THE MxX-3 is tke latest in a
series of youthful-looking,
2+2 sporty coupes to
bounce onto the market in
the past couple of years.

Others, such as the Hyundai
Scoupe, Nissan NX and Toyota
Paseo, have already staked claims
in a segment that used to be own-
ed by the Honda CRX and VW
Golf GTi. Needless to say, there

Mazda MX-3

performance image.
The feature that sets the MX-3
apart from its competitors is its

are a lot of choices for buyers in
this class, and increased competi-
tion has tended to improve the
breed.

The new MX-3 Precidia (the
Precidia name was added after the
car was introduced, but I don’t
think they shculd have bothered)
is a front-wheel-drive, four-
Passenger coupe with aggressive,
trendy looks. Its sleek, rounded
nose is highlighted by egg-shaped
halogen headlamps, and two grille

openings
bumper.

From the side, the MX-3 has a
definite wedge-shape with a low
front and a very high rear-end.
Note that there is no rear decklid,
just a large convex rear window
which also serves as a hatchback.
Like the Honda CRX, the MX-3
has a small vertical window at the
rear to improve rearward visibili
ty. An optiona! rear spoiler is
available tn spruce up the MX-3’s

in the body-colored

optional V6 engine. Displacing
just 1.8 litres, it was the smallest
V6 engine in the world when it
was introduced, but Mitsubushi
recently did Mazda one better by
introducing a 1.6-litre V6. The 130
hersepower V6 engine propels the
MX-3 to 100 km/h in under nine
seconds compared to just under
eleven seconds for the ‘vase MX-3
equipped with an 88 + orsepower
1.6-litre four-cylinder engine.
However, the V6 engine is no’
so punchy in the upper rev ranges.
Step on the gas to pass at 100
km/h. and the MX-3 delivers a
rather muted, less-than-expected
tesponse. Transmission gearing
and a curb weight of over [,159
kg (2,500 Ibs) may help explain
this lacklustre spi Smoothness
rather than power is the V6's

Price as tested $17,995

Type 2-door, 4-passenger
sports coupe

Layoul transverse
engine/front wheel drive
Engine 1,844 cc V6, DOHC, 24
valve, electronic multi-port fuel
injection

Hossepower 130 @ 6500 rpm
Torque 115 ft-lbs @ 4500 rpm
Trans ion optional 4-speed
electronically controlled

fro

+ — North Shore News - 27

Tefal peed OS

NEWS photos Neli Locenta

TEST DRIVE

forte.
The V6 engine ulso consumes

See Sporty page 29

automatic (5-speed manual)
Trunk space 440 1/15.4 cu. ft.
(rear seat down)

Fuel economy City 12.2 1/100
km, 24 mpgs; Hwy 8.0 1/100
km, 35 mpg

Warranty Basic 3  yrs/80,000
kms, Maj. Comp. 5 yrs/
100,000 km

Check out the Mazda MX-3 at
North Shore Mazda, 711 W.
ith, North Van