It could be argued that the decade of Mazdaspeed vehicles represented the high-water mark for the Japanese brand in America, at least from a performance standpoint. The automaker introduced four turbocharged models, starting with the Protegé in 2003, followed by the MX-5 Miata in 2004, the Mazdaspeed6 sedan in 2006, and finally the Mazdaspeed3 hatchback, which arrived in 2007 and stayed much longer than the others, until 2013.
2010_MAZDASPEED3 side at trackMazda
Today, we hear from Japan that Mazda might resurrect the Mazdaspeed philosophy by introducing the Mazda Spirit Racing 3, a hot hatchback version of the Mazda3 powered by a gutsy turbocharged engine more robust than the one currently offered.
Tokyo Auto Salon Gave Us A Glimpse In 2024
Mazda’s motorsport brand, Mazda Spirit Racing, already has a production roadster that we don’t get in the US – it’s exclusively for the Japanese domestic market. But the motorsport team wants to unleash another production model, and a promising candidate is this high-output version of the Mazda3 hatchback, according to a report from Japanese website MotorFan. The reveal might come as soon as first-half 2027, the website reports.
We’ve already seen the Mazda Spirit Racing 3 concept, which was introduced in January 2024 at the Tokyo Auto Salon, along with the RS concept version of the MX-5 Miata. But MotorFan reports that Mazda will enter the Mazda Spirit Racing 3 concept, equipped with a 2.2-liter SkyActiv diesel engine, in this year’s Super Taikyu endurance racing series. The concept will run on renewable diesel fuel and is intended to demonstrate Mazda’s onboard carbon-dioxide capture system.
Would It Be Street Legal Or Track Focused?
Mazda Spirit Racing 3 concept at 2024 Toyota Auto SalonMazda
While motorsports applications whet our appetites, what Mazda fans in the US really want to see is a production version of the Mazda3 that revives some of the “Zoom-Zoom” spirit and crisp handling that made Mazda a fairly popular brand for enthusiasts. We’ve contacted Mazda for confirmation about this hot hatch – and whether it’s coming to the US – and we’ll update this post if more information becomes available.
If the Mazda Spirit Racing 3 concept gets the green light for production, it will target the 300-horsepower Toyota GR Corolla, which powers all four wheels from a hard-working 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine. Also in Mazda’s sights will be the front-wheel-drive Honda Civic Type R, with a 315-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Based on output from the rivals, Mazda should be able to squeeze out more than 300 hp from an engine displacing 2.5 liters and with forced induction.
Toyota And Honda Need More Competition
2026 Toyota GR Corolla from the rear three-quarter angle in redToyota
On the pricing front, the Toyota GR Corolla is the more affordable offering, just under $40,000, compared to a starting price for the Civic Type R around $47,000. Meanwhile, the 2026 Mazda3 hatch is already available in a fairly entertaining configuration that lags these competitors by about 50 horsepower.
The 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus edition of the Mazda3 starts at $39,325 with destination and is rated at 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque, if you spring for 93-octane fuel. If your budget only allows for 87-octane gas, then output falls to 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The current Mazda3 is built in Japan and Mexico for the US market.
2022 Mazda3 fastback sideMazda
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
The Mazda3’s product cycle must factor heavily in corporate’s decision whether to bring a more powerful Mazda hatchback to America. The current fourth-generation Mazda3 arrived in 2019, so the redesigned model is likely on the drawing board right now. If an all-new Mazda3 rolls out in the next few years, it could provide the underpinnings for a model that goes beyond the current 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus.
Is there a strong business case for a hotter hatch Mazda3? Well, Mazda3 hatchback sales are humming this year, up 70% to 10,441 units through August. Including the sedan, Mazda3 sales totaled nearly 29,000 units through August, up 37% from the same period in 2025. Mazda3 sales are well behind the CX-5 and CX-50 crossovers, which have both topped 84,000 units so far this year.
But none of Mazda’s crossovers are growing sales like the Mazda3 is right now. If the bean counters see an opportunity to generate more revenue with a tantalizing variant of the Mazda3, we’re all-in.
Base Trim Engine
2.5L SKYACTIV-G I4 ICE
Base Trim Transmission
SKYACTIV-Drive 6-speed automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
186 HP @6000 RPM
Base Trim Torque
186 lb.-ft. @ 4000 RPM
Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
26/34/29 MPG
Infotainment & Features
7 /10
Source: MotorFan
