Mazdaspeed High Altitude Testing Spotted (Mazda 3)
 

Hey all,
I was about to take off for a rafting trip on the Arkansas River here near Granite, Colorado when I spotted a whole convoy of Mazda vehicles (mainly 3's) and a couple of 'shrouded' 3's. They kind of sped by me but i'll be damned if they aren't high altitude testing a Mazdaspeed 3. I'm certain it was a 3 and there's no way they are re-styling after only 1 year on the market, so why else (other than a MazdaSpeed version) would Mazda be keeping it under wraps?
Granite is nearly 10,000 feet up and its a dry, mountain desert-type terrain, so it would be a great place to see how an engine performs under stress. I wasn't able to snap a picture of it, so I guess will have to wait and see if its true.
I do kind of wish it was an MazdaSpeed 8 though.

,azda3 have been out for a while now, havent they? closer to 3 or 4 years i think....

no i could've sworn teh mazda3 was out for only about as long as the 8:confused: or just a lill bit before..like an 03 modle tha twent on sale in late 02......anyone got some real dates on when the 3 went into production?

The first Mazda3s were hitting lots the first week of December of 2003 as an '04 model. They're not up for a major refresh until the 2008 model year.

Spy photos have seen a MZ3 doing trackwork in Japan with a hood scoop plastered to the bonnet..... seems like we'll be seeing an MPS 3 very soon.

I've seen these pictures. It's a black box plastered to the hood so i'm assuming we are in the early stages of testing.

i was wrong... i can admit it... the 3 came out the same year as the 8, so you were right ;)

they are planning a mazdaspeed 3 for next year

This year is the speed 6
next year is the speed 3
following was supposed to be a speed 8, and possibly a release of a 7, but due to market, they've dropped the idea of the 7, and are in limbo about the speed 8. They say it isn't enough current demand.

I say, come on mazda...its an enthusiest car, don't expect to sell them as much as the other vehicles. Release the speed 8, and its ok to drop the 7. Though I'd love to see a 7, I'd rather get a speed 8.