just waiting for my pics to upload...

all pics here: http://s67.photobucket.com/albums/h319/dai_king/Geneva%2009/mazda3mps/

Great set of comprehensive pics!

In some of the press shots I've seen, the front end looks to be a bit bulbous. Is it like that in real life? And what does the red material, and dash accents look like close up?

Great set of comprehensive pics!

In some of the press shots I've seen, the front end looks to be a bit bulbous. Is it like that in real life? And what does the red material, and dash accents look like close up?

Not sure which bit you mean by bulbous but the bonnet scoop certainly does stick up a bit. I think it looks worse because they've tried to make it sleeker than the current model.

not too impressed by the red spotty dash bit. I prefer the current piano black piece, it was smooth and glossy in the same way.

Cheers for the pics... looks better then i thought.

I see im right about the front grille being painted rather than black plastic.. wonder if itll be that metallic colour on all the body colours

Cheers for the pics... looks better then i thought.

I see im right about the front grille being painted rather than black plastic.. wonder if itll be that metallic colour on all the body colours

not a MPS

hth

Steering wheel looks a little on the cluttered side.. and in profile is it just me or does it have a passing resemblance to the current Impreza?

Not sure which bit you mean by bulbous but the bonnet scoop certainly does stick up a bit. I think it looks worse because they've tried to make it sleeker than the current model.

not too impressed by the red spotty dash bit. I prefer the current piano black piece, it was smooth and glossy in the same way.

I quite like the dash, it's kinda funky. infact I'm liking this car a lot more since seeing your pics.

I've looked at your side on view of the car and it doesn't look too bad. The following shot makes it look like it has an ungainly big snout.

...and in profile is it just me or does it have a passing resemblance to the current Impreza?

But what came first, the chicken of the egg?

I posted this on 07/04/07 on the mazda3 forum

Is it me or does this look a little too like the 3 for comfort?

http://www.subarunews.net/ngallery.php?pagina=album&gallery=gallery/30&fotoID=10 (can't work out how to use the IMG tags around this url ???)

story: http://www.subarunews.net/news.php?actie=show&id=66

gallery: http://www.subarunews.net/ngallery.php?gallery=gallery/30

although there's quite a bit of Chevrol-aewoo Lacetti in there too

When i went to get the pictures for the trackday at cadwell park, they had them saved as "new shape scooby" - i was almost offended, but then i realised easy mistake to make for somethin that was just as quick

I'd rather have the 3MPS than the scooby anyday!

I'd rather have the 3MPS than the scooby anyday!

So would i...

I've looked at your side on view of the car and it doesn't look too bad. The following shot makes it look like it has an ungainly big snout.

I see what you mean about a snout now. I think it still does look like that but my photo was not square on and rather flattering

I see what you mean about a snout now. I think it still does look like that but my photo was not square on and rather flattering

Well from now on, I'm gonna ignore the press pics and just look at yours instead, it looks much better!

So would i...

:rofl:

The more I look at the pics of the front of the car the more it looks like it's got a big cheesey grin on it's face!

Can't wait to see one of these in the flesh.

Thats one ugly car

Thats one ugly car

Don't be shy, tell us what you really think

Don't be shy, tell us what you really think

OK then - looks like its been pre-chaved:rofl: I like the 6 MPS but not this

Thats one ugly car

But at least it's better looking than anything Skoda have to offer.

OK then - looks like its been pre-chaved:rofl: I like the 6 MPS but not this

As Blade says it does look a bit like the Imprezza but there's so many cars with a similar shape in this class going back a long time its difficult to know who copied what. The original mazda 3 now looks more like the Nissan Qashqai or Audi Q5 than the newer cars in its class. Its no real surprise that they've taken it toward the car segment so they all look alike, Impreza, Leon, i30, Astra etc. Skoda are (bravely) ploughing their own furrow with regard to car design.

Where Mazda are trying to go their own way with a big mouth/snout is where Peugeot have got it so wrong since the 407 came out. It works on the Mazda6 but I'm not sure about the 3 yet and as for chavi-ness, I don't think its that bad, and it helps that there's so little on the market for chav-ing a 3. The biggest complaint about the MPSes was that they were too bland. So, as they say, you can't please all of the people all of the time.

I did some market research for mazda about 2.5 years ago, so before even the first MPS, and the mule for the 2009 Mazda3 was far more striking than what you see there. Don't know what happened along the way. I've got a couple more years in my 3 but I don't think I'll be looking at a new one, as its not really big enough. It'll be a CX7 for me, to go X5-baiting

I've got a couple more years in my 3 but I don't think I'll be looking at a new one, as its not really big enough. It'll be a CX7 for me, to go X5-baiting

I actually saw my first CX-7 on the road yesterday! Took me a few seconds to realise WTF it was..

Certainly a exclusive car... but I prefer the Kuga.

The CX-7 is quite a handsome car for an SUV. The petrol got really good reviews, but is in the top bracket for road tax. The diesel version has been announced:

Autocar - Mazda CX-7 gets diesel power

I like the CX, in as much as it's the best of a bad bunch (SUV)

I see one parked up at a nearby house and I think it's nicely designed...

Steve

I like the CX, in as much as it's the best of a bad bunch (SUV)

I see one parked up at a nearby house and I think it's nicely designed...

Steve

And quick.. with the same motor and drivetrain as the 6 MPS... 5.7 to 60

I'm liking the 3 MPS...

It's high on my list to replace the Octavia later this year too, very high.

Prefer the current Model at the moment because of the understated looks, but the new one is growing on me...