http://www.caradvice.com.au/3702/mazda2-mps/

Or actually the link goes to the caradvice.com story saying

Winding Road reports Mazda are all but finished working on a top of the range turbo-charged Mazda2. The Mazda2 MPS will be based on the new generation Mazda2 landing in Australia come October.

Powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder 2.0-litre engine, the new hot hatch is expected to take on Mitsubishi’s Ralliart Colt and the new Ford Fiesta XR4. The Mazda2 MPS is expected to have over 160kWs of power and sprint from 0-100km/hr in around 6 and abit seconds.

The Mazda2 MPS will ride on 17″ alloys while power goes through the front wheels coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox. Given its FWD setup, Mazda are likely to include a limited slip differential (LSD), traction and dynamic stability control as standard.

Having raided Ford’s parts bin, the Mazda 2 MPS may also feature Volvo sourced 320mm front brake discs.

We hold high hopes that Mazda Australia will the hot hatch here. We expect the Mazda 2 MPS to retail for around $28-29,000 AUD.

but I cant find the actual winding road report.

Definitely looking forward to that car...Although that is a bit higher than I would expect

28,000 AUD in USD?

like 5 bucks ;)

old news (2007) but i'm pretty sure that a 2 MPS will come..... but NOT w/ a 2.0 engin IMHO

hot compact hatch (B segment) sell pretty well here in EU but not w/ a 2.0 litre engine

hahhaha i didnt even notice ! it came up in a news search for the mazda 2 i did this morning

That's pretty fast, 6.4 seconds :)
That's just as fast as an r3 rx-8 sadly :(

everything is faster than an rx8.

An MS2 is as fast as a non-MS8. Add MS to an 8 and...well, we know how the story goes...

Nice graphics:
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/musa2/flash/garage/upcoming/mz2/microsite/images/pics/downloads/Mazda2_Image_06.jpg

not bad looking, but i wish it was 2 door and awd like the old 323 gtx :(

28,000 AUD in USD?

like 5 bucks ;)
10 yrs ago, the exchange rate use to be about $.6 AU to $1 US. Now the ratio is $.9 to $1.

Man that would be an awesome DD if the price was right. Wouldn't mind it. Actually like it but yea, 2 door AWD would be nice.

great, another model gets the MS treatment before we do.
I'm not jealous or anything...

:banghead:

My wife is pretty set on a 2 to replace her 5 once the 2 hits the floors, I might have her wait for the MS2 though :lol:

Every dealer i've talked with says the 2 hits the showroom floor mid august, can't wait, have been following the coming of this cute little beast for months, saw on at the motor Trend car show in Harrisburg PA back in January,I love it, but sincerely hope they do a MS version, that would be intense, maybe as much fun as the blue beauty I enjoy so much. Even with that high price estimate, it would be worth it.

Damn it my local dealership never gets an MPS version, even the 6 is limited to the 2.3 litre NA

everything is faster than an rx8.

True that, I had trouble with a Lancer EX the other day (not racing or anything, the driver wouldn't let me pass him), was pretty surprised later to find a dyno chart of a stock one actually produces 147 hp close to the advertised 155. Damn the 8 is slow ... :(

Charlie..
What happened with your Mazda 2 Forum...are you still going ahead with it??

When is the Mazda 2 released...can you buy them now in the US??..when is release date...must be soon??

Charlie..
What happened with your Mazda 2 Forum...are you still going ahead with it??

When is the Mazda 2 released...can you buy them now in the US??..when is release date...must be soon??
This month.

The Mazda2 is already in the showrooms. I was there just this morning. 3-4 months ago, they showed me a mazda2 they were testing and it was pretty beat up :)

I just got an email today that my local dealer has one in.

Charlie..
What happened with your Mazda 2 Forum...are you still going ahead with it??



http://mazda2clubs.com/ no traffic to it.(except your pms which i didnt see until today)

ryan owns mazda2forum.com but isnt using it and someone else owns mazda2club.com

http://mazda2clubs.com/ no traffic to it.(except your pms which i didnt see until today)

ryan owns mazda2forum.com but isnt using it and someone else owns mazda2club.com

;)

Do you want anything of Interest on the Mazda 2 posted there??, or are you waiting for the US release of the 2?? :)

post away my friend :)

the local dealers got their 2s about a day and a half ago. im going to go test drive one soon. maybe this weekend.

they have cars but no brochures or other promo materials. at least the one i stopped at.

here's how that went:

I pull into the dealer lot in my RX-8 after seeing 2 WHITE 2s out front. As I pull in I see 2 salespeople standing out front smoking/chatting. I pull up next to the a black one in front of the building and talk about it for about 3 minutes. The car is about 12 feet from the 2 sales people, they dont approach the car.

