performance specs, but given the mighty engine and AWD system, the Mazda3 2.5
Turbo should be able to give many proper hot hatches a good run for their
money. It will also give fast sedan owners something to think about as the
carmaker will offer the turbocharged powertrain in the Mazda3 sedan as well.
You’ll recognize the 2021 Mazda3 2.5 Turbo
thanks to exterior upgrades like the larger tailpipes, 18-inch black aluminum
wheels, gloss black mirror caps, ‘Turbo’ badge on the trunk and engine cover, a
shark fin antenna, and automatic LED headlights with LED DRLs. The Mazda3 2.5
Turbo sedan adds a gloss black front grille and sleek lower front bumper
decoration.
Inside, the turbocharged Mazda3 offers a
heated leather wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters, frameless auto-dim
rearview mirror, as well as chrome finishes around the push button start and
glove box. The list of standard tech is extensive and includes an 8.8-inch
large center display with Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio, Apple CarPlay
and Android Auto, Mazda Connected Services with three-year trial and in-car
Wi-Fi hot spot with six-months or 2GB trial, Active Driving Display head-up
unit, rearview camera, and rain-sensing wipers.
Customers also get two front USB inputs,
Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry, power moonroof, dual-zone climate control, heated
front seats, leatherette seating, leather wrapped shift knob and aluminum
speaker grilles. On the safety front, the Mazda3 2.5 Turbo comes with the
standard i-Activsense safety suite including Mazda Radar Cruise Control with
stop and go function, Smart Brake Support, Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear
Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning with Lane-Keep Assist, Driver
Attention Alert, Adaptive Front-lighting system and High Beam Control.
Those who want more styling and features
can opt for the Premium Plus Package which adds a gloss black rear lip spoiler
for the sedan and a gloss black rear roof spoiler and front air dam for the
hatch. The pack also adds Rear Smart City Brake Support with Rear Cross-Traffic
Braking, 360° View Monitor, and Traffic Jam Assist. Finally, the Premium Plus
package adds leather seats, navigation and HomeLink to the frameless
auto-dimming rearview mirror. The 2021 Mazda3 2.5 Turbo is expected to arrive
in U.S. dealerships by the end of this year.
