A highly-modified and turbocharged 2.5-liter SKYACTIV petrol engine is what Japanese magazine Holiday Auto says will power the new Mazda3 MazdaSpeed / MPS, when it hits dealerships in around two years’ time. Apparently, it may even have as much as 320 horses, though a more reasonable estimate is 300.

This would put it in a different league to the previous hot 3 and with the speculated addition of all-wheel drive, it would also aim for a different set of buyers – the price, compared to the old model, will invariably go up too.

The information popped up in Japan and according to Carsguide that caught a glimpse of it, an excerpt from the article read: “They (Mazda) have denied rumors about the turbo officially, but have continued their research. It was said that the turbo and Skyactiv with a high compression ratio don’t work well together, but it has been already solved.”

By Andrei Nedelea

Mazda3 MPS renders via DesignRM

PHOTO GALLERY

2015-MazdaSpeed3-1[4]2015-MazdaSpeed3-2[4] Mazda3-MPS-1NA (US), 5HB, MPS GT, LHD, Velocity Red MC, Black and Red Two Tone Half Leather (created by computer retouch from the EU spec)Mazda3-MPS-11Mazda3-MPS-12Pressefoto Mazda Motor Europe GmbHPressefoto Mazda Motor Europe GmbHPressefoto Mazda Motor Europe GmbHMazda3-MPS-16Mazda3-MPS-2Mazda3-MPS-3Mazda3-MPS-4Mazda3-MPS-5Mazda3-MPS-6Mazda3-MPS-8Mazda3-MPS-9