I turn around in the lot and pull up right behind the 2 and get out. and look in the windows. My son looks too but my other son is asleep int he car so i dont want to get to far away.. One of the sales people approaches finally and says "Can I help you with anything?" . I tell her about the sleeping child and explain ill come back later but ask about brochures etc. " Oh Um Maybe .. I don't know lets go in and see." I tell her again about the sleeping child and she turns to go in and ask but holds the door for me like I am to follow. I dont so after a few seconds she lets props it open and walks to a guy behind the counter and asks him. He shuffles around for a minute then declares they must not have received any yet. She comes back to me and tells me the same thing and then offers me her card and tries to get my info so she can contact me when the materials come in.

I didnt give her my contact info as they already have it. one of the other sales people was to email or call me when the 2 came in. but seriously a brand new model that has won awards around the world and you dont know whether you have materials for it yet? you have to look around? they should hAVE BEEN STUDYING THEM FOR DAYS ALREADY BEFORE THE CARS HIT THE LOT.

Wow, if the MS 2 was to hit the US I'd buy one for sure!

Corksport took delivery of their 2 Wednesday. They say they are the first one in the US with it as well.

Zoom I thought MS version was not coming to the US?

... but seriously a brand new model that has won awards around the world and you dont know whether you have materials for it yet? you have to look around? they should hAVE BEEN STUDYING THEM FOR DAYS ALREADY BEFORE THE CARS HIT THE LOT.

wow zoom...you'ver been around the block a couple times...you must know that most anyone that is hired to sell cars cares virtully nothing for cars they sell, rather only for the $$$$ they can separate from peps showing up to buy them.

Preparation? Interest in learning? Empathy for a customer with child? Huh! (Said the spider to the fly.)

wow zoom...you'ver been around the block a couple times...you must know that most anyone that is hired to sell cars cares virtully nothing for cars they sell, rather only for the $$$$ they can separate from peps showing up to buy them.

Preparation? Interest in learning? Empathy for a customer with child? Huh! (Said the spider to the fly.)

Well in order to advantage, a salesman should know the highlights of a car in order to make sales. Little knowledge on things like awards are pushes towards the selling point.

Cool 5th gear...how does weight (or lack thereof) affect the Mazda 2 handling, 0-62mph, and braking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LKZoesnSsU

Corksport took delivery of their 2 Wednesday. They say they are the first one in the US with it as well.

Zoom I thought MS version was not coming to the US?

still might- i hear whispers that MNAO wants one but......


wow zoom...you'ver been around the block a couple times...you must know that

I know i know- for some reason i keep expecting better.

thanks for the vid :)

still might- i hear whispers that MNAO wants one but......



there is not the availability(in Mazda engine shelf) of the right engine, Charlie......Mazda can't fit a 2.3 DISI turbo under the bonnet of 2....and too much power/torque for that chassis

the perfection will be a 1,6 liter DISI turbo.....;) about 190 hp.....;)

like the top spec Nissan Juke engine

the perfection will be a 1,6 liter DISI turbo.....;) about 190 hp.....;)

like the top spec Nissan Juke engine

and isnt one of the sky engines a 1.6 liter disi turbo?

I'm gonna go ahead and be the first one to hate. F this car. I don't care if it comes with an Enzo motor, it's ugly. That is all.

still might- i hear whispers that MNAO wants one but......

MNAO wanted to build a MS RX8, but that was rejected. They had 2 prototypes built, a turbo & a supercharged version. There was a picture of a white one that circulated around.

i know al ;) i've got pics of the white one being BUILT ( the body bits) in my albums and I touched the blue one:) hell fred felt it up :)

and isnt one of the sky engines a 1.6 liter disi turbo?

:SHOCKED:

never read anything about SKY-G turbo engines.....i've assumed that for the firsts years will be just NA engines......:dunno:

Just test drove a Sport MT 2.

Looks like I will be ordering one next week after my wife gets a chance to test drive it. No dealer in the area has the color she wants :)

Very very light car, small when sitting next to the 3, but the 3 looks midsize. I'd say that the 2 is close to the size of the Protege5. That being said, it was incredibly light, and you can feel it. Plenty lighter than my P5 was. The 100hp engine wasn't suffering at all moving me and the salesman around. Cruising at ~3.5k rpm at 60, and downshifted to 3rd to accelerate and it picked up respectably without fuss. The manual's clutch is incredibly light though, so it was hard to tell the engagement point.

The one I drove seemed to have an alignment problem, probably one of the front wheels has a bit of toe out that it shouldn't, as the first few degrees of steering have a more pronounced impact on direction change, especially on the highway, than it should, and more steering past that feels normal. Made it more important to keep the steering wheel exactly straight, as even a slight shiver made it drift around the lanes.

