ASH8

The new Mazda 3 (2009) may be unveiled at Paris Motor Show Sept. 2009.

Car will be Larger, but Lighter....

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2573520080EBAD

Ike

I haven't heard news this exciting since they announced the 40th anniversary edition of the RX-8. To think, I only need to wait two years so see it!

Flashwing

Oh man! This is why I love Mazda...

Wow, what a concept! Imagine a world where weight savings is accomplished via actual engineering breakthru's and newly developed technology without using inferior materials. While most of my knowlege of the opposite situation has been within the domestic market, I'm sure imports are no exception.

Now, I'm not an automotive engineer, but I certainly know that safety is sacrificed when you substitute steel for aluminum...aluminum for plastic, and plastic for nothing at all or hollow panels. You can throw all the air bags, crumple zones and side impact beams you want...the fact is if the car crumples like a beer can none of those elements will help you.

I applaude Mazda for seeking technical and engineering methods to reduce weight and efficiency without cutting weight and stability where it's the most important.

Fortunate Few

iTrader: (2)

if i were to get a mazda 3 (speed of course) id rather have a smaller looking car then i could find random ways to make it lighter myself without thinking im gonna die in a tin can.

Spin9k

The 8 got its lightness from use of lightweight materials, gram-counting, and good engineering... and when was that developed? Like 6-8 yrs ago? Is it a tin can? No! Is it unsafe? No! I see no reason to believe Mazda will change that philosphy of holistic improvement (and thie article clearly indicates they won't).

Rather they are using all their skill, and sometimes at great expense to make future cars (like the RX-?) safer, lighter and higher performance all at the same time. What would differentiate Mazda in general from Nissan or Ford or anyone really if they just went ahead and did car design as others do with straight textbook redesign?

Have faith....!

Clavius

Yes because all of us American's want a HUGE f'ing boat as a car... even in our compact cars..............this is what is scaring me with Mazda especialy with them saying they are going to "Americanize" the Mazda 6. Hopefully Mazda aint losing sight like its sister Ford there.

Ike

I don't exactly see the RX-8 as being all that light. When it weighs about the same or even more than my old WRX with a heavy AWD system and one of those heavy piston engines (extra weight from a turbo & IC included), I just don't see it as anything that they really worked at to make light weight.

rotarygod

OK ash, we'll give you this one!

DemonRX-8

That's just agrumentative - the 8 is universally lauded for being light for it's class and compared to it's competition. My guess is that the old WRX only achieved such light weight with compromised rigidity (which the 8 does not). The new WRX's are what, about 300 lbs heavier at or about the same size? Or was that just with that silly wing added!

cjwaggs

speed 3 looks like a lowered mini-van... very ugly IMO. Fast though.

Ike

No, it's not argumentative. When the hell did 3000+ lbs become light for a coupe type car that is supposed to have a super light weight engine. To put things in perspective, my '95 Maxima weighed under 2900 lbs. When you see one of those big old Maxima sedans on the road do you think to yourself, wow that's a really light car. I don't care how much cars weigh on average nowadays, I have a hard time calling a 3000+ lb. "coupe" light weight.

brillo

you outta care when other automakers start trends like making cars light weight. it has a tendency to spread, and god forbid it might find its way even to Mitsubshi so your EVO isn't 3500lb.

rotarygod

The Evo XI is destined to be 4000 lbs if their trend keeps going. By Evo XII a Hummer will be lighter.

DemonRX-8

In this market 3000 lbs is considered light . . . just don't know what to tell you beyond that. You know what other cars weigh (350, G35, Mustang, etc.). Yet you're arguing about a 12 yo maxima (which was much smaller than today's Maxima and probably not as well engineered either). My 89 Escort was 2300 lbs . . . I still can't figure out why the auto industry continued producing new cars after that light weight masterpiece!

Ike

My car is heavy and so are those other cars you mention. I just refuse to consider a small car that weighs 3000+ lbs. light, no matter how much lighter it is than the competition.

Renesis_8

ur definition of lightness differs from the majority, just stay on topic.

IMO the new 3 will just be a tad lighter. They could cut weight in the mazda 2 chassis, but not so much this time with the 3 since its a Ford/mazda/etcetc chassis.
________
Park Royal 2 Condos Prathumnak

Razz1

That's good in every way. Bigger and lighter.

ac3mastuh

iTrader: (1)

all the 8 gets is a facelift?!?

why does the 3 get all the perks?

nate340

The biggest complaint owners have about there small fun cars is that they’re not roomy enough, so the manufactures make them bigger and eventually resemble nothing of the fun small light weight cars the used to be. Think of the first gen gti ? God knows how much its increased in weight. Very few cars get lighter as they mature the only modern car I can think of that’s actually lost some weight is the new corvette. I hate vetts but GM has actually managed to take weight out of a car instead of adding, which I applaud them for.

Ike

Because it sells.

RXLogic

Well, yeah -- because by then the HummerForTwo will be out.

rotary crazy

Mazda its amazing

lone_wolf025

There's a reason why the 95 Nissan is so light: Its old!

As times continue emission control and safety systems become more complex, thus weight increases. Airbag systems are not by their nature light, nor can you get away with nothing but light materials and still meet the requirements for impact standards. Also as the vehicles become more powerful they grow in weight in order to compensate for the additional load of that power.

Its quite amazing Mazda's approach to the new 3 and I applaud their efforts as it is not an easy task. I look forward to the 8's replacement and its stats.

delhi

Sure, let's remove the airbags, structural reinforcements, NVH materials, A/C, power steering, power windows, emission devices, sound system, large wheels and tires, big brake kit, Xenons, reduce the engine to 1.4l (piston no less), single exhaust pipe, 4spd gearbox, forget RWD/AWD just go FWD...

Here's your EVO Ike.



It still has them garish hood vents. And it is already off-road ready.

globi

A SUV hits a wall at 40 mph with over twice the weight of a Smart:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7Ts94rjr4M

A Smart hits a wall at 70 mph (3 times the kinetic energy compared to 40 mph):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svKQkwBNQaU

Apparently, lighter must be way safer...