Mazda News: New Mazdaspeed (or MPS) Models Not Coming Anytime Soon

[William Maley]

If you were hoping for a Mazdaspeed version of the 3 or 6, we have some bad news. Australian outlet Motoring reports that Mazda has shelved plans for new Mazdaspeed (MPS known elsewhere in the world) models for the time being. Mazda's North American president and CEO Masahiro Moro explained that the company is focused on developing the second-generation of the Skyactive technologies.

 

“Our research and development department is 100 per cent focussed on delivering SKYACTIV generation two and if we don’t have this we don’t have any other derivatives,” said Moro.

 

“So let us focus on delivering SKYACTIV generation two, then we are building on that to come up with (performance models)."

 

Moro said the brand is thinking about the next-generation of their performance vehicles and it won't be like the last Mazdaspeed3.

 

“As a brand we are trying to elevate again a little bit more, because execution of Mazda MPS or Mazdaspeed 3 or whatever you call it was a little bit – I am not afraid to say it – childish.”

 

Some Mazda fans might find that assessment harsh. But considering how much torque-steer the Mazdaspeed3 had on offer, we think that it is fair.

 

So what would a future Mazdaspeed model look like? It would reflect Mazda's ambition of being more mature and upscale.

 

“Mazda brand has become more mature, more upscale, more sophisticated and we have a new transition of the brand to relate that direction. So if we were to introduce some kind of performance model, that may be different to what we have done in the past,” said Moro.

 

Source: Motoring

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