The body roll on it is a bit high, but even with that and the all seasons, cornering speeds were up there. Couldn't test the limits of grip with the salesman though :)

heheh i just drove one too :). if we were going to buy another car right now this would definitely be on our list. i agree roll was a little high AND same thing- with the salesman in the car i couldnt push it like i would want to. I thought the clutch was REALLY light. it was the first thing i mentioned as we were driving. im sure id get used to it with a little seat time

I would expect the roll characteristics of a little econobox to be high. Have either of you drove the Fit just for comparison? I have not driven either so just wondering.

No, I haven't.

How was the road noise and ride comfort?

Softer than our 8, but not excessively soft. I'd say it's roughly equivalent to the 3 and 5.

Road noise was a bit higher, but not annoying or excessive.

look ^ i dont even actually have to write anything.. ditto , says it all

Glad you guys like it..it is a great little car..

Not so sure we (world) will see a "real" Mazdaspeed 2 or Mazda 2 MPS.

Remember Mazda are in the throws of Slowly Changing ALL Banger Engines to the SKY Series.

New Edition of Zoom Zoom mag is out..

http://www.zoomzoommag.com/issue02_2010.html

New Edition of Zoom Zoom mag is out..

http://www.zoomzoommag.com/issue02_2010.html

that interactive site gives me a headache. I'll wait for my copy in the mail.

this is our summer edition of "mazda motion" (that's the name of the magazine here in EU)

there is a pretty interesting article about the positioning of mazda cars outside Hiroshima factory and the inboard to the big boats.

Nice graphics:
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/musa2/flash/garage/upcoming/mz2/microsite/images/pics/downloads/Mazda2_Image_06.jpg

Where do I sign? That thing looks better than an Abarth 500!

And it's as fast as an 8..!

My wife did the test drive as well last night (regular 2), and fell immediately in love with it. No Aquatic Blue Micas within at least 500 miles, so I am putting down the deposit and ordering one, probably straight from the factory unless there happens to be an Aquatic Blue Mica Sport MT already in the US somewhere.

I'm SOOO glad she agreed that the clutch on the MT was light enough for her to use it day to day.



And yeah, the MS2 does look great. Would love to see if come out.

I just realized I forgot to post about it.

When my wife did the test drive, after that I spent about 15 minutes poking around the engine bay, and I was really impressed. I think Mazda may have learned a few things about how to make an engine easy to work on, as well as other performance things.

Like, the intake. It is even less complicated than the RX-8's intake. It's maybe 2 feet long from the UIM to the opening where the air goes in, and almost entirely straight. It would be VERY hard to make a better aftermarket intake for it.

The engine has allt he components bolted to it, rather than everything else around, so you actually have 3 to 6 inches around the engine to the side of the engine bay in most cases. Like an old muscle car. I could easily reach my hand to most sections of the engine and transmission without getting cramped, burned, caught on wires or belts or hoses, etc... A very compact engine sitting on a compact transmission, both much smaller than they have to be given the engine bay size. Of course, if they filled it out more, it would be heavier, but then, it makes a larger engine possible if they are going to offer an MS version.

Or if they turbo it, there is TONS of room for the plumbing.

Nice graphics:
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/musa2/flash/garage/upcoming/mz2/microsite/images/pics/downloads/Mazda2_Image_06.jpg

If they actually sold a car like that...that could be interesting...avail in several wheel-color matched graphics adorned shades. But as is with a 0-60 of 10+ seconds, and looking a bit of a green teacup with wheels....I'll pass...at least until they bring a more powerful MS version, not just the faux prettied up girlfriend MS version w/no performance upgrade that's most likely to show up on our shores.

Gee RIWWP you can't compare a FWD 2 engine bay to the RWD RX-8..

One has a near perfect weight distribution, the other with ALL of the drive/engine weight across the front wheels...

Chalk and cheese...;)..

But yes...I sort of know what you mean ..I think..when I drove the 2 a few years back I was very impressed, it is a far better car then the previous Mazda 2 (Box)...

for anybody who's interested, I had an opportunity to drive both the 5sp & Auto versions of the Mazda 2 today, and found both trannys very impressive, but the 5sp. is the best shifts soooooo smooth! ~wow~ The little beastie turns on a dime, is very responsive and quick, has decent elbow room and cargo space, does the tightest figure 8s that I've experienced since my one time in a smartfortwo....and I don't care who builds that one, but the Mazda beats it hands down. The 2 c orners almost as nice as anRX8, a 'Speed version of this car would be an amazing and mind-blowing experience, hope it happens. Will probably get the green in Touring version w/5sp when ready to do this, if a 'Speed doesn't happen first.:)!