Mazda3 MPS turbo looms

As Mazda's renewed range of SKYACTIV vehicles continues to grow the brand's sales – leading to record profits – the company is assessing how to maintain customer interest in current vehicles, and high-performance turbocharged variants appear to be the answer.

When we last first reported on the status of the next-generation Mazda 'MPS' performance brand in late 2013, the Japanese company was considering launching an MPS model with a beefed-up diesel engine. While that option is still on the table, turbo-petrol models are now looking more likely.

Following a Japanese media report that Mazda will deploy a 2.5-litre turbo-petrol Mazda3 MPS in 2016, Mazda's General Manager of Global Sales and Marketing, Yasuhiro Aoyama, confirmed to motoring.com.au that the company needs "turbo [petrol] engines to generate much more power" for its sporty models and that they "will be a part of our future progress".

A new-generation Mazda3 MPS, fitted with all-wheel drive and delivering up to 220kW, would rival popular small hot hatches such as the Subaru WRX STI and Volkswagen Golf R.

Although the return of an MPS vehicle is a fait accompli, Aoyama said it's still not decided whether the vehicle will be turbo-diesel or turbo-petrol.

"We are still not sure which way should be the right strategy, but we should leave some kind of enabler to work at high performance," he said, outlining the need for turbocharging.

"We have a high-power diesel already, we have a base. We could also have the future development of the SKYACTIV petrol engines, that's another opportunity. We need the right strategy.

"We have a lot of opportunities and are still investigating," he said.

Mazda's go-fast MPS nameplate was first seen on the Mazda6 between 2005 and 2007, then the Mazda3 between 2006 and 2013. Both were powered by a 190kW/380Nm 2.3-litre inline four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, the former driving all four wheels.

Kengo Fukushima, Vehicle Development Division Manager for the Mazda2, said there's a strong desire in the company to bring back the MPS nameplate sooner rather than later, noting that a Mazda3 MPS would come before any others.

"We started [MPS] with the Mazda6, then the second one was Mazda3. So next-generation would be Mazda3," he said, suggesting there will be no new Mazda6 MPS.

He wouldn't be drawn on time lines, but was enthusiastic about the arrival of the Mazda3 MPS.

"I would like to see it soon," said Fukushima, adding that a lower, faster, more agile and more powerful version of the new Mazda2 to rival the Ford Fiesta ST and VW Polo GTI was not out of the question either, and that a decision would be made on it soon.

"Mazda2 MPS? Not sure yet. I hope so, but up to now we concentrate on the basic model development. As for the next step, I am waiting for direction."

Back home, there is a concerted push from the local importer to get an MPS model fast-tracked, as Mazda Australia's Senior Manager of Public Relations, Steve Maciver, explained.

"We have told head office on a number of occasions we'd love to see an MPS. Obviously with any car like that there has to be business case that doesn't just rely on Australia -- it has to apply globally."

Australia is the fourth-largest market for Mazda globally, giving the importer more clout than it would otherwise have, and Australia's love of high-performance machinery doesn't hurt either.

"In terms of our involvement, with any new product that comes through at concept stage, we're able to get feedback on a car from a design perspective, and we're obviously quite direct in feedback about what we think are the right powertrain and engineering choices," revealed Maciver.

"We've always said distributors, customers, dealers are looking for it. We've absolutely put our hand up in Australia to say 'if an MPS is on the cards we'd absolutely love to have it' -- we've been unequivocal about that," he said.